Which LHR lounge for QF Platinum?

[Wests Tigers]

Am travelling J class (request for First class points upgrade) from LHR/DXB early October and am QF platinum. Which lounge to use!!? BA? AA? EK? Would think the EK first class lounge is best? But boarding calls etc for QF2 when its not a designated lounge for this flight? Your input greatly appreciated!

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: LHR lounge for QF Platinum

Am travelling J class (request for First class points upgrade) from LHR/DXB early October and am QF platinum. Which lounge to use!!? BA? AA? EK? Would think the EK first class lounge is best? But boarding calls etc for QF2 when its not a designated lounge for this flight? Your input greatly appreciated!

AFAIK :
If you are travelling on a QF flight then you will only have access to the OW lounges in T3. IMO the best of these is BA Galleries F.

From the QF website:

"Platinum One, Platinum and Gold Frequent Flyers have access to the Emirates lounge* where available across Australia, Europe, Asia, North Africa and the Middle East.
In Dubai, Platinum One and Platinum Frequent Flyers will have access to the Emirates First Lounges and Gold Frequent Flyers will have access to the Emirates Business Lounges.
When travelling from London, Qantas Club Members will have access to the American Airlines Admirals Lounge at London Heathrow when their next onwards flight that day is with Qantas or Emirates between Australia, Dubai and London.
Qantas Club Members are welcome at the Emirates Business Lounge in Dubai when their next onwards flight that day is with Qantas or Emirates.
When travelling with American Airlines, as a Qantas Club member you and a guest are welcome at American Airlines Admirals Club lounges. Simply present your Qantas Club card together with your boarding pass at the lounge reception. Both you and your guest need to be travelling together further that day on a flight marketed and operated by the partner airline whose lounge you wish to visit.
* Access to the London Heathrow EK lounge is available when on an Emirates operated flight only."

 

[TonyHancock]

Re: LHR lounge for QF Platinum

AFAIK :
If you are travelling on a QF flight then you will only have access to the OW lounges in T3. IMO the best of these is BA Galleries F.

That's was my view too*....but

Qantas | Lounge Eligibility and Access

New!

Qantas Frequent Flyers and Eligible Skywards members as well as customers in First or Business cabins will have access to Emirates and Qantas Lounges.

For First and Business customers, this includes access to Emirates' First Class and Business Class Lounges in Dubai Terminal 3 including new lounges in Concourse A as well as Qantas and Emirates Lounges in Australia, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

Qantas Club members will continue to have access to Qantas operated International Business Lounges* and will be welcomed at the Emirates Business lounge in Dubai when their next onward flight that day is with Qantas or Emirates.

When travelling from London Heathrow, eligible Frequent Flyers will continue to use the British Airways Galleries Lounge in Terminal 3 if their next onward flight is operated by Qantas. We're pleased to now have the American Airlines Admirals Lounge as a dedicated lounge for our Qantas Club members when the next onward flight that day is with Qantas or Emirates.

Note: Lounge access eligibility is based on the class of travel, Qantas club membership or the Frequent Flyer Membership tier for your next onward flight.​

(My bolding and colouring)

I'm not sure if my interpretation is correct but I am reading that as J and F pax will have access to the EK lounge at LHR, but access based on status, e.g. WP/SG will only be for OW lounges?

I agree with Princess Fiona on the OW lounges, BA F is the best.

*I thought I had seen something quite specific to that effect.​

 

[Wests Tigers]

Re: LHR lounge for QF Platinum

Why isn't it a simple matter?
Regardless of potential access to the EK lounge Term 3 Heathrow, you both believe the BA F lounge is better? I had thought the EK was better, don't know where I picked that up from. But will rely on your opinions Thanks for your input!

 

[TonyHancock]

Re: LHR lounge for QF Platinum

Regardless of potential access to the EK lounge Term 3 Heathrow, you both believe the BA F lounge is better? I had thought the EK was better, don't know where I picked that up from. But will rely on your opinions Thanks for your input!

...I think Princess Fiona and I are saying the same thing. The BA F lounge is the best of the OW (OneWorld) Lounges. I can't comment on the EK lounge because I have not used it.

I'm back through LHR in mid Oct with QF in J, so might give a go to gaining access to the EK Lounge.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: LHR lounge for QF Platinum

I have also never been in the EK lounge in LHR but based on the EK lounge I have used (SIN) then yes I think the BA lounge will be better. EK lounges (ex DXB) are formulaic in terms of form, function and catering AFAIK.
Better decor, better champagne, better shower facilities including the Elemis spa in BA, possibly better food in EK as BA changed catering contracts in March and the reports since then are of a downgrading of the food.

There is at least one report on FT of a QF F pax being refused access to the EK Lounge in LHR as not flying EK. This may well be a mistake on the part of the Lounge staff but I wouldn't count on it.
I'm off to LHR next month with QF in J and will likely give it a go regarding EK access if I have lots of time prior to my LHR-DXB sector on the return trip.

 

[TonyHancock]

Re: LHR lounge for QF Platinum

There is at least one report on FT of a QF F pax being refused access to the EK Lounge in LHR as not flying EK. This may well be a mistake on the part of the Lounge staff but I wouldn't count on it.
I'm off to LHR next month with QF in J and will likely give it a go regarding EK access if I have lots of time prior to my LHR-DXB sector on the return trip.

I think it was Austman who was denied access, he was flying QF Y though. I'd be interested to hear if you get access I have seen good reviews for the EK lounge.

