OneWorld First class lounge rights in Melbourne International

[dalereardon]

Hi,

My wife and I are travelling on a OneWorld airline in first class leaving from Melbourne - but not with Qantas.

I want to use the Qantas first class lounge as people on the forum have said how good it is. My flight is not until May so plenty of time to sort it out.

I put a request in writing to the Lounge earlier today and they just telephoned me - all very nice and friendly.

They said no problems with me travelling first class and the lounge would be open for my flight but the only people entitled to use the first class lounge were:

Qantas F passenngers;
Qantas Platinum and above passengers;
OneWorld first class passengers provided they held Emerald status in OneWorld.

It is the final one that is the problem as my wife and I have no status. I went and checked out Home - oneworld before writing and again afterwards. It says the following under lounge eligibility:

Customers flying First or Business Class have access to the equivalent class of lounge regardless of their frequent flyer status. First Class passengers may use a Business Class or frequent flyer lounge if a First Class lounge is not available.


Pretty clear - regardless of frequent flyer status being the important phrase. I have written back and asked them to investigate.

Qantas clearly doesn't want everyone using their lounge but if it is a OneWorld benefit then that is just the way it is.

Who is correct? The OneWorld website or the Qantas lounge? Who should I speak to in Qantas to have this resolved?

Thanks,
Dale.

 

[madrooster]

If it's not QF then who is it? No other oneworld airline operates to MEL international with a F cabin.

 

[dalereardon]

Its actually Malaysian - we are travelling all the way to Paris CDG on a first class ticket but obviously only first class seats from KUL onwards.

We will have our first class boarding passes at the time we want to use the lounge. I honestly thought this would be the issue that would trouble them but she said she had checked with management and that part was fine - provided we had checked into our first class trip they were happy with that.

They however looked me up on the QFF system and said you don't have sufficient status and that was the reason they were denying access.

She also said that Cathay had first class into Melbourne and they weren't allowed to use the lounge either. Is she wrong about that also?

Its all very friendly and no one is upset or annoyed so no problems there. That is why I raised it now and not at the airport as want to sort it out amicably.

Dale.

 

[beardoc]

It's an interesting point, but I think that you would be able to gain access:

http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/air...ional-t2/international-first-lounge/global/en

It specifically mentions access for First Customers on oneworld aircraft.

I would print out that page and have it for easy referral when you get to the Lounge.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Well she is wrong Cathay don't fly First to any Aussie city.

I understand you have a F boarding pass ex-KUL but AFAIK it's your NEXT flight which grants access, and in this case your next onward flight is in business meaning you can access the oneworld business class lounges only.

 

[Timba-Jet]

It's an interesting point, but I think that you would be able to gain access:

http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/air...ional-t2/international-first-lounge/global/en

It specifically mentions access for First Customers on oneworld aircraft.

I would print out that page and have it for easy referral when you get to the Lounge.

Assuming the QF lounge dragons accept this OW rule, the problem is it refers to onward journey in F

 

[madrooster]

Its actually Malaysian - we are travelling all the way to Paris CDG on a first class ticket but obviously only first class seats from KUL onwards.

We will have our first class boarding passes at the time we want to use the lounge. I honestly thought this would be the issue that would trouble them but she said she had checked with management and that part was fine - provided we had checked into our first class trip they were happy with that.

They however looked me up on the QFF system and said you don't have sufficient status and that was the reason they were denying access.

She also said that Cathay had first class into Melbourne and they weren't allowed to use the lounge either. Is she wrong about that also?

Its all very friendly and no one is upset or annoyed so no problems there. That is why I raised it now and not at the airport as want to sort it out amicably.

Dale.

CX do not have a F cabin to any AU ports.

If you are connecting to a F flight from KUL then you should be able to access the F lounge under oneworld class of service connection rules. See below:

Connecting between oneworld marketed and operated flights:

• First and Business Class customers connecting on the same day of travel, or before 6am the following day, can access the lounge when travelling between an international long haul* and an international short haul or domestic flight (and vice-versa). (* a oneworld international long haul flight is defined as an international flight marketed and operated by any oneworld carrier with a scheduled flight time longer than 5 hours)
• Lounge access will be determined on the international long haul ticketed flight (either First of Business Class) regardless of the ticketed class of travel on the international short haul or domestic flight.
• You must be prepared to show your boarding pass or itinerary showing travel in First or Business class on the international long haul flight, in order to access the lounge before your international short haul or domestic flight.

 

[beardoc]

We will have our first class boarding passes at the time we want to use the lounge. I honestly thought this would be the issue that would trouble them but she said she had checked with management and that part was fine - provided we had checked into our first class trip they were happy with that.

In the further information you gave, they will be able to deny you access - your "next onward flight" is in business, not First. It won't matter that you have another boarding pass for oneworld First on that day - your next onward flight is not in First, so they are within their rights to deny you access unless you are oneworld Emerald. I could be wrong, of course. It will make for an interesting discussion.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

It's an interesting point, but I think that you would be able to gain access:

Airport Lounges at Melbourne International Airport | Qantas

It specifically mentions access for First Customers on oneworld aircraft.

I would print out that page and have it for easy referral when you get to the Lounge.

you need to re-read that as that only applies to Platinum or Emerald frequent flyers.

