Lounge Access on Arrival as QF Elite?

[kangarooflyer88]

Just thought I’d start this thread to figure out which airline lounges provide access to their lounge on arrival (in addition to the usual on departure perk) with a relevant OneWorld status granted by Qantas. This is different from arrival lounges that airlines that BA have set up specifically for arriving passengers on long haul flights.

The benefit of such a perk is that you can check a bag in for a flight and then when you arrive at your final destination instead of waiting for the bag to arrive at the carousel you can spend quality time in the lounge having a meal, freshening up, etc.

Two that come to mind are Qantas’ operated lounges if the member is a Qantas Platinum or Platinum One member and American Airlines which provides OneWorld Sapphire (QF Gold) and OneWorld Emerald (QF Platinum and Platinum One) access to not only their Admirals Club but Flagship lounges.

Are there other OneWorld members that offer such perks?

-RooFlyer88

 

[Danger]

... and American Airlines which provides OneWorld Sapphire (QF Gold) and OneWorld Emerald (QF Platinum and Platinum One) access to not only their Admirals Club but Flagship lounges.

Where did you hear that?

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Where did you hear that?

Per the AA admirals Club website:

Non-AAdvantage oneworld® Emerald℠ and Sapphire℠ members​

Includes customers on all departing or arriving flights marketed and operated by American or a oneworld® airline (regardless of cabin).*

 

[serfty]

Per the AA admirals Club website:

Note that is an American Airlines benefit, not a oneworld benefit.

Also,

Flagship Lounge − Travel information − American Airlines

www.aa.com

and

https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/clubs/flagship-lounge-terms-and-conditions.jsp

Although, anecdotally, I have come across PAX being rejected in LAX.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Note that is an American Airlines benefit, not a oneworld benefit.

That may be a benefit for AA operated lounges, but my question is whether there are other OneWorld airlines that operate such lounges that provide this perk to OneWorld members (i.e. access on arrival)? For instance, can I access the JAL lounge on arrival flying HNX to KIX? What about the BA lounge flying LHR > GLA? Or how about AY flying SIN > HEL then connecting onto a non OneWorld operated flight?

As for the gent who was turned away at the LAX lounge, there's a lot we don't know about their circumstances. For one thing, what status did they hold? If it was AA or AS they are out of luck on domestic itineraries. OTOH if they held OneWorld Emerald or Sapphire status elsewhere and were arriving on a OneWorld operated and marketed flight then yes they should have been let in. This is also why I have the lounge rules at hand, so that if I am challenged by the agent I can show them the rules.

-RooFlyer88

 

[elanshin]

I'd imagine though (depending on the airport layout) that some might be hard to access their lounge on arrival from Int'l as departures and arrivals are separated.

 

[serfty]

As for the gent who was turned away at the LAX lounge, there's a lot we don't know about their circumstances. For one thing, what status did they hold? If it was AA or AS they are out of luck on domestic itineraries. OTOH if they held OneWorld Emerald or Sapphire status elsewhere and were arriving on a OneWorld operated and marketed flight then yes they should have been let in. This is also why I have the lounge rules at hand, so that if I am challenged by the agent I can show them the rules.

They arrived into LAX in First on QF11. They did have an onward (non oneworld) domestic USA flight but this should not have mattered. Showing agent the rules did not help.

Just arrived at LAX on QF11 flying First, have connection. Went to Flagship in T4, Showed QF BP with both First and OWE. Guy then asked me for connecting BP, and I was denied “this is not an arrivals lounge”. Had the rules available, still no dice.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I'd imagine though (depending on the airport layout) that some might be hard to access their lounge on arrival from Int'l as departures and arrivals are separated.

Depends on the itinerary. I mean if you were flying say AY from SYD to HEL then connecting on a SK flight to CPH, in theory you would be able to access the Schengen AY lounge as your connecting flight takes off from that terminal. Heck you could even access the non-Schengen lounge on arrival since you are in the departures area of the non-schengen terminal when you arrive on that flight. But again, we don't know if AY offers access on arrival to their lounges and what the terms are there.

