Lounge and other benefits for additional pax on CX

[trigger]

I am planning on travelling with 2 colleagues on Cathay Pacific. I am OW Sapphire (QF Gold) and will be ticketed in Business, they have no status and will be ticketed in Economy. This means I'd only be able to take 1 person in with me to the lounge. I emailed and spoke with Cathay Pacific to see if they would be willing to permit an additional 1 passenger into the lounge this one time - got a pretty frosty response (no). If I was travelling in Economy I wouldn't have even bothered but I thought they may have been receptive given the more expensive ticket.

Has anyone been in the same bind?

Other than that, are any other benefits transferrable if our bookings are linked? Can I check them in with me in the business queue or are they going to be sent to the economy queue? Can they come through customs with me? Can they priority board? etc.

If I can't help my friends and have to be forcefully separated them at every turn I may as well just take another carrier, but if my perks are useful for them I'd pay a little more and fly with CX. I would even be prepared to pay a little more to get the extra passenger lounge access. But not feeling the love from CX at this point in time.

Any advice?

 

[thewinchester]

I am planning on travelling with 2 colleagues on Cathay Pacific. I am OW Sapphire (QF Gold) and will be ticketed in Business, they have no status and will be ticketed in Economy. This means I'd only be able to take 1 person in with me to the lounge. I emailed and spoke with Cathay Pacific to see if they would be willing to permit an additional 1 passenger into the lounge this one time - got a pretty frosty response (no). If I was travelling in Economy I wouldn't have even bothered but I thought they may have been receptive given the more expensive ticket.

Has anyone been in the same bind?

Other than that, are any other benefits transferable if our bookings are linked?

Can I check them in with me in the business queue or are they going to be sent to the economy queue? Can they come through customs with me? Can they priority board? etc.

Check in: Yes, regardless if linked or not (I've done this several times as a QP member)
Customs:Ｉｆ　ｔｈｅｙ　ａｒｅ　ｐｒｏｖｉｄｅｄ　ｐｒｉｏｒｉｔｙ　ｂｏａｒｄｉｎｇ　ｐａｓｓｅｓ，　ｙｅｓ。
Ｐｒｉｏｒｉｔｙ　ｂｏａｒｄ：　Ｎｏ。

 

[trigger]

Thanks for that thewinchester. Does anyone know how firm Cathay Pacific is with its lounge access? My experience with Qantas has been that if you have a reasonable justification (i.e. you're not just travelling with 10 mates in economy) you call them in advance, or even ask politely, they generally will oblige.

 

[trigger]

Just thought I'd dig up this thread up post-experience. I was exhausted when I checked in and the check in girl realised I was with 1 extra passenger and, perhaps taking pity on my obvious state of disarray, called through to the lounge and organised for me to take them in. At HKG there was only an hour between flights and I ducked into the lounge for something to eat/drink and asked there but the woman said no - perhaps if I'd shown up with my entourage and made a case they would of relented but as there was no real need I didn't bother. I had an express card for myself but not them, however I dragged them through customs/immigration and no one raised an eyebrow as long as I presented my card, and we were all given business-tagged luggage. Good experience.