Qantas Singapore lounge - better access for non-QF pax. than QF pax!

[gypsyinabigtown]

Me and gf were flying off from SG on different flights (JQ and QF respectively) yesterday. I'm WP, gf has no status.
At the SG lounge , we were told that we had to be in the same flight for me to guest my gf, even though she was on a oneworld flight as well.

Interestingly, for OWE, the website states "One guest allowed and must be travelling on a oneworld operated and marketed flight" - it does not say it must be the same flight. I suppose it means if I was BA Gold and flying BA, and my girlfriend was flying CX, I could guest her without a problem.
But because I'm a QF WP, I couldn't guest her.

I found it very strange that on QF's own lounge, it gives more restrictive access for its own status pax., compared to OW status pax. who are not even flying QF.
Am I misinterpreting what it says on the website? How could this be possible??

 

[Aus ATC]

An anomaly in the system in that the oneworld rules play second fiddle to the rules which apply to QFF members in QF lounges:

For a WP:
"Next onward flight must be on a Qantas^, Emirates^, Jetstar Airlines+ or oneworld flight number.#
One guest allowed and must be travelling with the member on the same flight."

No - you are not misinterpreting the rules. But don't ask me to justify the anomaly either!! Maybe one for Red Roo......

 

[gypsyinabigtown]

An anomaly in the system in that the oneworld rules play second fiddle to the rules which apply to QFF members in QF lounges:

For a WP:
"Next onward flight must be on a Qantas^, Emirates^, Jetstar Airlines+ or oneworld flight number.#
One guest allowed and must be travelling with the member on the same flight."

No - you are not misinterpreting the rules. But don't ask me to justify the anomaly either!! Maybe one for Red Roo......

Indeed - I've read the rules that apply to QF members as they're written on the website and indeed they are more restrictive.
I agree, maybe RedRoo can ask around and justify the anomaly as to why ain a QF lounge a QF Plat. has worse guest access than a BA Silver!

 

[markis10]

Me and gf were flying off from SG on different flights (JQ and QF respectively) yesterday. I'm WP, gf has no status.
At the SG lounge , we were told that we had to be in the same flight for me to guest my gf, even though she was on a oneworld flight as well.

Interestingly, for OWE, the website states "One guest allowed and must be travelling on a oneworld operated and marketed flight" - it does not say it must be the same flight. I suppose it means if I was BA Gold and flying BA, and my girlfriend was flying CX, I could guest her without a problem.
But because I'm a QF WP, I couldn't guest her.

I found it very strange that on QF's own lounge, it gives more restrictive access for its own status pax., compared to OW status pax. who are not even flying QF.
Am I misinterpreting what it says on the website? How could this be possible??

Its QFs lounge, not JQs, and that's the issue, in reality it's not more restrictive for its own passengers! What One World rules apply is irrelevant in this case, because you are not flying OneWorld.

 

[JohnK]

But because I'm a QF WP, I couldn't guest her.

She was on a Jetstar flight not a Oneworld flight.

I found it very strange that on QF's own lounge, it gives more restrictive access for its own status pax., compared to OW status pax. who are not even flying QF.
Am I misinterpreting what it says on the website? How could this be possible??

Some airlines do this already not just Qantas.

e.g An AA Executive Platinum cannot use domestic lounges in the USA unless the itinerary includes a same day international flight.

 

[gypsyinabigtown]

Its QFs lounge, not JQs, and that's the issue, in reality it's not more restrictive for its own passengers! What One World rules apply is irrelevant in this case, because you are not flying OneWorld.

I can understand that in this specific case I was flying JQ, and not OW, strictly speaking.
Are you saying if I was flying QF36 and she was flying QF82, then I would be able to guest her without any problems - since we're both on OW flights, even if not on the same flight?

Also, how is this restrictive lounge access policy reconciled with the following statement on the Qantas website?
"Qantas Club members travelling with Jetstar[SUP]+[/SUP] are welcome in any Qantas Club lounge. Simply show your boarding pass and Qantas Club card, or Platinum or Gold Qantas Frequent Flyer card, at the lounge reception. You may also invite one guest who need not be travelling."