They arrived into LAX in First on QF11. They did have an onward (non oneworld) domestic USA flight but this should not have mattered. Showing agent the rules did not help.

What was their argument? I mean if the rules state departing or arriving that's pretty clear as day. Then again, their recourse here I suppose could be using a different OneWorld lounge that permits such access (i.e. presumably the QF Flounge at LAX would be accessible?)

-RooFlyer88

 

[serfty]

i.e. presumably the QF Flounge at LAX would be accessible?

No.

Only AA operated lounges as this is an American Airlines benefit, not oneworld. There are four at LAX, but only one of them is Flagship.

This arrivals thing appears to be a newly documented rule and maybe the agents have not been properly apprised of it. However if an agent says no, there is little recourse.

 

[Princess Fiona]

No.

Only AA operated lounges. There are four at LAX, but only one of them is Flagship.

This arrivals thing appears to be a newly documented rule and maybe the agents have not been properly apprised of it. However if an agent says no, there is little recourse.

It’s not a newly documented rule AFAIK.
The Flagship access rules are same day BP for an eligible AA or OW flight.
It’s relatively straightforward when arriving on a Domestic AA flight. Show inbound BP and access the lounge.
Have done so myself in LAX/ ORD/JFK. ORD access last month when my onward flight was on UA.

Seems that the same day OW BP is what’s causing issues.
If so then AA need to clarify their rules about OW flights.

 

[tdimdad]

Depends on the itinerary. I mean if you were flying say AY from SYD to HEL then connecting on a SK flight to CPH, in theory you would be able to access the Schengen AY lounge as your connecting flight takes off from that terminal. Heck you could even access the non-Schengen lounge on arrival since you are in the departures area of the non-schengen terminal when you arrive on that flight. But again, we don't know if AY offers access on arrival to their lounges and what the terms are there.

Technically, you could access the non-Schengen departures area in HEL after you've cleared the transit security, even without a departure from there. You need a boarding pass to get to the airside overall but the passport control to exit Schengen does not require a BP, at least the eGates (IIRC). However, you might struggle to get back out of the non-Schengen departures area to catch your connection to CPH (there's no reverse passport control for pax on that floor).

Looking forward to your reporting from the field...

 

[serfty]

It’s not a newly documented rule AFAIK.
...

Flagship arrivals rules for PAX arriving on "Flagship" services has been a thing for some time.

What is new to me regarding the online documentation in relation to arrivals access at AA operated lounges is that this extends to non US oneworld elites who have travelled oneworld that day in any class, Business/First PAX on non US Airline same day oneworld services and "International" Business/First PAX on US oneworld airline same day operated services.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

For Aust, as dep and arr int pax are separated, for Aust int flights, arr lounge access will be impossible, unless you are transitting to another int flight.
If your next flight is a QFd flight, even if you have arr on an int flight from o/seas, no arr access for the int lounges.

 

[serfty]

If so then AA need to clarify their rules about OW flights.

They need to do this with their staff. The documentation is pretty clear.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

What is unclear so far on this thread, and something that again I am appealing to those in the community are some links/first hand experience accessing lounges operated by OneWorld airlines on arrival. It would be nice to discover all of the airlines that offer this perk aside from AA and QF (for their World Platinum/Platinum One elites). I'll also try accessing some of these lounges on arrival and report back what I find.

No.

Only AA operated lounges as this is an American Airlines benefit, not oneworld. There are four at LAX, but only one of them is Flagship.

But doesn't QF provide access on arrival to their lounges for those holding World Platinum status (or is that just domestic lounges)?

This arrivals thing appears to be a newly documented rule and maybe the agents have not been properly apprised of it. However if an agent says no, there is little recourse.

Other than to take down their name and complain to AA. Whether that results in any substantial benefit remains to be seen.

