EK lounge access for QF status pax discussion [where/when? where/when not?]

[Austman]

I recently tried to access the EK lounge in PEK (Beijing). My ticket was for QF108 PEK-SYD in J and I am WP with QFF. There was an EK flight departing for DXB at about the same time.

The EK lounge staff in PEK firmly stated there is no absolutely agreement in China to allow Qantas status pax, when flying on Qantas operated flights, into any EK lounge.

This doesn't seem to agree with the Qantas published policy here:

Qantas and Emirates | Qantas

Qantas Gold, Platinum and Platinum One Frequent Flyers, as well as travellers flying in First or Business cabins, can access Qantas Lounges and Emirates Lounges across Australia, Europe, Asia, North Africa and the Middle East.​

I had a fairly lengthy discussion with the lady and I do have her name for reference but she was absolutely sure of EK's access policy and stated that it wouldn't have mattered what I showed her from a Qantas website. She was nice but firm and I believed her.

Was she correct? Does this happen elsewhere? Is it worth following up? Who would I even refer it to?

 

[moa999]

You can only go through Qantas.

I'd note that the lounge doesn't appear on the Qantas Lounges page (but then neither does EK or BA Singapore)

 

[AIRwin]

Same happened to me in LHR last week with the EK lounge dragon insisting that access is only for CL but I didn't want to argue as I wasn't sure.

 

[samh004]

Same happened to me in LHR last week with the EK lounge dragon insisting that access is only for CL but I didn't want to argue as I wasn't sure.

That is different, the LHR lounge has always been special.

 

[mannej]

Same happened to me in LHR last week with the EK lounge dragon insisting that access is only for CL but I didn't want to argue as I wasn't sure.

This may help - Qantas first class flyers can still use Emirates' London lounge

 

[AIRwin]

Thanks! Glad I didn't make a scene...

 

[Austman]

I knew about the LHR exception and the exempted parts of the world, but isn't China = Asia?

I haven't tried but I think access to the EK lounge is allowed when flying on a QF marketed and operated flight from HKG? HKG being both Asia and (technically) China.

 

[AIRwin]

I haven't tried but I think access to the EK lounge is allowed when flying on a QF marketed and operated flight from HKG? HKG being both Asia and (technically) China.

Yes I've tried that before.

 

[serfty]

I also believe you can access EK lounge at LHR if you are traveling on EK metal with a QF/EK flight number

 

[Hvr]

I recently tried to access the EK lounge in PEK (Beijing). My ticket was for QF108 PEK-SYD in J and I am WP with QFF.

I know there are lots of variables and different matters re this issue, but one not raised yet is who issued your ticket?

I.E. was it an 081 ticket? Regardless of any other considerations this is an instant no.

 

[Austman]

Yes it was a QF issued 081 ticket.

Why does that make it a "an instant no"?

I've done it lots of times in SIN with a QF ticket, QF flight number, QF operated. It seems to work in HKG also?

 

[calmelb]

I know there are lots of variables and different matters re this issue, but one not raised yet is who issued your ticket?

I.E. was it an 081 ticket? Regardless of any other considerations this is an instant no.

It doesn't matter who issued your ticket, as per the above posts as long as you are on the required metal with the required flight numbers you can access the EK lounge (Such as if you got a QF number on QF metal but booked through airline A then you can still access the SIN, HKG, etc EK lounge)

 

[Hvr]

Yes it was a QF issued 081 ticket.

Why does that make it a "an instant no"?

Can't find a reference but previous entries to the EK lounge at BKK require your Qantas ticket number. This has been raised previously and confirmed by others,

 

[Haplo]

You got access to China Eastern airline lounges as WP and flying in J. True the lounge is not as good as EK but aren't we trying to solve a first world problem?

 

[Austman]

Can't find a reference but previous entries to the EK lounge at BKK require your Qantas ticket number. This has been raised previously and confirmed by others,

But I did have a Qantas ticket number...

You got access to China Eastern airline lounges as WP and flying in J. True the lounge is not as good as EK but aren't we trying to solve a first world problem?

Not any more. It's now the CX lounge and it's not that great. The nicer lounge was actually more for my +1 who was traveling in Y. Nice to have some better food and drinks before the overnight long-haul Y flight. Although I don't actually know if the EK lounge in PEK is a typical EK lounge - I assume it is.

The Australian Business Traveller also seems to think access should have been provided:

A Qantas flyer's guide to Emirates airport lounge access

If you can't get into the EK lounges as a Qantas Gold and above and/or flying in J, when on a QF ticketed, marketed and operated flight, when exactly can you?

 

[dajop]

Not any more.

Not ever at PEK? MU operates from T2 and QF from T3. Unlike at PVG where QF switched to the same terminal as MU.

 

[Austman]

Not ever at PEK?

Seems it used to be?: Qantas to restart Sydney-Beijing flights

Whatever lounge it was, it's CX today.

 

[JohnPhelan]

When the QF-EK arrangement (including lounge access) came into place, PEK was not a QF port. I wonder if the issue is simply that PEK was never put on the list of allowable lounges in the first place, and no-one thought to add it when the QF PEK flights started?

You really should take this up with QF, as it may be a complete oversight that they can rectify by alerting EK that they need to add PEK to the list of allowable EK lounges.

 

[dajop]

Seems it used to be?: Qantas to restart Sydney-Beijing flights

Whatever lounge it was, it's CX today.

The arrangement alluded to in the linked article is correct - but it talks about MU lounges in general, not specifically for departures from PEK. If departing on MU (domestically or to Australia) with QF status you can use an MU lounge in Chinese airports - but you can’t and never have been at PEK when flying QF because MU lounge is in T2 and QF goes from T3, so CX seems to be the only option unless EK situation can be clarified.

 

[Austman]

I have now raised the Beijing EK lounge access issue with Qantas Customer Care.

I'll post their response when I get it.