 

[markis10]

I can understand that in this specific case I was flying JQ, and not OW, strictly speaking.
Are you saying if I was flying QF36 and she was flying QF82, then I would be able to guest her without any problems - since we're both on OW flights, even if not on the same flight?

Also, how is this restrictive lounge access policy reconciled with the following statement on the Qantas website?
"Qantas Club members travelling with Jetstar[SUP]+[/SUP] are welcome in any Qantas Club lounge. Simply show your boarding pass and Qantas Club card, or Platinum or Gold Qantas Frequent Flyer card, at the lounge reception. You may also invite one guest who need not be travelling."

Your are missing the fine points, quoting the Domestic lounge policy is as relevant as quoting the OW policy in your case, both are not related to your senario. In the case of the One World example you give, you could have been sending your guest to HEL on AY and both would have got in (to any OW lounge). Qantas club lounges are domestic, otherwise its an International Business Lounge.

 

[gypsyinabigtown]

Your are missing the fine points, quoting the Domestic lounge policy is as relevant as quoting the OW policy in your case, both are not related to your senario. In the case of the One World example you give, you could have been sending your guest to HEL on AY and both would have got in (to any OW lounge). Qantas club lounges are domestic, otherwise its an International Business Lounge.

The website I have referred is not the Domestic lounge policy. Nowhere on that webpage does it state that it is Domestic lounge policy only? In fact, the byline to the page title states: "Access to more lounges across the world"

I understand I could have been sending my guest on AY and would have got in, but I'm wondering if I could guest her into QF lounge, if we were on different QF flights? Otherwise, the argument that QF lounge access is more restrictive for QF status pax. still stands. I understand that this may be the case already for some U.S. based flights, but I wasn't aware that QF was going down that same path as well.

 

[Happy Trails]

...... otherwise its an International Business Lounge.

Not that it makes any difference (yet), but QF have uniquely dubbed SIN an "International Lounge".

 

[markis10]

The website I have referred is not the Domestic lounge policy. Nowhere on that webpage does it state that it is Domestic lounge policy only? In fact, the byline to the page title states: "Access to more lounges across the world"

I understand I could have been sending my guest on AY and would have got in, but I'm wondering if I could guest her into QF lounge, if we were on different QF flights? Otherwise, the argument that QF lounge access is more restrictive for QF status pax. still stands. I understand that this may be the case already for some U.S. based flights, but I wasn't aware that QF was going down that same path as well.

Again your missing the fine point, Qantas Clubs are Australia only and that's only where you will get access with a guest not needing to travel when flying JQ, which makes sense since internationally you won't get anywhere near a lounge if your not travelling. Not sure why you think QF and QF might be different to QF and AY, its all One World, which JQ is not.

The statement that QF lounge access is more restrictive for QF status passengers is blatantly false, a OWE has no lounge access flying FJ for instance or JQ. If a finger were to be pointed at a villain, its not QF but more likely JQ, we all know they don't get loyalty and lets not forget its only recently that any lounge access was available if on 3K.

 

[gypsyinabigtown]

Again your missing the fine point, Qantas Clubs are Australia only and that's only where you will get access with a guest not needing to travel when flying JQ, which makes sense since internationally you won't get anywhere near a lounge if your not travelling. Not sure why you think QF and QF might be different to QF and AY, its all One World, which JQ is not.

I understand the description you give with regards to SIN lounge being an "International Lounge" and not a "Qantas Club" lounge and thus the website does not apply. Thanks for patiently explaining this, I appreciate it.

The statement that QF lounge access is more restrictive for QF status passengers is blatantly false, a OWE has no lounge access flying FJ for instance or JQ.

