Airport Lounge Access Rules

[BeijingDave]

Moderator note - split from:

1st class lounge access

I am looking for any official information on which tickets are valid for access to 1st class lounges and indeed which, if any, are not valid. Having looked at the websites of LNER, Avanti, GWR and Scotrail there is little solid information. I have a specific reason for asking but I'd rather not...

www.railforums.co.uk

Ok, my bad, I assumed it was like airline lounge where access can definitely be a gamble

Why is access a gamble? I'd say the rules are fairly straightforward. If I have a British Airways Business Class ticket from Heathrow to Singapore, I can enter any Business Class lounge of British Airways or their OneWorld partner airlines.

I cannot enter the lounges of Singapore Airlines or their StarAlliance partners.

I'd say that was straightforward enough. The only gamble would be if you assumed you could use any lounge and tried to talk your way in (although some may let you in for a fee).

 

[Bill57p9]

BA do have some seemingly odd restrictions for non-BA flights though. For example, the Glasgow BA lounge is not open to business class or Executive Club Silver passengers flying Aer Lingus to Dublin or Loganair to Southampton (back when they flew that route), even if your ticket was purchased as a BA codeshare.

The Dulles BA lounge is however open to Aer Lingus business class passengers with Aer Lingus tickets.

 

[Bungle965]

BA do have some seemingly odd restrictions for non-BA flights though. For example, the Glasgow BA lounge is not open to business class or Executive Club Silver passengers flying Aer Lingus to Dublin or Loganair to Southampton (back when they flew that route), even if your ticket was purchased as a BA codeshare.

The Dulles BA lounge is however open to Aer Lingus business class passengers with Aer Lingus tickets.

Is this advertised anywhere or is it something that the lounge has made up?

 

[Watershed]

Is this advertised anywhere or is it something that the lounge has made up?

Lounge access rules and eligibility for Oneworld-operated flights are shown on the Oneworld lounge finder website.

For non-Oneworld operated flights it's a bit more complex, and in reality you are best off looking at the articles published by the likes of Head for Points or the lounge access threads on Flyertalk for details. The rules aren't made up but they are generally posted in very obscure places.

 

[Bungle965]

Lounge access rules and eligibility for Oneworld-operated flights are shown on the Oneworld lounge finder website.

For non-Oneworld operated flights it's a bit more complex, and in reality you are best off looking at the articles published by the likes of Head for Points or the lounge access threads on Flyertalk for details. The rules aren't made up but they are generally posted in very obscure places.

Interesting thanks, sounds even more complicated than on the trains!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Escape lounge at MAN I used to get every time but VS and DL changed the rules and you have to be flying Upper I believe. I personally believe lounge access rules change too often and confuse some people.

 

[BeijingDave]

Escape lounge at MAN I used to get every time but VS and DL changed the rules and you have to be flying Upper I believe. I personally believe lounge access rules change to often and confuse some people.

That lounge is awful because they let anyone who is prepared to pay in anyway. So they are probably now trying to extract extra cash from their customers, too.

Last time I went in, and will ever go in, there were two families of drunk (and neglectful, with children in tow) Welsh rugby fans screaming at the TVs as Wales were playing. They shouldn't have even been allowed in with rugby shirts on, in my opinion. I know dress codes have changed, but still...

*I was in there because it's lounge for KLM passengers.

 

[cool110]

That lounge is awful because they let anyone who is prepared to pay in anyway.

It's worse, some OTAs are including passes with every package at 4 and 5 star hotels. Although my family aren't the sort to be drinking at 4am.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

It's worse, some OTAs are including passes with every package at 4 and 5 star hotels. Although my family aren't the sort to be drinking at 4am.

Exactly and imo Brits are the worse for starting drinking very early especially if it’s “free”. Eee luv, am on mee ‘olidays.

 

[nlogax]

For example, the Glasgow BA lounge is not open to business class or Executive Club Silver passengers flying Aer Lingus to Dublin [..] even if your ticket was purchased as a BA codeshare.