The Flagship access rules are same day BP for an eligible AA or OW flight.
It’s relatively straightforward when arriving on a Domestic AA flight. Show inbound BP and access the lounge.
Have done so myself in LAX/ ORD/JFK. ORD access last month when my onward flight was on UA.

Correct and that's a huge perk too. Not only can you access the Flagship lounges flying economy as a OneWorld Sapphire/Emerald but you also can access them on domestic flights and even on arrival.

Seems that the same day OW BP is what’s causing issues.
If so then AA need to clarify their rules about OW flights.

That could potentially be the issue. It could also be an agent who isn't familiar with the rules.

What is new to me regarding the online documentation in relation to arrivals access at AA operated lounges is that this extends to non US oneworld elites in any class, Business/First PAX on non US Airline operated services and "International" Business/First PAX on US airline operated services.

Correct. Well the whole arrivals bit was big news to me when I first discovered it a couple of months ago (but didn't have a chance to try it out). What should be pointed out is that although Sapphire and Emeralds get access to the Flagship lounge on departure or arrival including on domestic economy itineraries with AA/AS, they won't have access to Flagship First Dining which is AA's a-la carte dining room. With that being said, the buffet at the flagship lounge is a step above AAdmirals lounges and I certainly appreciated the shower on arrival from that long-haul domestic flight to DFW from SYD.

For Aust, as dep and arr int pax are separated, for Aust int flights, arr lounge access will be impossible, unless you are transitting to another int flight.
If your next flight is a QFd flight, even if you have arr on an int flight from o/seas, no arr access for the int lounges.

Does this apply for domestic international too? For instance, if I were to fly QF9 from Melbourne, would I need to re-clear security at PER or would I simply be dumped into the departures hall? It would seem a bit excessive for these intra-Australia international flights to require passengers to re-clear things.

-RooFlyer88

 

[serfty]

But doesn't QF provide access on arrival to their lounges for those holding ... Platinum status (or is that just domestic lounges)

Only Domestic Lounges

 

[cwd]

Technically, you could access the non-Schengen departures area in HEL after you've cleared the transit security, even without a departure from there. You need a boarding pass to get to the airside overall but the passport control to exit Schengen does not require a BP, at least the eGates (IIRC). However, you might struggle to get back out of the non-Schengen departures area to catch your connection to CPH (there's no reverse passport control for pax on that floor).

I'm pretty sure there is passport control back to the Schengen area from the non-Schengen departures area at HEL, from (recentish) memory. After all, some flights will dump you straight into the departures level (depending on whether it needs screening or not). However, I'd suggest it's not a good idea to leave the Schengen area for that purpose, when you plan to come re-enter before your flight. I think you're likely to be denied access to the lounge anyway.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

For a dom pax on an int flight, I cant say if you will get arr benefits as a QFF WP (on QF9) esp, esp into PER T3, for the QFd T4 lounge, but you will have to clear Aust dom sec screening.
===
Havent done T3 since it became an int terminal, but other Aust airports segregate arr and dep int pax.
---
If going onto to LHR, on QF9, no need to clear T3 int sec screening.
They might hold you in the transit area as is.
---
Who knows maybe no lounge access for connectors on QF9 pax from MEL, at PER T3 QFi lounge.
---
You can try if you want on your next trip with that itineary.

 

[Mwenenzi]

The benefit of such a perk is that you can check a bag in for a flight and then when you arrive at your final destination instead of waiting for the bag to arrive at the carousel you can spend quality time in the lounge having a meal, freshening up, etc.

I have never had bag arrive at at carousal so late a lounge visit would be practical.
Depending on the airport the lounge and baggage carousal can be in a different area[security - immigration/customs].
With international flights the baggage carousal is usllay before immigration/customs (in countries where customs is at port of entry)

1000's of QF pax have Plat status. Nothing to see.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Only Domestic Lounges

Does this apply on arrival, or only if you have an onward flight that same day?