Do oneworld partners pay when you use a partner lounge?

[fersea]

Strange experience this evening. Flew from Canberra to Melbourne on Qantas. I am a Marco Polo Gold member (courtesy of Amex platinum) but I still credit my points to QFF where I am only Bronze, so my Qantas FF number was on my boarding pass.

I went into into the Qantas Club and showed my boarding pass and MP gold card. No problem getting in but the receptionist said she needed to record my MP Gold number because Cathay then get charged for my use of the lounge. She said she needed to change my BP to the Cathay number then change it back. She sent me into the lounge and said she would page me when I was done.

I have taken probably six or seven QF flights since I have been MP Gold (and earlier last year I had one of those one month AA lounge passes that I used for Qantas Club) and this hasn't happened before and I was never aware that oneworld partners charge each other when a member uses a partner lounge.

Anyone else experienced this?

 

[kermatu]

Slightly different scenario but same thing - in Singapore Qantas lounge, on an Emirates flight booked through Qantas - the receptionist was most concerned to get and record my FF number so she could "advise" (ie, charge) Emirates.

 

[JohnK]

I have taken probably six or seven QF flights since I have been MP Gold (and earlier last year I had one of those one month AA lounge passes that I used for Qantas Club) and this hasn't happened before and I was never aware that oneworld partners charge each other when a member uses a partner lounge.

Anyone else experienced this?

I believe that to be the case.

I used the SIN Emirates lounge last week and they took my boarding pass to photo copy it and then came over to me to return it.

I think the same happens at the Skyview lounge although they do not photo copy the boarding pass but I suspect they may charge MH as MH is operating carrier and I am in business class.

 

[yohy?!]

Yep heard this several times in Syd f lounge when travelling cathay

 

[Grooba]

I've been told this is the case when using the Tabua Lounge in NAN flying a QF code share on FJ metal. They have a list of pax with QF SG or higher flying the QF code share to which they mark who used the lounge and who didn't.

 

[fersea]

There you go, maybe they have just done it more discretely in the past. Of course my situation was a bit different to those described above.

I was on a paid QF ticket (well actually one of those 10 point bonus vouchers) flying on a QF flight on QF metal. I was just using my Cathay privileges to get into the lounge.

It didn't bother me in the slightest I just thought it a bit unusual.

 

[RooFlyer]

There you go, maybe they have just done it more discretely in the past. Of course my situation was a bit different to those described above.

I was on a paid QF ticket (well actually one of those 10 point bonus vouchers) flying on a QF flight on QF metal. I was just using my Cathay privileges to get into the lounge.

It didn't bother me in the slightest I just thought it a bit unusual.

I've always understood that any hosting lounge/airlineX charges the non-airlineX lounge FF club guests for entry/use. Makes sense doesn't it - imagine (say) 200 BA pax daily, who have no intention of going anywhere near a QF plane, scoffing food & drink in the QFlounge. QF pax would ultimately pay if BA didn't get charged!

In your case, not withstanding your QF NB membership and use of QF metal in this case, your lounge entry was courtesy CX, so CX gets the bill.

Most times it gets recorded automatically, via info on the BP, but if the 'chargeable' FF number isn't on the BP they can either enter it manually off your card, or, as seems to have happened in this case, enter the CX number to substitute for the QFF number, thus get it in the system, then they change it back so your points etc go to where you wanted it originally.

I wonder what happens in places like LAX - where its officially a shared lounge between three OneWorld members, but Qantas is 'host' ? Probably all 3 airlines carry the cost pro rata and there is no cross charge amongst FF members of those airlines.

 

[cmon0005]

No problem getting in but the receptionist said she needed to record my MP Gold number because Cathay then get charged for my use of the lounge. She said she needed to change my BP to the Cathay number then change it back.

This does sound strange as you were on a QF marketed & operated flight although you were CX Gold, QF has to foot the bill as they're the marketing carrier, not CX. Maybe this was just mis-understanding on the agent's part, but I guess they're not to know every circumstance where they can and can't on-charge so maybe they just scan everything that has another flight number on it.etc then someone else at head office sorts it out.

Serfty has a bit more knowledge on this, I asked him a similar question a few months ago about MH lounge on MH flight as a QF Plat, and he said the marketing carrier pays which in my case was MH.

One thing I thought of just now whilst on this topic, is how much lounge revenue QF must forgo in their domestic lounge, as most times the lounge staff briefly glance at everyones boarding pass from a distance when entering the lounge, how many BA/EK/AY/AA code share pax with QF boarding passes must they miss out on scanning?

 

[fersea]

The funny thing was I was with my girlfriend who is Qantas silver and a paid (through the corporate discount) Qantas Club member. It was just I walked in first and showed my card for us both. So Cathay probably got charged for my guest too!!

 

[Hvr]

And as others have reported re taking of details last week Boomy and I visited the Emirates lounge in BKK using our QF P1 cards. They lady on the front welcomed us, took down our details and we enjoyed the lounge.

A fine visit it was as well, great company and very nice food.

 

[Chief Wiggum]

Would seem to be a standard reciprocal B2B arrangement. At the end of the month all the various carriers' bean counters get together... probably in one of the airline lounges... and compare notes.