For access based on CLASS of travel it says you must be flying QF or BA flight number which is true since only QF flies F to Melbourne (and a BA codeshare, soon extinct)

 

[Aussie_flyer]

CX do not have a F cabin to any AU ports.

If you are connecting to a F flight from KUL then you should be able to access the F lounge under oneworld class of service connection rules. See below:

Connecting between oneworld marketed and operated flights:

• First and Business Class customers connecting on the same day of travel, or before 6am the following day, can access the lounge when travelling between an international long haul* and an international short haul or domestic flight (and vice-versa). (* a oneworld international long haul flight is defined as an international flight marketed and operated by any oneworld carrier with a scheduled flight time longer than 5 hours)
• Lounge access will be determined on the international long haul ticketed flight (either First of Business Class) regardless of the ticketed class of travel on the international short haul or domestic flight.
• You must be prepared to show your boarding pass or itinerary showing travel in First or Business class on the international long haul flight, in order to access the lounge before your international short haul or domestic flight.

nope this does not apply here. this rule is for passengers flying a domestic or short haul connection to get to an F flight. This example is 2 long hauls

 

[beardoc]

you need to re-read that as that only applies to Platinum or Emerald frequent flyers.

For access based on CLASS of travel it says you must be flying QF or BA flight number which is true since only QF flies F to Melbourne (and a BA codeshare, soon extinct)

Um, my reading is as follows:

International First oneworld Customers
Next onward flight that day must be on a oneworld operated and marketed flight.#
One guest allowed and must be travelling on a oneworld operated and marketed flight.#

# A oneworld marketed flight refers to a flight with a oneworld flight number, eg QF1 or AA222. A oneworld operated flight refers to the actual aircraft or 'metal' on which you fly, eg Finnair aircraft.

Not sure why that couldn't apply to a CX aircraft.

This is moot though as the OP is not flying out in First.

 

[dalereardon]

Hi,

Thanks for the feedback.

It seems that they made the right decision for the wrong reasons.

However negotiations are proceeding and I will let you all know what is decided.

Dale.

 

[DeKa]

Dale, I hope they say no. The rules are the rules and they shouldn't be flexible.
I'm not able to enter the first class lounges, and I just accept it.

Both my wife and I are OneWorld Sapphire (Gold) which isn't cheap to maintain, but even if we ask nicely First Lounge just isn't going to happen. I'd hope no-status passengers travelling in Business also get no entry.

Use the lounge you're entitled to, the business lounge, and be happy.

 

[Cynicor]

My father tried to argue a similar point at BA Concorde lounge in LHR. They were on an AONE5 LHR-DME (or other Moscow airport) in J as A/F was not sold on that flight. They were actually granted access on the basis that they were on a First Class ticket. I honestly think they did it just to shut him up. I told him he was not officially entitled to use it on that leg. On the way back they were WP anyway.

Good luck

 

[Princess Fiona]

Hi,

Thanks for the feedback.

It seems that they made the right decision for the wrong reasons.

However negotiations are proceeding and I will let you all know what is decided.

Dale.

I don't think that you will be entitled to access based on COS ex-KUL. Even under the One World access rules you would need to be connecting from or to a OW flight in F. Note that the One World website only changed recently with the updated info regarding Long and Short Haul flights and COS based lounge access.

Good Luck with your trip whatever the outcome and if you aren't successful in getting F lounge access then post your dates in the May thread and there may be a fellow AFF'er or two with guest spots.
I almost invariably never use my guest entitlement when traveling and I know a lot of others are the same.

 

[dalereardon]

Rest assured we will enjoy ourselves no matter which lounge we are in.

Where do I find the May thread by the way?

And also what does COS stand for? Learning these acronymns gradually.

Thanks,
Dale.

 

[Shelf]

Meetings and Social Events

 

[opusman]

COS = Class Of Service

 

[JohnK]

And also what does COS stand for? Learning these acronymns gradually.

In this case I am guessing "Class Of Service".

Or it could also mean "Customer of Size".

 

[Kangol]

FWIW it's a "First" lounge, not a "First class" lounge.

Interesting how the QF website regarding lounge access has changed and the table with different eligibility by: QF COS, QFF status, OW status and OW COS is now gone.
The published guest allowance is also not there, nor is the stipulation about a "next onwards flight" domestically.
So in theory, dom arrivals access is now available to not just WP, but anyone else eligible for QP entry!

Qantas Lounges

Whether you are travelling in Business or First and/or a Platinum or Gold Qantas Frequent Flyer, including Qantas Club members you may have access to a Qantas lounge. When you arrive at a lounge, show your Qantas Club card, or your Platinum or Gold Frequent Flyer card with your ticket or boarding pass.

If you are travelling internationally, you will also need to show your Qantas Club card or your Platinum or Gold Qantas Frequent Flyer membership card at check-in. Our international lounges are easy to find once you have gone through passport control.

Qantas | Lounge Eligibility and Access

Also saw this:
Lounge access - oneworld

Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold members, regardless of their oneworld tier status, cannot access Qantas Domestic Business Lounges.

Hmmm.... now what does that green circle at the front of the dom J lounge mean again?

OP, unfortunately the rules say you won't get access to the MEL F lounge.. unless you become OWE between now and then, or you can get someone to guest you.