Can I use the El Al lounge?

7 replies

gevoysoy

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 22 Jan 2013

Total posts 14

I'm a Qantas Gold (OneWorld Sapphire) member. I will be flying SYD-HKG-TLV with Cathay Pacific and El Al, in Economy.

El Al and Qantas are Partners for their FF programs, but El Al is not in OneWorld.

Is there any way I can get into a OneWorld lounge before my El Al flight (without paying)?

El Al uses The Travelers’ Lounge (West) in HKG, which is not operated by OneWorld, though it is the designated lounge for some OneWorld carriers (Finnair, Japan Airlines, Royal Jordanian, S7).

As Qantas Gold can I enter the Qantas Lounge if my next flight is not OneWorld?

PeterLoh

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 25 May 2012

Total posts 356

As a Qantas Gold member you can access Qantas International Business lounges when your next onward flight as a QF number which is a codeshare or when your flight is operated and marketed by a oneworld airline.

So if your flight is El Al metal with a QF flight number, you can in theory access the Qantas lounge.

However, I believe the Qantas Lounge is in Terminal 1, whereas El Al flies from Terminal 2.

I think you're out of luck.

KG

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 10 May 2011

Total posts 249

Unfortunately, rules state you are not permitted to make us of the lounge (not even if  the El Al flight is a codeshare with a QF flightnumber). Trick is that the onward flight must be a Oneworld bird. You would be able to use the lounge on your return. You do earn mileage when booked in the right class (no sc's).

As per QF FF T&C:

Next onward flight that day must be a Qantas or Jetstar Airlines+ flight number or a oneworld operated and marketed flight.#

One guest allowed and must be travelling with the member.

hutch

Member since 07 Oct 2012

Total posts 772

 I read that differently. "Next onward flight that day must be a Qantas or Jetstar Airlines+ flight number" .  I believe a QF fight code on a non-oneworld plane would enable QFF Gold's lounge access. Otherwise QFF Gold wouldn't be able to access lounge's when flying codeshares to Noumea or Seoul for example.

However, I'm not sure whether El Al carries a QF flight code. I know you can earn QFF on El Al, but doesn't mean QF codeshares on their birds.

 

KG

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 10 May 2011

Total posts 249

For Gold FF I am pretty sure it is " a Oneworld operated and marketed flight" meaning both metal and flight number must be oneworld (so QF flightnumber but AY bird would work for instance).

Gold FF are not able to access the lounge when flying on a QF flightnumber but Air Pacific operated flight (or Air Caledonian operated flight as per your example).

Platinum FF can access the lounge when flying Air Pacific or Air Caledonia (or any other metal as long as it holds a OW flightnumber) as the T&C's there state the flight only has to be marketed as a Oneworld flight, not operated on OW metal.

hutch

Member since 07 Oct 2012

Total posts 772

Really? I stand corrected. If that is the case, it should be changed.

KG

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 10 May 2011

Total posts 249

I guess it is the differnce of being Gold or Platinum, they have to differentiate somewhere :) Agreed it is rather strange though and creates confusion.

Steady

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 06 Sep 2012

Total posts 8

@KG, I worked FIFO New Caledonia for 18 months as QFF Gold and always had lounge access on QF code share flights on Aircalin metal in BNE, SYD & NOU

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