Oneworld elite lounge access when crediting to another OW program

[djfuzz]

Just a quick one that may be completely obvious but for which there seems to be a small potential for ambiguity.

When travelling on QF and crediting to QFF (as NB) would QP access still be accessible by virtue of an AA PLT card, even though NB is printed on the BP?

Seems to me that it shouldn't make a difference according to the OW lounge access rules, but I just wanted to make sure in the hope of avoiding an awkward encounter.

Appreciate your terse thoughts and shoutdowns.

 

[Cyclogenesis]

I was doing the reverse (AA No status, QP-PS) so no status printed on boarding pass but had no issues what-so-ever accessing lounges..

They did have to swipe the magnetic stripe on my card and check the details matched, but not a question after that...

 

[djfuzz]

I was doing the reverse (AA No status, QP-PS) so no status printed on boarding pass but had no issues what-so-ever accessing lounges..

They did have to swipe the magnetic stripe on my card and check the details matched, but not a question after that...

Hmm. I assume that because you had paid QC, you were able to access through the reciprocal arrangements for QC/Admirals Club, rather than OW tier (given that Ruby/Silver doesn't have lounge access).

Given that AA PLT doesn't give access to an automatic AC membership like QF SG does for QC, I'm not sure that helps me.

 

[tuapekastar]

Just a quick one that may be completely obvious but for which there seems to be a small potential for ambiguity.

When travelling on QF and crediting to QFF (as NB) would QP access still be accessible by virtue of an AA PLT card, even though NB is printed on the BP?

Seems to me that it shouldn't make a difference according to the OW lounge access rules, but I just wanted to make sure in the hope of avoiding an awkward encounter.

Appreciate your terse thoughts and shoutdowns.

Access as described should not be an issue. . I have entered QF F Lounge (MEL and SYD) several times when flying QF, crediting to QF, but using a CX Diamond (OWE) card to gain entry.

I also had paid QC but that does not get access to the F Lounges so was not a factor in those cases.

 

[NM]

Just present your card and should not be any problem. Make sure the "helpful" lounge agent doesn't change your FF details in the booking.

 

[chrisb]

When travelling on QF and crediting to QFF (as NB) would QP access still be accessible by virtue of an AA PLT card, even though NB is printed on the BP?

Yep, it's fine - I've done it many times. Just show them the BP and AA Card together and there's no issues.

 

[JohnK]

I don't think crediting flights to another frequent flyer program matters if you are eligible for lounge access.

I have some SQ award flights next month and will still have lounge access to Qantas business lounges as a QF Platinum....

 

[Keith009]

I've never had an issue with entering Flounges the past few months using my AA EXP card even though I've been crediting to QFF and the boarding passes indicated a lower status level.

 

[Mal]

Add me to the list of people who sometimes enters lounges on my Qantas status but crediting to another scheme. As long as the name matches, then it will work.

Just watch out (as NM cautioned about) friendly/helpful CSA's at check-in/lounge etc who want to change your number to the 'correct' one.

 

[Cyclogenesis]

As an aside to that, Has anyone every changed out a FF number after points upgrading...

eg: Y->J QF upgrade on an international sector and ask to have that FF number taken out and an AA one put in on check in?

 

[NM]

As an aside to that, Has anyone every changed out a FF number after points upgrading...

eg: Y->J QF upgrade on an international sector and ask to have that FF number taken out and an AA one put in on check in?

There is no need to do that. I have (on many occasions) upgraded my Qantas flights using my QF FF points while having my AAdvantage number in the booking.

I don't ever let my QF FF number get into the booking. Just use the QFF on-line system to "upgrade an eligible family member" by entering the booking reference code and your surname. No problem at all and no risk of having the points post to the wrong program.

 

[Cyclogenesis]

There is no need to do that. I have (on many occasions) upgraded my Qantas flights using my QF FF points while having my AAdvantage number in the booking.

I don't ever let my QF FF number get into the booking. Just use the QFF on-line system to "upgrade an eligible family member" by entering the booking reference code and your surname. No problem at all and no risk of having the points post to the wrong program.

Very nice! Thanks NM... Quick Q, as a AA-Plat where do I sit in the upgrade pecking order (Just behind QF-SG?)

 

[NM]

Very nice! Thanks NM... Quick Q, as a AA-Plat where do I sit in the upgrade pecking order (Just behind QF-SG?)