From your explanation, I also understand that, had I been flying on a QF operated/marketed flight, then my gf could be on a different QF operated/marketed flight and I would be still be able to guest her in, even if we're on different QF flights. Thank you for the clarification. I still maintain the way the policy is written on the website is confusing, but based on what you explain, the actual policy is not meant to be more restrictive for QF pax.

 

[markis10]

Maybe Qantas need to streamline their marketing guff to more reflect the program's terms and conditions:

ie Guests in Australian domestic Qantas Club lounges must be accompanied by the Member but need not be travelling.

"Qantas Club" and "Qantas Club Lounge" are not differentiated enough.

 

[TonyHancock]

From your explanation, I also understand that, had I been flying on a QF operated/marketed flight, then my gf could be on a different QF operated/marketed flight and I would be still be able to guest her in, even if we're on different QF flights.

Is that correct? I thought the guest had to be travelling on the same flight.

 

[gypsyinabigtown]

Is that correct? I thought the guest had to be travelling on the same flight.

As per the discussion above, if you are QF WP/SG, and you're flying on a QF operated/marketed flight, then your guest need not be in the same flight, as long as they're on another OW operated/marketed flight.

 

[serfty]

Whether it is right or wrong is irrelevant

As per the discussion above, if you are QF WP/SG, and you're flying on a QF operated/marketed flight, then your guest need not be in the same flight, as long as they're on another OW operated/marketed flight.

Your title to this thread is correct - members of other oneworld programs indeed get generally better guesting rights at Qantas operated lounges than those using their Qantas Frequent Flyer access privileges.

Qantas can do what it likes with it's own members - but must adhere to oneworld policy for member of other oneworld FF programs. [Just as AA do with their members (no A/C access for North American journies unless an A/C member).]

Now in this case you were a Jetstar passenger. If the Singapore lounge was a "Qantas Club" - which it is not - the following rules would apply: Eligibility and Access to The Qantas Club Lounges | Qantas

Since that page has no reference to Qantas international lounges in relation to Jetstar passengers it was not relevant in your situation.

You need to go to the specific page for the lounge: Lounge Locations | Singapore Changi International Airport | The Qantas Singapore Lounge

Platinum One Frequent Flyer	Next onward flight must be on a Qantas^, Emirates^, Jetstar Airlines+ or oneworld flight number.# One guest allowed and must be travelling with the member on the same flight.

Remember- Jestar is not a oneworld member airline.

FWIW, in the early days of Jetstar there was no access at Qantas lounges of any kind for SG or QP. This did change later on. (WP had anytime access rights.)

 

[JohnK]

As per the discussion above, if you are QF WP/SG, and you're flying on a QF operated/marketed flight, then your guest need not be in the same flight, as long as they're on another OW operated/marketed flight.

Not quite. Guest needs to be travelling with you but in my experience in overseas lounges the staff are a little more flexible.

 

[TonyHancock]

A conundrum for the experts. Let's say I am flying on a QF flight out of SIN and have my QF FF number in the system. My colleague is flying on a different QF flight he has no status. Would it just be a case of me whipping out my CX SG card in order to guest him into the SIN lounge?.... Or would i need to have the CX FF details in the booking?

 

[serfty]

Not quite. Guest needs to be travelling with you but in my experience in overseas lounges the staff are a little more flexible.

Maybe better put - "Have been a little more flexible in the past" - as per the OP.

Maybe they are trying to 'crack down'.

 

[serfty]

A conundrum for the experts. Let's say I am flying on a QF flight out of SIN and have my QF FF number in the system. My colleague is flying on a different QF flight he has no status. Would it just be a case of me whipping out my CX SG card in order to guest him into the SIN lounge?.... Or would i need to have the CX FF details in the booking?

I would suggest you simply whip the card out - there is a current issue with the EK partnership, but in those posts there was a reference to having access if on a oneworld airline, not Emirates.

 

[Febs]

e.g An AA Executive Platinum cannot use domestic lounges in the USA unless the itinerary includes a same day international flight.

Exactly the reason I've never bothered with AAdvantage (or whatever it's called now).