I wasn't aware of that specific restriction and it will absolutely apply to me in a couple of weeks. Is that because Emerald operate the AL regional routes?

 

[D1024]

@nlogax IIRC you are BA Gold? If so and you have a BA (125-) issued ticket & flight and boarding pass has BA codeshare flight number then you should be able to access the Glasgow lounge but no guest privileges. Coming back from Dublin no access at DUB. Have a look at FT BA exec forum. Did similar at Aberdeen recently with no problem.

 

[nlogax]

@nlogax IIRC you are BA Gold? If so and you have a BA (125-) issued ticket & flight and boarding pass has BA codeshare flight number then you should be able to access the Glasgow lounge but no guest privileges. Coming back from Dublin no access at DUB. Have a look at FT BA exec forum. Did similar at Aberdeen recently with no problem.

Ah good to know, thanks! Unfortunately I'll only be gold by the end of this trip as this is a TP run on an AA-issued ticket. Was assuming my OW Sapphire would still get me in but alas not.

 

[WestCoast]

Exactly and imo Brits are the worse for starting drinking very early especially if it’s “free”. Eee luv, am on mee ‘olidays.

The main airport operated lounge in Glasgow now has a four drink limit, although in fairness they will serve a proper measure as in a pint for beer and proper sized glass of wine etc.

 

[Cloud Strife]

The main airport operated lounge in Glasgow now has a four drink limit, although in fairness they will serve a proper measure as in a pint for beer and proper sized glass of wine etc.

I once made the mistake pre-pandemic of starting to drink because of a severely delayed flight in Wrocław. I'm still surprised they let me on the plane, and I don't remember anything about the journey.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

The main airport operated lounge in Glasgow now has a four drink limit, although in fairness they will serve a proper measure as in a pint for beer and proper sized glass of wine etc.

That is good to hear. Chattanooga airport bar ( not lounge) has a 2 drinks limit. I have heard anecdotal evidence in many US airport lounges that drink limits are now being more carefully monitored.

 

[AlterEgo]

That is good to hear. Chattanooga airport bar ( not lounge) has a 2 drinks limit. I have heard anecdotal evidence in many US airport lounges that drink limits are now being more carefully monitored.

Not just anecdotal - I have seen it reported on Twitter and Flyertalk, and even seen a brief to United Club staff. This was after the post-COVID spike in airport and airline rage, which seems to have now subsided a bit.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Not just anecdotal - I have seen it reported on Twitter and Flyertalk, and even seen a brief to United Club staff. This was after the post-COVID spike in airport and airline rage, which seems to have now subsided a bit.

Thanks for that confirmation. I am not going senile just yet!

 

[DanNCL]

BA do have some seemingly odd restrictions for non-BA flights though. For example, the Glasgow BA lounge is not open to business class or Executive Club Silver passengers flying Aer Lingus to Dublin or Loganair to Southampton (back when they flew that route), even if your ticket was purchased as a BA codeshare.

The Dulles BA lounge is however open to Aer Lingus business class passengers with Aer Lingus tickets.

The policy for Glasgow is the standard BA policy, that you have to be flying with themselves or another oneworld carrier to use the lounge. Aer Lingus isn’t a oneworld member despite being part of IAG.
As no other oneworld carriers currently fly to Glasgow, the BA lounge there is effectively only for those flying BA to London.

The different rules at Dulles are because Aer Lingus have a few individual airport lounge access arrangements in the US and Canada not just with BA but with other airlines, including competitors. For example, Aer Lingus passengers can use the United lounge at Boston, the Turkish Airlines lounge at Miami and the KLM lounge at Toronto.

 

[Butts]

The main airport operated lounge in Glasgow now has a four drink limit, although in fairness they will serve a proper measure as in a pint for beer and proper sized glass of wine etc.

