Flying Air Pacific, can we access Qantas lounge?

[cinogirl]

My husband is a Qantas Club member and we are flying to Fiji on Air Pacific (ticket has an FJ prefix, not a QF one).

I know we get Qantas frequent flyer points, but are we allowed to access the Qantas Club or Tabua lounges when we fly?

 

[NM]

No, you can only use the Qantas Club when departing on a QF, BA, AA oe US flight number.

 

[cinogirl]

No, you can only use the Qantas Club when departing on a QF, BA, AA oe US flight number.

Thanks. We had conflicting advice from Qantas (no, unless there is a Qantas associated flight at the same time and we can change our FJ prefix to a QF one) and from Air Pacific (you can definitely use the Qantas Club if you're travelling Air Pacific).

 

[NM]

Thanks. We had conflicting advice from Qantas (no, unless there is a Qantas associated flight at the same time and we can change our FJ prefix to a QF one) and from Air Pacific (you can definitely use the Qantas Club if you're travelling Air Pacific).

You can use the Qantas Club if you are ticketed on the QF flight number. But if using the FJ flight number you do not have access to the Qantas Club.

 

[mhen]

Bula

I have flown to Fiji about 20 times in the last two years. I try to get a QF flight number rather than FJ (same plane) as it means I get extra miles for being Silver and because I was worried about getting entry to Qantas Club. However Quantas and Air Pacific have different fares and as I am working for a "not-for-profit" organisation I always take the cheapest. The first time I was ticketed on FJ I went to the Club in Sydney and asked and they said fine come on in. So since then I just present boarding pass and so far have not been refused. I often travel with a colleague who I take in as a guest and again so far no problem even if their ticket is FJ.

In Nadi there is a sign at Air Pacific check in that indicates a particular counter is for Business, Qantas Club and Tabua Class. I always check in there, never more than 5 people in queue as against 30 or more in normal economy line.

In Nadi again no problem with acess to Lounge whether QF or FJ but they are strict on only one guest. I have seen them turn away family groups of three or more if only one person has membership. I have also seen some nasty temper tantrums (by the parents, Australians I am sorry to say) when this happens. On a couple of occassions I have seen mum, dad and one child head to Club door at same time as me and I always ask them if they only have one membership, both times they have said yes and I have taken the non-member parent in as my guest.

Nadi Air Pacific Lounge is small but for the 9am flight back to Sydney I usually checkin about 7.15, am in the Club by 7.30 to get a seat and have fresh toast with vegemite and a nice cup of tea to start the day. I read the local paper and collect a bottle of water from the fridge by the door on the way out.

However I flew an Air Pacific flight out of Nadi to Samoa two weeks ago (not codeshared with Qantas) and was told that Qantas Club could not use lounge for that flight. So it seems lounge access is only for codeshared flights.

Enjoy Fiji.