BNE-SIN-LHR in PE. Any way to make QF and BA play nicely together?

[IRCC]

Hello all, trying to work out the best options for the above itinerary while still getting benefits of either lounge access or BA free nights offer. Currently missing out on both.

I am QC and have dropped down to QFF Silver. We want to fly PE BNE-LHR rtn.
BA7407 BNE-SIN then BA 16 SIN-LHR is way cheaper than any QF offering, and they offer 2 free nights (so long as you pay for another) in a London hotel on a Aust-UK rtn booking.
BA 7407 is codeshare QF51 BNE -SIN and operated by QF
That's all good, but I won't get any lounge access on any of the legs as I'm only OW Ruby. Even flying on a QF aircraft, because it's a BA flight number. BA won't book it as a QF flight number, and QF won't offer me the BA16 connection out of SIN.

So, I can book the legs separately as QF and BA flights, a bit more expensive but gets me lounge access in BNE on the way out and SIN on the way back. I then lose the 2 free nights offer because the BA flights must be from Australia.

Any thoughts on how to work this ?

Thanks,
Ian

 

[markis10]

Have you thought about getting a 30 day AA pass to cover the lounge access issue? You need to be travelling on a QF operated flight on the same day.

http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/airportAmenities/AdmiralsPasses.jsp

 

[IRCC]

Thanks, good thought. I wasn't aware of that one. Probably be away more than 30 days though so not really a good value solution. I'll keep it in mind though.

 

[markis10]

Thanks, good thought. I wasn't aware of that one. Probably be away more than 30 days though so not really a good value solution. I'll keep it in mind though.

You can also buy single day passes for $50 and the 30 day option covers 2 guests

 

[serfty]

Just to be clear, the 30 day product is a full membership which includes guesting rights

The day pass allows one person access to A/C's for a calendar day and I don't believe it can be used at Qantas clubs.

 

[NM]

I would not be overly concerned with lounge access in BNE when departing on QF51. You would be better off spending a little cash at one of the eateries in the main departures area than spending money to get into the lounge. There is nothing wrong with the BNE JLounge, but its nothing special and not worth spending extra money just to have access. The food options are basic continental breakfast offering. Personally, if I did not have lounge access there I would ensure I ate before leaving home (10:20am departure allows this) and just buy a coffee/cake at the coffee shop below the Qantas Club lounge.

Again for Singapore if not lounge access there are plenty of good food options and places to sit/relax. Just not easy for a shower, but I probably would not be taking a shower at SIN during a short stop anyway.

If I have lounge access then I would use it. If I did not have lounge access I would not be spending more money to get it. To me, the benefits of priority check-in are much more important, and you get that with PE ticket anyway.

 

[IRCC]

NM, all of what you say is true enough. I guess you only miss lounges when you can't have them. My irritation (apart from no longer being Plat and not having to worry about it) is that even having paid for a QC membership, leaving from home, flying on a QF aircraft I lose the benefit of that membership just because it happens to have a OW codeshare.
The other issue is that even though it is a OW route, the two carriers now act as if it weren't. I fully understand why the QF/ Emirates partnership and the changes through SIN have produced this outcome - just not happy about it and wondering if there was an avenue someone else could think of to achieve what I wanted.
Cheers.

 

[yohy?!]

At least for SIN you could use priority pass for access to skyview Lounge (shower, wifi and adequate food and drink).. not sure how LHR fares for pp lounges though

 

[JohnPhelan]

There is nothing wrong with the BNE JLounge

Oh yes there is - it's waaay too small !

 

[NM]

Oh yes there is - it's waaay too small !

Its not too small after about 10am Between 7am and 10am it could certainly do with some expansion.

 

[NM]

NM, all of what you say is true enough. I guess you only miss lounges when you can't have them. My irritation (apart from no longer being Plat and not having to worry about it) is that even having paid for a QC membership, leaving from home, flying on a QF aircraft I lose the benefit of that membership just because it happens to have a OW codeshare.
The other issue is that even though it is a OW route, the two carriers now act as if it weren't. I fully understand why the QF/ Emirates partnership and the changes through SIN have produced this outcome - just not happy about it and wondering if there was an avenue someone else could think of to achieve what I wanted.
Cheers.

Yes, I do understand the frustration and I agree it should not be the case. It does highlight the additional benefit of OneWorld FF status (at least Sapphire) over paid Qantas Club membership. I departed QF51 (as AY5008) earlier in the week and was able to use the lounge as a AAdvantage Platinum (OneWorld Sapphire) member, and again in Singapore and Helsinki.

 

[mannej]

The other issue is that even though it is a OW route, the two carriers now act as if it weren't. I fully understand why the QF/ Emirates partnership and the changes through SIN have produced this outcome - just not happy about it and wondering if there was an avenue someone else could think of to achieve what I wanted.
Cheers.

Saying that, QP membership is above and beyond OW status and/or recognition.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I am QC and have dropped down to QFF Silver. We want to fly PE BNE-LHR rtn. BA7407 BNE-SIN then BA 16 SIN-LHR is way cheaper than any QF offering, and they offer 2 free nights (so long as you pay for another) in a London hotel on a Aust-UK rtn booking.