Luckily the BA Lounge, for those eligible, has no such restrictions.

 

[johncrossley]

Is there a lounge where alcoholic drinks are not allowed? Now that's a lounge I would pay for.

 

[AlterEgo]

Is there a lounge where alcoholic drinks are not allowed? Now that's a lounge I would pay for.

Any dry airline’s lounge, like Saudia.

 

[nlogax]

Today's mini faux-pas, thought my JFK to PHX segment in J would maybe get me into the Chelsea lounge at JFK T8. Naturally, reader, of course it didn't. So instead I'm typing this from the Greenwich lounge watching some decent Canarsie approaches to 13L. Could definitely be worse.

 

[Watershed]

Today's mini faux-pas, thought my JFK to PHX segment in J would maybe get me into the Chelsea lounge at JFK T8. Naturally, reader, of course it didn't. So instead I'm typing this from the Greenwich lounge watching some decent Canarsie approaches to 13L. Could definitely be worse.

If you arrived in on transatlantic (or, by some weird circumstance a transcontinental) BA/AA First flight, then you do have access as a connecting passenger even though your onward flight doesn't qualify as it's "only" in J.

That being said, the Chelsea lounge dragons and indeed the lounge staff as a whole are notorious for making up their own rules. See also their habit of pretending that the high-end champagnes such as Krug aren't available unless you ask for them by name and insist - the Flyertalk Chelsea champagne thread refers...

 

[nlogax]

If you arrived in on transatlantic (or, by some weird circumstance a transcontinental) BA/AA First flight, then you do have access as a connecting passenger even though your onward flight doesn't qualify as it's "only" in J.

That was my thinking as today is leg three on a single AA itinerary including BA in F from Heathrow to JFK last night. Indeed the lounge dragons were in fine condescension mode today. Not worth the discussion with them, it's been a long 36 hours as it is.

 

[Watershed]

That was my thinking as today is leg three on a single AA itinerary including BA in F from Heathrow to JFK last night. Indeed the lounge dragons were in fine condescension mode today. Not worth the discussion with them, it's been a long 36 hours as it is.

Ah, not a same day connection - I think that'll be the reason.

 

[AlterEgo]

Ah, not a same day connection - I think that'll be the reason.

Indeed. But a bit tight of them not to just grant access. I’ve got a same day connection booked later this year off a BA F.

Shame for @nlogax though as the Chelsea lounge is top notch. Excellent cocktails and food.

 

[nlogax]

Shame for @nlogax though as the Chelsea lounge is top notch. Excellent cocktails and food.

I do have a drive once getting into Tucson later so the Chelsea would have been wasted on me today. Next time though.

Back to London on AA in F next weekend so will see what the Flagship Lounge at LAX T4 will have to offer instead.

 

[route101]

What is the minimum requirement to get in a BA lounge?

 

[Watershed]

What is the minimum requirement to get in a BA lounge?

A pulse

Plus a booking on a oneworld-operated flight departing the same day from the same airport (and usually the same terminal), and either

• a business/first class ticket (on the departing flight, or alternatively on a previous long-haul flight that arrived the same day as your economy connection), or
• BA Silver/Gold status, or the equivalent with another OW airline - i.e. OW Sapphire or Emerald

There are a couple of extra edge-case scenarios, and you will only get into the business class (Galleries Club) section unless you are travelling first or have Gold status.

Alternatively you could get guested in by someone with status; there are various online resources where people with the ability to guest will post when and where they'll be in a lounge.

 

[nlogax]

AA lounge update; the Flagship lounge at LAX T4 is..fine. On a par with Club / Galleries lounges at LHR but certainly no more than that, so the Special Laminated Invite feels like a comedic touch. There are other Oneworld options a ten minute walk around the corner in TB but this one is convenient.



Tbh I preferred Admirals Club in Phoenix. Smaller, calmer, more charm and there were a couple of great folks running a fresh taco bar which felt like a bit of a win.