 

[madrooster]

Re: LHR lounge for QF Platinum

There is at least one report on FT of a QF F pax being refused access to the EK Lounge in LHR as not flying EK. This may well be a mistake on the part of the Lounge staff but I wouldn't count on it.
I'm off to LHR next month with QF in J and will likely give it a go regarding EK access if I have lots of time prior to my LHR-DXB sector on the return trip.

The rules for LHR were amended about 2 weeks into April - the EK lounge reception even showed me the internal circular. The rules were changed for LHR due to the EK lounge not having the capacity to cater for the EK flights and QF flights departing within a short timeframe of each other. You can only access the EK lounge in LHR if you are on EK metal, regardless of whether you are gaining access via CoS or status. If you are on QF metal then you can use the OW lounges only, no EK lounge access permitted.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Re: LHR lounge for QF Platinum

From Lounge Access - Qantas and Emirates (my bolding)

Lounge Access - Qantas and Emirates
Eligible Qantas Frequent Flyers and Skywards Members as well as travellers in premium cabins have access to Emirates and Qantas Lounges.

London
Platinum One, Platinum and Gold Qantas Frequent Flyer members (including eligible guests) have access to:
The British Airways Lounge at London Heathrow when their next onward flight is a Qantas (QF) operated flight.
The Emirates Lounge at London Heathrow when their next onward flight is an Emirates (EK) operated flight.

Qantas Club members have access to the American Airlines Admirals Lounge at London Heathrow T3 when their next onward flight is operated by Qantas or Emirates to Dubai or Australia.
< snip >

 

[TonyHancock]

Re: LHR lounge for QF Platinum

From Lounge Access - Qantas and Emirates (my bolding)

I think that is where my confusion comes from. It doesn't state what lounges "travellers in premium cabins" have access to, but does specifically state access for P1's, WP's, SG's and of course QP's. I thought I saw something that madrooster is referring to but I can't find it.

 

[craven morehead]

Re: LHR lounge for QF Platinum

"I think Princess Fiona and I are saying the same thing. The BA F lounge is the best of the OW (OneWorld) Lounges. I can't comment on the EK lounge because I have not used it. "

+1 was there last week it is quite adequate :mrgreen:

 

[ajw373]

Am travelling J class (request for First class points upgrade) from LHR/DXB early October and am QF platinum. Which lounge to use!!? BA? AA? EK? Would think the EK first class lounge is best? But boarding calls etc for QF2 when its not a designated lounge for this flight? Your input greatly appreciated!

One thing the discussion above doesn't mention is the fact that EK does not have a FIRST lounge in London. They have have just the one lounge for business and first class passengers, but as others have said the rules are now you need to be flying on EK to get access anyway.

As for the OneWorld lounges in T3, having used the BA, AA and CX first class lounges back when I was a Platinum living in London, the BA lounge wins hands down.

 

[JessicaTam]

So a WP travelling on an EK operated QF codeshare (i.e. flight no.) would allow access to both EK and OW (specifically BA) lounges?

 

[TonyHancock]

So a WP travelling on an EK operated QF codeshare (i.e. flight no.) would allow access to both EK and OW (specifically BA) lounges?

mmm looks that way doesn't it? I am doing a little gentle probing at the moment.

 

[JessicaTam]

mmm looks that way doesn't it? I am doing a little gentle probing at the moment.

Thank you for the reply, and the image.

 

[Wests Tigers]

Thanks ajw373.....I always thought there was an EK First lounge at Heathrow...glad I checked with youse experts! I would have been a waif wandering around Heathrow dragging my bag, shoulders hunched, sad faced, asking for directions to a non-existent lounge! BA First lounge it is then! pip pip and tally ho.

 

[Comoman]

One thing the discussion above doesn't mention is the fact that EK does not have a FIRST lounge in London. They have have just the one lounge for business and first class passengers, but as others have said the rules are now you need to be flying on EK to get access anyway.

As for the OneWorld lounges in T3, having used the BA, AA and CX first class lounges back when I was a Platinum living in London, the BA lounge wins hands down.

Agreed - it's a real bugger having to walk past the Champagne bar on the way in.....had to stop

I watched the F1 the other sunday there with a glass of champagne in my hand the whole race. A quite agreeable way to watch F1 if you can't be there.

Went to all three lounges that day - the BA one is by far the best (and biggest).

 

[TonyHancock]

Thank you for the reply, and the image.

Whoops. the gentle probing had nothing to do with this thread

Me thinks the QF peeps are a little confused too.

 

[Princess Fiona]

So a WP travelling on an EK operated QF codeshare (i.e. flight no.) would allow access to both EK and OW (specifically BA) lounges?

I think so but what would invariably happen is that EK check-in at LHR would issue an EK BP with miniscule writing saying "Sold as QF 2 etc" .
Given that the BA lounge staff already have difficulty enough applying OW entitlements on other OW carriers I can only imagine the response rocking up to Galleries F with an EK BP
I wouldn't dare try it, not even for a laugh :!:

 

[TonyHancock]

Thanks ajw373.....I always thought there was an EK First lounge at Heathrow...glad I checked with youse experts! I would have been a waif wandering around Heathrow dragging my bag, shoulders hunched, sad faced, asking for directions to a non-existent lounge! BA First lounge it is then! pip pip and tally ho.

Don't be confused by the F/J thingy. When QF had an F lounge in SIN, the EK J lounge was significantly superior to it in my opinion.

I also put the EY "combined" lounge at LHR T4 above the BA F lounge at LHR T3. It's all relative I guess.