Qantas Denial of OW Emerald access to Sydney First Lounge

[stephenrob63]

This week I flew on Cathay CX100 in Business SYD-HKG. I am currently QF Platinum. I am also CX Silver. For this trip my CX flights are being credited to Cathay.

I went to the QF First Lounge as usual and up at the main desk at top of escalators my boarding pass was scanned and the woman looked confused, couldn't find my Qantas FF number. I told her these flights points are going to Cathay.

She told me she needed to ring Cathay as she has no record of the booking, and she had received "an email today from Cathay" that their members without Cathay Diamond status cannot enter the First lounge in Sydney (!) I went in for some lunch and she came over to me to explain that this is the case. "It's just happened", she said.

After some back and forth, she told me I needed to leave the lounge (!) She said what I was doing was "double dipping" and Cathay was enforcing this no-lounge access, only in Sydney (?)

Two times she told me I needed to put my QF FF number in the booking instead of Cathay, if I was to stay in the lounge. I was STUNNED. I refused to accept this without it being a One World rule and having received NO notification of any changing rules from either Cathay or Qantas.

I spoke to a senior rep in the lounge after that and he knew nothing of it. I was effectively being thrown out of the Qantas lounge. I didn't go, of course. I have every right to put my points with any One World carrier if I am also a member of their FF. Can anyone shed any light on this?

The woman blamed Cathay for this, But from my take, I see it as one Qantas staff member trying to change my points over to them and away from Cathay. I am appalled by this situation and I won't let it rest. Any knowledge or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all.

 

[moa999]

Undoubtedly a part of Cathay's new war on attempting to prevent people using two FF cards and splitting benefits - Cathay Pacific to stop FF changing after check in
(And I'd refer to it more as splitting benefits rather than double dipping)

Suspect QF lounge staff have been told that the lounge won't get reimbursed unless the relevant status card is linked to the booking.

It's not the first time Cathay has played this game. If I recall over a decade ago there was a time QF was denying entry if CX check-in hadn't printed and given you a lounge invite card.

 

[stephenrob63]

Paragraphs please

Undoubtedly a part of Cathay's new war on attempting to prevent people using two FF cards and splitting benefits - Cathay Pacific to stop FF changing after check in
(And I'd refer to it more as splitting benefits rather than double dipping)

Suspect QF lounge staff have been told that the lounge won't get reimbursed unless the relevant status card is linked to the booking.

It's not the first time Cathay has played this game. If I recall over a decade ago there was a time QF was denying entry if CX check-in hadn't printed and given you a lounge invite card.

Thanks for this (and I've fixed the paragraphs).

If this is in fact a new rule, then surely we need official notification.

 

[RooFlyer]

If you’ve recounted the interaction accurately ( and I’ve no reason a doubt that you have) then irrespective of what Cathay is saying, the Qantas lounge person was in the wrong. OneWorld Emerald status gets you into the lounge, full stop.

Showing your QFF card, physical or on your phone should’ve ended the matter.

Even worse that they then tried to chuck you out of the lounge. I would file a complaint.

 

[moa999]

OneWorld Emerald status gets you into the lounge, full stop.

Definitely not the case.

It's always been subject to a number of conditions, including lounge capacity, as well as having an eligible booking (eg. Oneworld or JQ ticket).

In this case if the QF lounge can't attach the relevant high status FF number to the booking, it would be like you flying on UA and trying to flash your card - the lounge isn't going to get paid.

I'm sure the airlines will say there has not been a rule change, it's just enforcement of policy and it was never intended for customers to split cards.

Of course it's airline FF program changes that's changed customer behaviour - back in the early days you'd earn the same amount of points / SCs / TPs no matter which airline you flew on, but they've all whittled down their programs to preference the home carrier.

 

[blackcat20]

It's not generally an issue to access the lounge with one FF program on the boarding pass and a second with the status for lounge entry though. I do my fair share.

 

[markis10]

Definitely not the case.

It's always been subject to a number of conditions, including lounge capacity, as well as having an eligible booking (eg. Oneworld or JQ ticket).