"So QF Bob.. We've got you down for 3894 of your pax visiting our lounges this month... that sound about right ?"
"Why yes it does BA Steve... and we count 3617 of your fine upstanding BA pax in our many fine QF lounges over the same fiscal period, agreed"
"Agreed ole chap... just do me up an invoice for 277 pax lounge visits and we'll be all square"
"Done.. and done fine Sir"
"Jolly good show... see you next month... now if you'll excuse me I have to meet see CX Mandy and settle up with her"
"Yeah.. no worries Steve... I can see MH Safiya is walking over to see me..."

At least that's how it works in my mind

 

[legroom]

Come to think of it, if reciprocal billing were not in play, they would only need to eyeball the BP or the card without the need for photocopying or scanning same.

 

[Simo]

To my knowledge yes they pay a fee I am assuming.

Would be a bit heard to charge everything u you eat.

Flounge a bit different as it is table service.

When I was on a FJ to NAN when I was walking out of the lounge the staff asked if we where going to be coming back but we said no as Little Miss was getting a bit bored... I know shock horror and SWMBO wanted to have a quick look around the Duty Free shops.

 

[Ansett]

This has been the case for some time and it is why they dont like you lounge hopping. Now just think lets say it is an average of around $50.00 per person per lounge per visit and one does a lounge run the cost say for singapore would be around $250.00 per person based on visiting 5 lounges. Hence why they are not keen on Lounge Runs.

I know that it is a source of concern for airlines. I know when in Singapore I usually use both the QF and the EK lounge for various reasons and the QF lounge people hate it as they know they are about to get a charge back from EK.

OT so why is it then that QF cant afford a few more food options and real champagne and some proper tables and ambience in the dining section. If they did then I wouldnt be going to the EK Lounge

 

[RooFlyer]

This has been the case for some time and it is why they dont like you lounge hopping. Now just think lets say it is an average of around $50.00 per person per lounge per visit and one does a lounge run the cost say for singapore would be around $250.00 per person based on visiting 5 lounges. Hence why they are not keen on Lounge Runs.

I know that it is a source of concern for airlines. I know when in Singapore I usually use both the QF and the EK lounge for various reasons and the QF lounge people hate it as they know they are about to get a charge back from EK.

<snip<

Exactly. If I'm checking in on Operating Airline X and ask - "I can use the "Alliance Airline Lounge Y here, can't I?" (sometimes I'm genuinely unsure) its usually answered with a very firm "No."

But what the heck. You have a go anyway and you are usually welcomed in with a smile, a scan of the BP / show of membership card and a faint sound of "ker-ching" in the background. A lot of the time the Alliance Airline lounge is nearly empty (as they may not have a flight at that time), and there is food laid out - this way they get some cash for it

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Would seem to be a standard reciprocal B2B arrangement. At the end of the month all the various carriers' bean counters get together... probably in one of the airline lounges... and compare notes.

"So QF Bob.. We've got you down for 3894 of your pax visiting our lounges this month... that sound about right ?"
"Why yes it does BA Steve... and we count 3617 of your fine upstanding BA pax in our many fine QF lounges over the same fiscal period, agreed"
"Agreed ole chap... just do me up an invoice for 277 pax lounge visits and we'll be all square"
"Done.. and done fine Sir"
"Jolly good show... see you next month... now if you'll excuse me I have to meet see CX Mandy and settle up with her"
"Yeah.. no worries Steve... I can see MH Safiya is walking over to see me..."

At least that's how it works in my mind

"So QF Bob... I'm glad we agree that 1 entry to QF F Sydney is equivalent to 1 entry in our MH Domestic lounge"

 

[Chief Wiggum]

"So QF Bob... I'm glad we agree that 1 entry to QF F Sydney is equivalent to 1 entry in our MH Domestic lounge"

Yes... excellent point... obviously there are different negotiated chargeback rates for the various lounge "products" being consumed by the pax I'm sure there's a cost matrix with OLAP cube feeding into many pivot-tables.

 

[eosphoros]

This does sound strange as you were on a QF marketed & operated flight although you were CX Gold, QF has to foot the bill as they're the marketing carrier, not CX.

I would think that CX would have to foot the bill as the lounge access is granted by CX (even though it is a QF flight). I am quite sure this is the case as many times I go into a lounge at a small European port when flying with BA, IB or AY and most of the time, my QFF details are taken down. Of course, if I am flying 'business', then my details aren't recorded as lounge access is granted as part of the ticket (and not the status).

 

[RickyT84]

My experience is similar to others in that, at HKG, the CX lounge agents took down my QFF details when I was on a QF marketed and operated flight and accessed the lounge as QFF Gold (OWS). When I flew out of LHR last year on a QF marketed and operated flight, the BA lounge agent happily entertained my request for an additional guest and scanned me and my parent's boarding pass without any fuss.

 

[nonpop]

Across Christmas, New Year ... when departing HKG on AY J, the CX Wing lounge took our QF numbers. So that seems correct. We were using a 1st lounge accessing our OWE rights vs the AY offered lounge.

In FCO departing in J, we used the lounge suggested by AY and entered the lounge with 'invitations' (same format as a BP). Yet on entrance to the FCO 3rd party lounge (non-OW) the agent specifically took our QF numbers. So this seems at-odds on the surface as this shouldn't be billed to QF but rather AY.