No Business Lounge Access in U.S.

29 replies

Addicted2travel

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 15 Feb 2017

Total posts 10

Purchased Qantas business class Syd-LGA only to be told by Qantas today I would not gain access to the business lounge in my 2 hour stop-over in Dallas as my next onward flight is on an AA operated aircraft even though that ticket too is business class. Also have some internal U.S. flights booked on same ticket all be it on different dates prior to my return - AA flights in first/business departing LGA and Orlando which all show up on my one booking reference number when I log onto Qantas - no access will be granted in lounges there either.....Questioning why did I bother paying business/first on AA if this is the case. Has anyone had any experience with same issue?

sanj747

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 01 Nov 2016

Total posts 148

Purchased Qantas business class Syd-LGA only to be told by Qantas today I would not gain access to the business lounge in my 2 hour stop-over in Dallas as my next onward flight is on an AA operated aircraft even though that ticket too is business class. Also have some internal U.S. flights booked on same ticket all be it on different dates prior to my return - AA flights in first/business departing LGA and Orlando which all show up on my one booking reference number when I log onto Qantas - no access will be granted in lounges there either.....Questioning why did I bother paying business/first on AA if this is the case. Has anyone had any experience with same issue?

@Addicted2travel I flew via Dallas into the mid west last year in economy and had no issues accessing the lounge in DFW with my then QF gold status. I can't see why you wouldn't get access into the lounges in the US with your business/first class tickets.

Chris C.

Member since 24 Apr 2012

Total posts 1,116

They're incorrect: you'd have access in Dallas on the basis of being a long-haul international business class passenger under Oneworld rules. Just hold onto your Sydney-Dallas boarding pass and present it, along with your onward boarding pass, for lounge access in Dallas.

However, you're out of luck for the other domestic flights unless they're on the same day as your flight back to Sydney (in which case you'd again have access under Oneworld rules as an international business class passenger).

This is where Qantas Gold/Platinum status comes in handy, or if you don't have that, Qantas Club membership, which provides access to AA's Admirals Club lounges when flying with American on an AA or QF flight number. :)

Chris C.

Member since 24 Apr 2012

Total posts 1,116

I can't see why you wouldn't get access into the lounges in the US with your business/first class tickets.

Most US domestic flights in business/first class don't include lounge access as standard, unless the traveller has status, lounge membership or is connecting to/from an international flight outside of North America in business class or first class. There are a couple of exceptions like flights between LAX and New York, but that's about it, unfortunately.

Addicted2travel

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 15 Feb 2017

Total posts 10

Purchased Qantas business class Syd-LGA only to be told by Qantas today I would not gain access to the business lounge in my 2 hour stop-over in Dallas as my next onward flight is on an AA operated aircraft even though that ticket too is business class. Also have some internal U.S. flights booked on same ticket all be it on different dates prior to my return - AA flights in first/business departing LGA and Orlando which all show up on my one booking reference number when I log onto Qantas - no access will be granted in lounges there either.....Questioning why did I bother paying business/first on AA if this is the case. Has anyone had any experience with same issue?

@Addicted2travel I flew via Dallas into the mid west last year in economy and had no issues accessing the lounge in DFW with my then QF gold status. I can't see why you wouldn't get access into the lounges in the US with your business/first class tickets.

It's what I would have thought too.... I do not have QF gold status though - and am not a member of Qantas Club either. Was not happy hearing the Qantas rep tell me this information this morning. Also contacted AA Admirals Club who also said no access would be given in LGA or Orlando even though first class tickets....Crazy!

Doubleplatinum Banned

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum

Member since 07 Feb 2013

Total posts 431

This rule in the US has been in place for as long as I can remember (15 years) nothing new

sanj747

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 01 Nov 2016

Total posts 148

I can't see why you wouldn't get access into the lounges in the US with your business/first class tickets.

Most US domestic flights in business/first class don't include lounge access as standard, unless the traveller has status, lounge membership or is connecting to/from an international flight outside of North America in business class or first class. There are a couple of exceptions like flights between LAX and New York, but that's about it, unfortunately.

Chris thanks and come to think of it I have experienced this in the US when I lived there quite a few years ago. I became a lifetime gold member with United and in turn Star Alliance which has helped me get access to lounges.

sanj747

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 01 Nov 2016

Total posts 148

Purchased Qantas business class Syd-LGA only to be told by Qantas today I would not gain access to the business lounge in my 2 hour stop-over in Dallas as my next onward flight is on an AA operated aircraft even though that ticket too is business class. Also have some internal U.S. flights booked on same ticket all be it on different dates prior to my return - AA flights in first/business departing LGA and Orlando which all show up on my one booking reference number when I log onto Qantas - no access will be granted in lounges there either.....Questioning why did I bother paying business/first on AA if this is the case. Has anyone had any experience with same issue?

@Addicted2travel I flew via Dallas into the mid west last year in economy and had no issues accessing the lounge in DFW with my then QF gold status. I can't see why you wouldn't get access into the lounges in the US with your business/first class tickets.

It's what I would have thought too.... I do not have QF gold status though - and am not a member of Qantas Club either. Was not happy hearing the Qantas rep tell me this information this morning. Also contacted AA Admirals Club who also said no access would be given in LGA or Orlando even though first class tickets....Crazy!

I hear your disappointment. This is stuff we are not used to in this part of the world but unfortunately it is the norm in the US.

Addicted2travel

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 15 Feb 2017

Total posts 10

They're incorrect: you'd have access in Dallas on the basis of being a long-haul international business class passenger under Oneworld rules. Just hold onto your Sydney-Dallas boarding pass and present it, along with your onward boarding pass, for lounge access in Dallas.

However, you're out of luck for the other domestic flights unless they're on the same day as your flight back to Sydney (in which case you'd again have access under Oneworld rules as an international business class passenger).

This is where Qantas Gold/Platinum status comes in handy, or if you don't have that, Qantas Club membership, which provides access to AA's Admirals Club lounges when flying with American on an AA or QF flight number. :)

Thanks Chris for clearing this up for me.

sdtravel

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 18 Jun 2015

Total posts 79

Might also want to check luggage allowances. I think the domestic AA flights will be subject to AA rules if not connecting to same day QF.

reno

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 20 Sep 2013

Total posts 317

May I suggest a day /30day pass at the admirals club to be safe.


LisaEdward

Member since 13 Sep 2017

Total posts 2

Last year I flew AA from Dallas to Vegas, then Vegas to LAX. Both ticketed first class and both didn't grant access as they were domestic flights. Apparently only international flights allow access to lounges (at least that's what the lady at the desk in the lounge told me).

Last editedby LisaEdward at Feb 21, 2018, 02:59 PM.

Nick Sydney 2

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 22 Jul 2015

Total posts 83

QF Gold/Plat/Oneworld Emerald or Sapphire will all allow access even if in Y

careyw

Member since 18 Nov 2017

Total posts 3

Try flying to the US with Virgin next time and then use Delta for the domestics. You'll generally get a better US domestic experience, plus if you have Gold/Platinum with Virgin, Delta treat you like a king :)

pgcnewyork

Member since 30 Mar 2016

Total posts 6

Welcome to US domestic air travel. Aus ain't so bad after all.

AA lounge access policy


Last editedby pgcnewyork at Feb 21, 2018, 04:07 PM.

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