Lounge access in transit between Business and Economy intnl flights (Joburg)

[TeaOne]

I am flying JJ8162 Sao Paulo -Joburg Business class (classic award) then 10hour layover before flying QF64 Joburg - Syd Economy (classic award). Will I be able to access the Qantas lounge in Joburg? I can see rules that cover long haul followed by short haul flights. But not long haul /long haul. Any advice appreciated.

If not, any hot tips of how to spend my 10 hours in Joburg would be also appreciated.

Last question... Can I take a guest in to the lounge? If so, I shall put it on the wiki / thread offering a plus one.

Thanks!

 

[madrooster]

There's no exception case for long haul to long haul.

 

[TeaOne]

There's no exception case for long haul to long haul.

Long haul /short haul rules say that I can access in transit.
But I couldn't find the long haul / long haul rules. Assume you mean I can not access, and there are no exceptions?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Long haul /short haul rules say that I can access in transit.
But I couldn't find the long haul / long haul rules. Assume you mean I can not access, and there are no exceptions?

you are correct. The oneworld access rules only apply to connections between long and short haul (and v.v). Long-haul to long-haul are not covered by the rules and you don't have access if your continuing flight is not in an eligible cabin (or you don't have status).

 

[TeaOne]

Thanks guys. Obviously not the answer I was hoping for, but thems the breaks.

Got any suggestions as to which paid lounge in Joburg is the best?

 

[ALH]

I was advised to give the Qantas Lounge a miss and head straight to the BA First Class Lounge, but I have Platinum Status with Qantas (Oneworld Emerald). BA First Lounge was pretty good, but I would hate to spend more than 2 to 3 hours in any Lounge.

If you don’t have Status, you could walk across to the Intercontintal and either get a room for the day, or just settle in for a nice long lunch. The food there is delicious and not expensive. Then you could relax in the big lounge chairs just off the restaurant and chill out there for a bit. MIGHT be better than any paid lounge.

I did this a couple of weeks ago on my way back from Kenya Via JNB, with a 7 hour layover.

NB: The rooms aren’t cheap, but if you have IHG Points, it’s quite good value. I had a couple of days there over Xmas

 

[astrosly]

I believe the long haul-short haul exceptions exist because often short haul flights may be all economy seating (most of mine certainly are) so you can't buy a business class fare on these sectors if you wanted to and is to cover for when you have a predominantly J class fare being the long haul sector with a connection to a short economy flight. This policy doesn't extend to flights with two long haul sectors as they are mostly 2+ class flights.

If there are more than one of you with the 10 hour layover and it is during the day you could look at booking a half day tour to Cradle of Mankind, the Apartheid Museum, Sun City or a nature reserve such as Lion Park depending on your interests. Many of the tours pick up from airport hotels including the Intercontinental.

 

[drron]

As you are on 2 different tickets on 2 different airlines lounge access is out.
However there are cheaper options than the IC.The Protea transit hotel is half the price of the IC and is in the terminal so if you can get your bags checked through or can get a QF64 BP early then it is a good option.It is part of the Marriott rewards program.
A little cheaper and as close as the IC is the City Lodge hotel.
Nearby are several hotels with shuttles including a couple more Proteas and a bit cheaper again.We have used one of the off site Proteas and found it perfectly acceptable.

 

[Daver6]

My experience with the Protea transit hotel wasn't great. I'd avoid it if possible and was hardly cheap.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I believe the long haul-short haul exceptions exist because often short haul flights may be all economy seating (most of mine certainly are) so you can't buy a business class fare on these sectors if you wanted to and is to cover for when you have a predominantly J class fare being the long haul sector with a connection to a short economy flight. This policy doesn't extend to flights with two long haul sectors as they are mostly 2+ class flights.

It equally applies to long haul F connecting to europe business class, and to USA flights where lounge access wouldn’t otherwise be granted.

I would say most intra-europe, intra asia and intra USA all have two cabins these days, business and economy. The seating may be same as economy in europe, but you can buy a business fare which grants lounge access, ticket flexibility etc.

 

[vetrade]

................If you don’t have Status, you could walk across to the Intercontintal and either get a room for the day, or just settle in for a nice long lunch. The food there is delicious and not expensive. Then you could relax in the big lounge chairs just off the restaurant and chill out there for a bit. MIGHT be better than any paid lounge.........................

+1 for the IC. We have found the restaurant food consistently good there. Plus the lounge area ALH referred to doesn't directly face the terminal so once you're inside you are undisturbed by all the cars and people around the terminal entrance. It's an easy place to relax.

As for alternative things to do during a 10 hour stopover, there is an old prison at Constitution Hill in JNB where the blacks were kept in the most deplorable conditions imaginable. It is a very sobering experience to walk around there and see the conditions they lived under.

There are very good (excellent actually) restaurants at both Rosebank Mall and Melrose Arch or there's Nelson Mandella Square at Sandton Mall which has a huge statue of Mandella, and also restaurants etc. All of these malls are to the north of JNB CBD and about 30 minutes drive from the airport.

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

As for alternative things to do during a 10 hour stopover, there is an old prison at Constitution Hill in JNB where the blacks were kept in the most deplorable conditions imaginable. It is a very sobering experience to walk around there and see the conditions they lived under.

There are very good (excellent actually) restaurants at both Rosebank Mall and Melrose Arch or there's Nelson Mandella Square at Sandton Mall which has a huge statue of Mandella, and also restaurants etc. All of these malls are to the north of JNB CBD and about 30 minutes drive from the airport.

I know I am late to this thread but people do searches. I regularly transit through Johannesburg into Africa, and for me, the Gautrain is the key. It always runs on time (at least the airport bit does) and goes into Sandton for Sandton Square, and then change for Rosebank and the mall there. Lots of eating and wandering options. Also in Rosebank you can pick up the open top hop on hop off bus; even if you have luggage you can ride the two loops.

Butcher Shop at Sandton Square and Grillhouse at Rosebank are probably in Joburg's top few steak restaurants if you hit meal time. Grillhouse is less touristy and their wine is substantially cheaper.

 

[vetrade]

.........Butcher Shop at Sandton Square and Grillhouse at Rosebank are probably in Joburg's top few steak restaurants if you hit meal time. Grillhouse is less touristy and their wine is substantially cheaper.

Few people would believe how you can buy a quality steak and a very good bottle of wine in these very good restaurants for around $AUD15 -20 each.