Agree 100%, after all we have seen QF restrict access to SIN F lounge numerous times, as have BA. AA/BA Chelsea lounge at JFK, BAs Concorde Lounge and then there Qatar setting a whole new precedent.

 

[RooFlyer]

It's always been subject to a number of conditions, including lounge capacity, as well as having an eligible booking (eg. Oneworld or JQ ticket).

Yes, fair enough, but 'as a rule' OW Sapphire get access. I never meant that they get access when the lounge is closed, for instance. There seems to be no question of capacity or ineligible ticket in this case. Its a straight out attempted denial of entitlement and that's what the OP is complaining about.

 

[Mwenenzi]

This week I flew on Cathay CX100 in Business SYD-HKG. I am currently QF Platinum. I am also CX Silver. For this trip my CX flights are being credited to Cathay.

I went to the QF First Lounge as usual and up at the main desk at top of escalators my boarding pass was scanned and the woman looked confused, couldn't find my Qantas FF number. I told her these flights points are going to Cathay.

She told me she needed to ring Cathay as she has no record of the booking, and she had received "an email today from Cathay" that their members without Cathay Diamond status cannot enter the First lounge in Sydney (!) I went in for some lunch and she came over to me to explain that this is the case. "It's just happened", she said.
<snip>

Cathay CX have recently been changing the game for several aspects of frequent flyer program benefits, as threads below
As time goes on expect more airlines/ffp will restrict cherry picking benefits. Once a ffn is in the reservation it stays.
AA specifically does not allow change to the ffn if a benefit has been gained.

Thread 'Cathay Pacific to stop FF changing after check in'

Nov 18, 2025

Looks like Cathay wants to clamp down ton multi FF (using one for benefits and a different one for earn).

This may affect a few of us who book CX Y on non earning QFF booking class but want our QF status benefits.

Cathay Pacific Bans Switching Frequent Flier Numbers Past Check In

Cathay Pacific no longer allow swicthing frequent flier numbers after you have checked in.

loyaltylobby.com

• elanshin
• Replies: 16
• Forum: Cathay Pacific | Cathay

E

Thread 'Cathay now also bans OW FF from pre-selecting seats'

Tuesday at 2:46 PM

CX is definitely at war with OW FFs.

I am flying SIN - HKG once a month and always pre-select 59A or 59C (emergency seat) as QF Gold.

Just booked another flight and you now can no longer pre-select ANY seat.

A few forums brought this up earlier this week and it seems true.

Very sad…

• exLXCXFF
• Replies: 26
• Forum: Cathay Pacific | Cathay

 

[aikman]

Yes, fair enough, but 'as a rule' OW Sapphire get access.

One could argue that you are testing the limits of those rules by flying and crediting to separate FFP to that which you are using to gain lounge access.

 

[elanshin]

Yes, fair enough, but 'as a rule' OW Sapphire get access. I never meant that they get access when the lounge is closed, for instance. There seems to be no question of capacity or ineligible ticket in this case. Its a straight out attempted denial of entitlement and that's what the OP is complaining about.

I suspect its going something along the lines of : "hey QF, we're not paying you if our boarding pass doesnt have OWE on it" in which QF's only response would be to deny entry unless the status is tied to the boarding pass.

 

[dajop]

SQ have this worked out, allowing dual FFP's being entered in different fields - FQTV for mileage accrual, FQTS for status benefits. They will happily let you , for example accrue to United whilst using your Lufthansa status benefits. Other airlines don't seem to have the capability, or if they do have policies that won't allow its use. Rider: sometimes you have to find the right check in agent who knows how to do this.

 

[elanshin]

SQ have this worked out, allowing dual FFP's being entered in different fields - FQTV for mileage accrual, FQTS for status benefits. They will happily let you , for example accrue to United whilst using your Lufthansa status benefits. Other airlines don't seem to have the capability, or if they do have policies that won't allow its use. Rider: sometimes you have to find the right check in agent who knows how to do this.

This isn't about the capabilities, rather CX actively wants to shut this down. There's been work arounds and "flashing" your card is part of it.

