No Qantas Lounge Access when Flying QF Codeshare on IndiGo

[Ade]

I think this post would sit well in the Newbie space - in case anyone else runs into this situation I ran into yesterday.

Scenario : you are a QFF status pax (lounge access eligible, WP in my case) booked to fly Y AUS to IND on QF to a city that is not serviced by direct QF metal (ATM BLR and DEL), then chances are you might be transiting SIN as part of this itinerary and the onward connection from SIN could most likely be on Indigo (6E).

Your itinerary might look like AUS origin cities - SIN - IND destination city. In this case, as with many other situations in the past, you’d assume that you’d have access to the QF lounges in SIN during your transit. But you don’t.

Please note: If you are flying 6E (even if that 6E is booked as a QF codeshare flight number, under 081 ticket) SIN to IND, regardless of your QFF status, there is no lounge access.

This is due to an ongoing discussion between QF and 6E about lounge access, which have not yet finalised. Until things are finalised, there is no access to any QF lounges in SIN when flying out of SIN on 6E to India.

I ran into this situation yesterday. I walked up to the F lounge only to be politely denied entry, followed by a very patient explanation of why. I was shown the image attached to this post explaining the current policy.



However, in the return (i.e. IND to AUS via SIN) there is lounge access as per QFF status. OWE, WP and above can access F lounge, OWS, SG can access J lounge.

If you are flying J, SIN to IND, then access is thru Ambassador lounge in T2. However, at the time of writing this post there is no J in 6E.

Also, if you have PP then you can go there, but I didn’t have PP.

This is captured on QF website also. But it is slightly difficult to find (and as someone I know on another forum pointed out, a bit contradictory to the information available on the general lounge eligibility page as well).

Link to QF website for policy between QF and 6E: https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas-experience/network-and-partner-airlines/indigo-airlines.html

So pls be aware of this when you plan your trips.

And, Merry Christmas

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I vaguely recall something similar all the way back in 2007! Back then we were on Jet Airways, on a qantas coded flight. There was no lounge access at SIN for Qantas club or other status. Not share what the arrangements would have been on the way back as we were on SQ via SIN on one of their first suites flights!

 

[serfty]

This is captured on QF website also. But it is slightly difficult to find (and as someone I know on another forum pointed out, a bit contradictory to the information available on the general lounge eligibility page as well).

It is not a bit contradictory - it is Contradictory.

While it is clear on the Qantas Indigo partner page, the lack of status based lounge access indicated directly contradicts the Qantas Main lounge access page. (The IndiGo page even has a link back to that page.) (My highlighting)

Throughout the page there is reference to:

"Qantas flight number*"

and below is the relevant footnote:

"*The flight can be operated by a non-Qantas carrier, unless travelling with a Qantas Club Flexible membership."

Qantas Lounge Access Eligibility | Qantas

Find out more on Qantas Lounge access eligibility whether your traveling in First, Business; are a Qantas Frequent Flyer, Qantas Club or oneworld member.

www.qantas.com

 

[dylarr]

It is not a bit contradictory - it is Contradictory.

100%

Also worth noting that the printout they're showing people, it doesn't explicitly say no access for tiered members to Qantas lounges in Singapore on flights to India - it simply omits this information. If that line item was in the table, surely it would have to show access per the lounge access policy.

 

[SYD]

That sheet (and the web link it’s taken from) actually doesn’t make a lot of sense at all - in the context of SIN Lounge.

If departing SIN to a non-Oz port on a QF flight number, it’s normal to expect access to one or other F / J lounge based on status. That should be independent of any “negotiation” as QF have sold the codeshare.

Are the local SIN staff making it up as they go? What are they doing for AF/KLM codeshare flights and any other non OW codeshare flights?

As for flights back to Oz, if you’ve booked via QF, it’s academic if your inbound flight was operated by 6E, your onward flight is QF, with QF code - so usual lounge access rules apply…(which is sort of shown on the sheet, but ignoring any mention of the F lounge)…

 

[Haplo]

Since this is a QF codeshare the marketing carrier (QF in this case) would bear the cost of the lounge access, so it doesnt actually QF anything to give access to QF lounge in Singapore.

Really doesnt make sense.

Unless there is so little margin on the codeshare agreement that QF just doesnt want to pay the operating cost of having you there.

 

[Haplo]

100%

Also worth noting that the printout they're showing people, it doesn't explicitly say no access for tiered members to Qantas lounges in Singapore on flights to India - it simply omits this information. If that line item was in the table, surely it would have to show access per the lounge access policy.

Actually reading the QF table again the column under business lounge only include Brisbane, HK and London, where codeshare flights book under QF allows access. It deliberately omits Singapore so in theory this doesnt not contradict to the Qantas/Indigo specific arrangement.

 

[moa999]

Codeshares outside of alliance are always varied.

Eg.
ElAl.. no access in BKK (note Qantas no longer has a lounge its third party) - https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas...d-partner-airlines/el-al-israel-airlines.html

Bangkok Air.. No access in SIN for codeshare flight..Bangkok Airways lounges from BKK. Access to QF lounges in SIN and third party in BKK for flights to Aus only.

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas-experience/network-and-partner-airlines/bangkok-airways.html

 

[dylarr]

Actually reading the QF table again the column under business lounge only include Brisbane, HK and London, where codeshare flights book under QF allows access. It deliberately omits Singapore so in theory this doesnt not contradict to the Qantas/Indigo specific arrangement.

Interesting those lounges are mentioned under the International Business Lounge section - I was only paying attention to the International First Lounge section above that which does not mention any specific lounges, all it states is that if you're on a QF flight number (with footnote indicating that includes flights operated by a non-Qantas carriers) then you're allowed access so it is contradictory there. This whole thing is a mess and very opaque.

 

[serfty]

Actually reading the QF table again the column under business lounge only include Brisbane, HK and London, where codeshare flights book under QF allows access. It deliberately omits Singapore so in theory this doesnt not contradict to the Qantas/Indigo specific arrangement.

I believe that more relates to those lounges not having "business" in their name, while, in fact, they are considered business lounges for access reasons.

The Qantas non first lounge at Singapore is called the "Singapore International Business Lounge".

So, this aspect has no real relevance to the topic.

Let's consider First access ...

 

[Haplo]

they probably havent carved out the Indigo access yet on the First Lounge .......

 

[serfty]

they probably havent carved out the Indigo access yet on the First Lounge .......

See my explanation ... there is no carve out, even for business lounges. The text you refer to is simply becase the word "Business" does not exist in the three listed lounge names.

Unlike, for example, those in Sydney, Melbourne, Los Angeles and Singapore.

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas-experience/at-the-airport/airport-lounges/all-qantas-airport-lounges.html

 

[Aussie_flyer]

You would think if QF want to be taken seriously with this option to fly to India via Singapore with QF code they would allow their own frequent flyers into the lounge that they operate. Very poor form Qantas

 

[jase05]

Being a LCC is enough to stop me flying with them let alone having no lounge access

 

[Haplo]

Combining a full service airline in an alliance into a LCC is usually a disaster.

Qantas / Jetstar is an exception where it is handled too not badly

 

[Feech La Manna]

Interesting web page Bangkok Airways - I've been granted access to the QF Singapore Business lounge multiple times when arriving from LHR in Business and departing on Bangkok Airways to Koh Samui and coughet According to that web page I shouldn't be allowed!

 

[Haplo]

Bangkok Airways is a full service airway, so there is probably some profit margin to allow elite access to lounges.