BA Arrivals Lounge in LHR

[Danger]

I respectfully disagree. This recent thread (http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/qp-access-when-flying-mel-19693.html), for example, suggests that the "full details of your membership benefits" are not clear on the QFF website. And this is but one thread that suggests access rules for lounges (oneworld, QF, partner) are not clear.

And correct me if I'm wrong but the QFF pages on the QF website make no reference to arrivals lounges benefits. This is fine if FF status is not a determining factor in arrivals lounge access. However, regardless of what is the case now, from personal experience (and from that of others who have posted here) a WP could previously gain access to the BA Arrivals Lounge at T5, irrespective of the class of travel. That, to me, suggests the information is not clear.

 

[NM]

And correct me if I'm wrong but the QFF pages on the QF website make no reference to arrivals lounges benefits. This is fine if FF status is not a determining factor in arrivals lounge access. However, regardless of what is the case now, from personal experience (and from that of others who have posted here) a WP could previously gain access to the BA Arrivals Lounge at T5, irrespective of the class of travel. That, to me, suggests the information is not clear.

Arrivals lounges are not considered "One World" lounges and access to arrivals lounge facilities is not a OneWorld benefits under the published OneWorld benefits.

Arrivals lounges may be provide by some airlines at some locations and the airlines providing these facilities are able to make their own rules for access regardless of what the rules for access to departures lounges may be. So the fact the BA used to permit OneWorld Emeralds arriving in economy on long-haul flights to use the BA Arrivals Lounge has no bearing on the access policy for the AA Arrivals Lounge at T3. That policy is negotiated between AA and QF and it would seem that the arrangement they have agrees is for QF First and Business class passengers to have access. They have determined that cabin and not FF status is the determining factor. The only confusion comes about when people assume the arrivals lounge is a OneWorld lounge and expect the same access policies apply. This is an incorrect assumption.

The oneworld® alliance airlines provide almost 550 lounges across the globe. If you are an Emerald or Sapphire level top-tier member of one of our frequent flyer programmes, you will have access to any of these lounges before departure, no matter which oneworld airline you are flying. Lounge access is available if the departing flight from that airport is marketed and operated by a oneworld carrier. Access is subject to lounge capacity.

Emerald: When travelling on any of the oneworld member airlines, any customer who has earned Emerald tier status, is welcome (with one guest travelling on a flight operated and marketed by a oneworld airline) at any oneworld airlines' pre-flight lounges, including First Class, Business Class and frequent flyer lounges regardless of the class they are travelling in.

*my bolding

As for the AA Arrivals Lounge at LHR T3:

All First and Business Class passengers flying American to London Heathrow are invited to enjoy the Arrivals Lounge amenities upon their arrival (Economy Class passengers can pay a fee of $90 USD + VAT for access to the London Heathrow lounge upon arriving). To enter, simply show your boarding pass and photo ID at the front desk.
Hours: 6.00 a.m. - 2.00 p.m.

Is clear that access is for AA First and Business with Economy able to pay.

And from Qantas

London Arrivals Lounge – American Airlines, Admirals Club. Eligible Qantas customers include First and Business Class.

and

Arrivals Lounge

Eligible Qantas customers travelling in First and Business will be invited to use the American Airlines Admirals Club, located on the 2nd floor of terminal 3 arrivals concourse.

So I don't see anything that is not clear in stating who is eligible to use the AA arrivals lounge facilities at LHR Terminal 3. To me, its very clearly defined and not in any way ambiguous.

 

[Danger]

Arrivals lounges are not considered "One World" lounges and access to arrivals lounge facilities is not a OneWorld benefits under the published OneWorld benefits.

I'm not suggesting they are oneworld lounges or it is a oneworld benefit.

So I don't see anything that is not clear in stating who is eligible to use the AA arrivals lounge facilities at LHR Terminal 3. To me, its very clearly defined and not in any way ambiguous.

Why then has there previously been no mention, as far as I'm aware, of access to the BA T5 Arrivals Lounge for WP, regardless of booking class? (And as my earlier post indicated I'm not simply referring to the AA Arrivals Lounge.)

 

[NM]

Why then has there previously been no mention, as far as I'm aware, of access to the BA T5 Arrivals Lounge for WP, regardless of booking class? (And as my earlier post indicated I'm not simply referring to the AA Arrivals Lounge.)

BA's Arrivals Lounge admittance rules are independent of those for access to AA's arrival lounge. I don't know what was previously published by Qantas for admittance policy to the BA Arrivals Lounges at T4 and more recently T5. But it does not change what is published as the policy for the AA Arrivals Lounge at T3.

 

[Trivalve]

Ok - went through again ex Houston in Economy two weeks back and gave it another run. This time they were nice but same result - she even checked with a supervisior somewhere else in the airport. But she did let me in 'just this once'. The cheat sheet appeared to have QF flights listed but nothing else. Mayber biz or first would get it but as noted above, QF have moved to T3 so there is maybe not much point.

 

[Marshmallow]

Hey guys, newbie here even though I've been reading for a while.

Question - so now that qf9 arrives terminal 3 and the Qantas website says AA lounge access is provided for those flying business, can one still trek to terminal 5 and use the BA lounge? How much better is it?

Reason I ask, I'm arriving there with my wife (both flying business, I'm platinum, she's scumbag status) and want to use an arrivals lounge. Should I just go straight to the AA lounge? Or head to terminal 5 to try my luck?

Thanks

 

[Mal]

Reason I ask, I'm arriving there with my wife (both flying business, I'm platinum, she's scumbag status) and want to use an arrivals lounge. Should I just go straight to the AA lounge? Or head to terminal 5 to try my luck?

I'm pretty sure that the BA T5 lounge will only let you in if you arrived on BA. Can't really comment on the differences between the AA and BA lounges, although general consensus is that the BA lounge is far superior. Someone else should be able to comment on that.

Welcome to AFF.

 

[Danger]

I phoned BA's Australian number (1300 767177) at 10.10am this morning and asked:

"As a Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum, oneworld Emerald, travelling in economy on either BA10 or BA16, would I have access to the LHR T5 Arrivals Lounge?"
​

Strangely enough (!), Parul didn't have the information in front of her but after about four minutes on hold came back with the answer "yes".

(Exact time and name have been included in case you want to quote the information as your own.)

 

[Danger]

I visited the BA Arrivals Lounge at LHR T5 a few days ago having arrived in BA on Club World. I asked if I would have been granted access as a Qantas Platinum arriving long haul in economy and the answer from two lounge staff was no - until they checked their cheat sheet which indicated the answer is yes.

In fact, from what I've learnt on FT, all oneworld Emeralds have access to the BA Arrivals Lounge when arriving long haul.