 

[RooFlyer]

One could argue that you are testing the limits of those rules by flying and crediting to separate FFP to that which you are using to gain lounge access.

Surely not? Its one of the long standing benefits of the airline alliance thing. The whole basis of the Asian and, to come, the LHR lounge crawls is that we use every OW lounge at an airport, irrespective of which airline we happen to be flying with. Those without access by status get guested in if we have enough status pax in the group. Here are the list of lounges planned for visiting at LHR T3 (seems Cathay may be in question!):

AA Admirals Club (access - Sapphire)
AA First Class Lounge (Emerald)
BA Galleries Club Lounge (Sapphire)
BA Galleries First Lounge (Emerald)
BA First Dining (must be travelling first class or be a GGL member)
CX Business Class Lounge (Sapphire)
CX First Class Lounge (Emerald)
EK Lounge (if travelling QF)
QF London Lounge

I'll be flying BA on an Avios ticket.

I've used the Qantas First lounge in MEL several times flying and crediting to QR.

I suspect its going something along the lines of : "hey QF, we're not paying you if our boarding pass doesnt have OWE on it" in which QF's only response would be to deny entry unless the status is tied to the boarding pass.

That appears to be what happened but at a minimum its extremely petty for Qantas to take it out on their own Platinum Member, without notice or good reason (at entry).

 

[Quickstatus]

It's always been subject to a number of conditions, including lounge capacity

That has always been the catch all rule that CX used to exclude anyone they didn't want who were otherwise eligible on the basis of the other requirements.

This happened more than once at the Marco Polo at SFO in the past - was relegated to the AF lounge canteen. "Sorry the lounge is full" was the common refrain. Only WP1 had access. Apparently some OWE have managed to get in recently.

 

[Paul Mc]

Hi all.

Wow, this topic has been a real mind blower! I had no idea that which FF you picked for earning points would have any impact on Lounge access at all!.

It is great that this is on the forum for awareness and fuller understanding. I have been Q Platinum for 5 years and never considered Lounge Access issues based on something like where FF points are earned. Mainly because I only fly international with Qantas rather than partners.

But I am soon flying to London with Qantas then a few hours later to Venice with British Airways - I booked the BA flights (through BA) seperately to the Qantas flight.

I entered my QF number into the BA booking, thinking that would help me with BA Lounge access at Heathrow prior to the BA flight, as BA would then know about me being OW Emerald. I don't really care much about the points earning for the London to Venice flights, points weren't a consideration as those legs are Economy.

But maybe adding my QF number to the BA booking has increased the chance of me getting declined when trying to access the BA lounges in London?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[Princess Fiona]

Hi all.

Wow, this topic has been a real mind blower! I had no idea that which FF you picked for earning points would have any impact on Lounge access at all!.

It is great that this is on the forum for awareness and fuller understanding. I have been Q Platinum for 5 years and never considered Lounge Access issues based on something like where FF points are earned. Mainly because I only fly international with Qantas rather than partners.

But I am soon flying to London with Qantas then a few hours later to Venice with British Airways - I booked the BA flights seperately to the Qantas flight.

I entered my QF number into the BA booking, thinking that would help me with BA Lounge access at Heathrow prior to the BA flight, as BA would then know about me being OW Emerald. I don't really care much about the points earning for the London to Venice flights, points weren't a consideration as those legs are Economy.

But maybe adding my QF number to the BA booking has increased the chance of me getting declined when trying to access the BA lounges in London?

Thanks for any advice!

You will be fine. No issues accessing BA lounges at LHR as OWE on QF or any other OW airline.

 

[Paul Mc]

You will be fine. No issues accessing BA lounges at LHR as OWE on QF or any other OW airline.

Thanks! Much appreciated.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks! Much appreciated.

The difference between your case and the one above is that you have entered your QF number into the booking and that number entitles you to access. This will be reflected on your boarding pass.

In the case above, the status granting lounge access was *not* on the boarding pass, or even associated with the booking.

Leaving aside the merits of the above, your case is different and as mentioned you won’t have any issues.