Lounge access for Qantas Platinum flying business ex Zürich with BA and Qantas from LHR flying business.

Lounge access for Qantas Platinum flying business ex Zürich with BA and Qantas from LHR flying business.

Hi,

I am flying out as a family (parents are qantas platinum, and my brother and I are bronze) from Sydney to LHR via Dubai, with Qantas in business class. I know we will have the Qantas First lounge in Sydney, Emirates First lounge in transfer (for return as well). My question concerns our flight back. Flying from Zürich to LHR with BA business class, which Zürich lounge is the best, the Royal Jordanian or BA, as there will be no First lounge. Then from LHR Terminal 3, will we have access to the BA First Lounge (not Concorde Room), due to parents' platinum status, thus all four of us can enter the First Lounge? And enjoy the sit-down dining, like in Dubai and Sydney?

Thanks

Assuming both your parents are QFF Platinum, they will be allowed to bring one guest each into oneworld First lounges as Emerald grade members. So both you and your brother are be able to access the BA First lounge at LHR T3, when travelling with your parents.

It seems a new oneworld dedicated lounge was opened at ZRH in March this year called The Zurich Lounge. Reviews online suggest it's a lot better than the Royal Jordanian lounge operated by third party, Dnata Skyview (same people who operate the CX lounge in SIN?).

I suggest you do a google search using the following key words "new oneworld lounge at zrh". There is a link to a flyertalk thread with another link to Iberia's facebook page, where this new lounge has been photographed. This lounge is being used by AA, BA, AY and IB. 

Looking at the pictures, I'd definitely use this lounge instead of the Royal Jordanian one!

Enjoy your trip!

One note: It seems the Zurich Lounge is within the Schengen area of the airport. So to catch your BA flight, you will need to go through immigration before boaring your BA flight (UK is not part of Schengen). Make sure you give yourself plenty of time. I'm not sure how efficient the Swiss immigration folks are (what am I saying????) but recently passing through CPH, I was astonished at the length of the queue at immigration!

Thanks for the information, one parent is platinum (and the other is Chairman's) so I knew about the eligibilty of entry with guests, it was just previous suggestions stating that for the BA First Lounge, the sit-down dining area would only be open to BA gold or First.  Would you know about that?  The Schengen Area provisons are difficult enough to navigate, enough with my EEA passport.  So, thanks for the advice, certainly something to watch out for.

The dining room in the BA First Lounge is not limited to BA Gold or First pax. Try the cheese platter - it's quite good. 

The dining room is limited to people flying (paid) F on BA though as far as I am aware. I have gone through the lounge in T3 many times, flying F on QF (BA flightnumber) or BA and always got a seperate invite. They do not hand these out to OW Emerald flying in C or Y. Not sure if the policy changed recently. Diningroom is rather small as well so definitely not open to everybody.

Hi KG,

I was flying AA in J earlier this month and used the BA T3 First dining room. The staff at the entrance to the dining room did not stop me or request to look at my boarding pass. This was around noon. 

Perhaps the rules have changed?

Hi TRB: Interesting, maybe they have changed the rules. As said, I was always handed out a seperate invite for the diningroom. Could it be that it is less busy since more QF flyers (not having status) use the EK lounge, thus they can accommodate more pax? Was it busy in the diningroom when you visited? My entry was always around 8pm prior to the QF / BA flights to Asia, so peak time (maybe that is what the crux is - invites handed out during evening service). It is a nice little spot, love the table facing the runway (and the gate which SAS uses). Good to relax before a flight and have a decent bite (entree, main, desert and cheese). Anyway, good news for AMB as he potentially has access!

Hi KG,

Yes quite interesting. Now that you've mentioned it, I did recall an online reviewer once indicating that in the evenings access to the dining room is rationed. I tend to use the lounge during the day when the majority of AA flights depart.

It is a nice spot but I believe T3 renovation works has impaired the view slightly.

AMB, could you advise us of your experience upon completion of your trip. Much appreciated.

I am travelling in J, and this will be the first time I will not be in First going to LHR,  so no automatic access.  Also, does my mother's Chairman's Lounge membership still allow access to the Concorde Room, or has that stopped after the QANTAS/Emirates alliance, for forwent BA?  About the Schengen Area lounge in Zürich, would my EEA passport make it easier to slip back out if we went through security accidentally?  Thanks for the responses.

CL doesn't get you access to the Concorde Room anymore unfortunately - tried in July and got mixed responses from the Lounge attendants.  The lady at the booth past security said no, then when we went down and around and tried to enter the First Class Lounge the attendants recommended we go to the Concorde Room, however we were then turned back again.  Bit of a shame as the dining options in the T5 First Lounge are pretty average at best. 

I have had the misfortune to get mucked around by the "Schengen" thing at ZRH a few times.  The signage was/is abysmal. In fairness they have been making some big changes so maybe it has improved since Xmas time.  My best advice is to go to lounge as close to the gate as possible.