The QF upgrade waitlist priority is based on QF FF status. Even though the QF FF web site says the priority is based on the status of the passenger, it is my anecdotal experience that the priority is based on the QFF status of the account from which the points are being used - at least in the case where the passenger has no QF FF status as it is when the passenger only has AA FF account number in the booking.

I have done this many times and I can't ever remember not being successful in having the upgrade waitlist clear. If the waitlist priority was based only on the QFF status of the passenger, I would have been at the bottom of the list for upgrades. However, in my case the points come from my QF Gold FF account and my experience with success is more aligned with what I would expect from a QFF Gold account than a non-status account.

 

[Cyclogenesis]

Makes sense... Being a QFF silver puts me at the back of the pack... but at least in with a chance. Thanks!

95% chance we are moving to the US so keen to earn on AA and burn on QF

 

[djfuzz]

Just to confirm, there was no problem with QP access - QP dragon didn't even really look at the BP, just had a look at the card and waved me and a guest through. Thanks for your feedback.

NM - does that mean that QF NB ranks above AA PLT in upgrade priority?

 

[NM]

NM - does that mean that QF NB ranks above AA PLT in upgrade priority?

I have no privileged information on the logic programmed into the upgrade waitlist system. I only have my own experience to go by, and that experience did not change when Qantas changed their wording in the published information about the waitlist priorities.

So I don't know if they take the passenger's status level into account only if the passenger has QF FF status and use the requester's status if the passenger has no status?? Or if the wording in the Qantas documentation is incorrect and its always the requester's status that matters.

The facts as I know them from my experience are that as far as the Qantas system is concerned, I (the passenger) have no QF FF status and the requester has QF Gold FF status. And in most cases there was limited upgrade space available and reasonably full in economy. So I find it unlikely that in each case a last minute non-status entry into waitlist would have such a high success rate.

 

[Cyclogenesis]

Just to confirm, there was no problem with QP access - QP dragon didn't even really look at the BP, just had a look at the card and waved me and a guest through. Thanks for your feedback.

NM - does that mean that QF NB ranks above AA PLT in upgrade priority?

Well that is actually a twisted statement as to be able to use any points you must be at least NB...

What NM is saying is that it is the source of the upgrade points that matters...

By means of example, if you had a mate who was a CL member it would be advantageous (although perhaps against T&Cs if not a family member) to transfer points to said member and get them to upgrade you...

 

[NM]

What NM is saying is that it is the source of the upgrade points that matters...

All I am doing is relating my own specific personal experience. How that relates to the logic in the computer systems that make the decisions is unknown to me.

By means of example, if you had a mate who was a CL member it would be advantageous (although perhaps against T&Cs if not a family member) to transfer points to said member and get them to upgrade you...

Remember that in my own personal example, the passenger has no QFF status (only AA status, which is not supposed to provide any priority for QF FF upgrades). So things may operate differently if the passenger has some level of QF FF status. And maybe the programmed logic is taking my AA status into consideration. I really don't know what it driving the waitlist priority ... but I believe from my own experience that I am receiving priority beyond that of a non-status passenger.

Interpret my experience as you choose. But as with most things to do with FF programs, your mileage may vary.

 

[equus]

Remember that in my own personal example, the passenger has no QFF status

Always worth noting the assumptions being made (especially when there is no knowledge of the actual processing - not from me either).

It would be more accurate to say that the FF number in the booking has no QFF status (being AA), as you do indeed have the SG status. We have no way of knowing whether or not the Qantas data mining / matching system is smart enough to have matched up NM AA number xx_x with NM SG number, and use that fact in the prioritisation process.

Just because the relationship is not visible in the booking (and at the front line), doesn't mean it couldn't be embedded deeper in a customer relationship system.

 

[NM]

We have no way of knowing whether or not the Qantas data mining / matching system is smart enough to have matched up NM AA number xx_x with NM SG number, and use that fact in the prioritisation process.

Or is their system intelligent enough to know that NM the AA member has purchased enough tickets from QF to quality for OneWorld Emerald status for the last 3 years, probably providing QF with more profit than many of their own Platinum status members? They may well have noted there is a family relationship between NM the AA member and passenger and NM the Lifetime Gold member who does not seem to fly much these days .

But my personal expectation is that their systems are not that smart.