BA 7407 is codeshare QF51 BNE -SIN and operated by QF That's all good, but I won't get any lounge access on any of the legs as I'm only OW Ruby. Even flying on a QF aircraft, because it's a BA flight number. BA won't book it as a QF flight number, and QF won't offer me the BA16 connection out of SIN.

So, I can book the legs separately as QF and BA flights, a bit more expensive but gets me lounge access in BNE on the way out and SIN on the way back. I then lose the 2 free nights offer because the BA flights must be from Australia.

Any thoughts on how to work this ?

Thanks,
Ian

So you are a QP member still or only PS?

If you dropped back down to PS you would receive a guess pass to the QP with your new kit but that may only be for use Domestic QP's within Australia & it sounds as though you're travelling as a couple.

 

[IRCC]

So you are a QP member still or only PS?

If you dropped back down to PS you would receive a guess pass to the QP with your new kit but that may only be for use Domestic QP's within Australia & it sounds as though you're travelling as a couple.

I have a paid Q Club membership and I'm QFF Silver. I'm assuming the entry conditions for a pass are the same as membership, so no entry on a BA flight number.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I have a paid Q Club membership and I'm QFF Silver. I'm assuming the entry conditions for a pass are the same as membership, so no entry on a BA flight number.

Here is the link from the QF website about lounge access. It doesn't appear to say anything about not being able to access the lounges in Australia when booked on a BA (or any other) codeshare flight so you'd have to assume that if you held a QF boarding pass which you would for QF51 (even though booked as BA) that you'd be eligible.

Ex LHR is a different matter as it states that you can only use the AA Admirals Club when travelling on an EK or QF flight number.

http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/qantas-club-lounge-access/global/en#jump0

New! Qantas Club Members and Eligible Skywards members as well as customers in First and Business cabins will have access to Emirates and Qantas Lounges.

For First and Business customers, this includes access to Emirates' First Class and Business Class Lounges in Dubai Terminal 3 including new lounges in Concourse A as well as Qantas and Emirates Lounges in Australia, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

Qantas Club members will continue to have access to Qantas operated International Business Lounges* and will be welcomed at the Emirates Business lounge in Dubai when their next onward flight that day is with Qantas or Emirates.

When travelling from London, Qantas Club members will have access to the American Airlines Admirals lounge at London Heathrow when the next onward flight that day is with Qantas or Emirates.

Find out more about the Qantas Lounges and Emirates Lounges.

Note: Lounge access eligibility is based on the class of travel, Qantas club membership or the Frequent Flyer Membership tier for your next onward flight.

* During lounge operating hours.

 

[IRCC]

Here is the link from the QF website about lounge access. It doesn't appear to say anything about not being able to access the lounges in Australia when booked on a BA (or any other) codeshare flight so you'd have to assume that if you held a QF boarding pass which you would for QF51 (even though booked as BA) that you'd be eligible.

Ex LHR is a different matter as it states that you can only use the AA Admirals Club when travelling on an EK or QF flight number.

[

That page appears to have changed since the last time I checked. I did ring Qantas yesterday and they assured me I'd have no access in either BNE or SIN as "my next onward flight was not on a QF flight number"

 

[IRCC]

The trick in the referenced Qantas page is the "^ lounge access policy applies".
Lounge policy is "Qantas Club Member: Next onward flight that day must be a Qantas^, Emirates^, or Jetstar Airlines+ flight number. One guest allowed and must be travelling with the member on the same flight." So regardless of it being a QF codeshare and a QF aircraft - no deal.
Certainly requires a lot of digging to find all the reasons you can't use QC membership to access a Q lounge.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

The trick in the referenced Qantas page is the "^ lounge access policy applies".

Lounge policy is "Qantas Club Member: Next onward flight that day must be a Qantas^, Emirates^, or Jetstar Airlines+ flight number. One guest allowed and must be travelling with the member on the same flight." So regardless of it being a QF codeshare and a QF aircraft - no deal.

Certainly requires a lot of digging to find all the reasons you can't use QC membership to access a Q lounge.

So the BNE Lounge dragon would look at your QF51 boarding pass with your QF Club number on it but because the minisule font says "sold as BAxx_x" say "no deal"?

 

[IRCC]

So the BNE Lounge dragon would look at your QF51 boarding pass with your QF Club number on it but because the minisule font says "sold as BAxx_x" say "no deal"?

Oz, it's a while since I've flown BA codeshare and I've never paid much attention to the boarding pass, but I assume if I check in at BA in BNE I'll have a BA boarding pass that says BA7407 not QF51. According to the nice man at QC phone help that won't get me into the BNE lounge. I have to book through BA to get their free nights in London deal and (naturally enough) they won't ticket the BNE-SIN leg as QF.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Oz, it's a while since I've flown BA codeshare and I've never paid much attention to the boarding pass, but I assume if I check in at BA in BNE I'll have a BA boarding pass that says BA7407 not QF51.

According to the nice man at QC phone help that won't get me into the BNE lounge. I have to book through BA to get their free nights in London deal and (naturally enough) they won't ticket the BNE-SIN leg as QF.

There is no BA in BNE to check you in so you check in with QF & you will have a QF51 boarding pass with the notation "sold as BAxx_x".

A friend is flying out today so will ask them to ask the lounge people & report back.