Emirates now allows paid guest entry at worldwide airport lounges
By David Flynn, March 20 2017
Emirates already lets economy class passengers pay their way into the airline's flagship business class and first class lounges at Dubai.
Now the Gulf powerhouse and Qantas partner is extending the scheme across its global lounge network, although at this stage not everybody can walk up and wave their credit card to enter the lounge.
But if you're accompanying a Gold or Platinum member of Emirates' Skywards frequent flyer program, you're in with a chance.
Those top-tier travellers are now allowed to pay to bring in bring additional guests "over and above their complimentary guest entitlements" at US$100 each.
Children aged below 12 years will be charged US$50, while infants below two years get in free.
The new scheme applies to Emirates lounges at Auckland, Birmingham, Brisbane, Cape Town, Delhi, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Glasgow, Hamburg, Johannesburg, Kuala Lumpur, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Los Angeles, Manchester, Melbourne, Milan, Munich, New York/JFK, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Perth, San Francisco, Sydney, Tokyo Narita and Zürich.
Rome and Singapore are missing from that list, presumably because both are temporarily closed; other exceptions to the pay-your-way-in rule are Emirates' lounges at Bangkok, Beijing, Colombo, Hong Kong, Istanbul and Shanghai.
Emirates hasn't specified any limit to the number of guests you can pay into the lounge, but says that each paid stay is limited to four hours; all guests will also need to be travelling on a Emirates flight, which includes Emirates codeshare flights operated by Qantas.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Jul 2016
Total posts 56
So, economics triumph over looking after the people who spend the big dollars with the company?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 467
No, because the extra pax need to be travelling with one of those who spend big dollars. In other words - you can buy EXTRA guest places. This overcomes the problem that some people face when they can, for example, only guest 1 person in, but they are travelling with 2 others.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Jul 2016
Total posts 56
Good point!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2011
Total posts 359
Cant imagine why anyone would spend $100US thought to use the lounge though. Also as its only "extra guests" cant see it having a big impact on numbers. Mind you, I am all for excluding paying guests from lounges. Its about rewarding loyalty to the airline, not about how much $$ you have.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1564
Agree - I may justify $100 for say 8hr+ layover. For average 2hr no freaking way!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
20 Jan 2016
Total posts 59
I do not actually think this is a terrible idea. I have more than once found myself stuck travelling with two or three others and having only one guest allowance. If its quiet the lounge staff may look the other way, but its nice to have the option of paying to get them in. That said, $100 is fairly steep, and you would likely only entertain the idea if you had a decent stopover to see out.
13 Sep 2013
Total posts 116
Apparently Etihad are about to announce paid access to their lounges too
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Mar 2013
Total posts 132
If you can save a few hundred off the QF fare by booking EK, this may make sense as a Qantas Club member, especially if flying into continental Europe.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Sep 2012
Total posts 382
I struggle to see how someone who doesn't qualify for the lounge is going to down $100 on their credit card to get in with someone with status, unless that status member is footing the bill of course.
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1242
Status envy? FOMO? You never know...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Jul 2016
Total posts 106
I guess the pricing has to be steep or the lounges will simply be overcrowded.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Jul 2013
Total posts 203
This will be very handy when I'm travelling with both my parents and/or parents-in-law but without my husband and his handy IO card
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