Lounge access policies
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Lounge access policies
I have heard that there is a big difference in the way European airlines grant lounge access and the way airport longes operate in the US.
Namely in Europe, usually one can get into a lounge if holding a ticket for a flight departing the same day, with appropriate ticket class and airline. Or sometimes when arriving, in appropriate cabin class and airline again.
Whereas the people in US supposedly pay for lounge access passes, or it is a perk of the frequent flier program.
It would seem to me that lounges are much easier to build under the European access rules. The airline can just check the seatmaps of their planes, count the seats in the front end, then add up the departing planes from their timetable - and they know the maximum number of people who can be entitled to access on any day, so they know how big lounges must be built.
Whereas in US, you never know how many frequent fliers or lounge members choose to buy Coach tickets to a single flight.
What are the most popular lounge access rules now (That is, in which direction are they being changed)? Are the airlines trying to add to people who can enter lounges, or are they trying to prevent overcrowding of lounges?
Namely in Europe, usually one can get into a lounge if holding a ticket for a flight departing the same day, with appropriate ticket class and airline. Or sometimes when arriving, in appropriate cabin class and airline again.
Whereas the people in US supposedly pay for lounge access passes, or it is a perk of the frequent flier program.
It would seem to me that lounges are much easier to build under the European access rules. The airline can just check the seatmaps of their planes, count the seats in the front end, then add up the departing planes from their timetable - and they know the maximum number of people who can be entitled to access on any day, so they know how big lounges must be built.
Whereas in US, you never know how many frequent fliers or lounge members choose to buy Coach tickets to a single flight.
What are the most popular lounge access rules now (That is, in which direction are they being changed)? Are the airlines trying to add to people who can enter lounges, or are they trying to prevent overcrowding of lounges?
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In Canada, if you hold a platinum (I think) Aeroplan American Express card, this gives you access to Maple Leaf Lounges. The card costs about $400 a year I believe and is affiliated with Air Canada's Aeroplan scheme where you can also earn miles when using the card for purchases.
You can also use the lounges if you are a gold card Star Alliance member or have an executive class (ie business class) ticket for an Air Canada / Star Alliance flight.
You can also use the lounges if you are a gold card Star Alliance member or have an executive class (ie business class) ticket for an Air Canada / Star Alliance flight.
Paxing All Over The World
At the moment, the situation in Europe is changing a bit.
Firstly, if you have the biz class ticket - then you get in. If you have a Y ticket but have a higher FF card - then you get in.
Secondly, there are now companies who operate commercial lounges. These are available by:
1) Walking in on the day and paying the fee.
2) Some Charter carriers provide discounted access but you still pay.
3) A club scheme called Priority Pass, where you pay an annual fee and can then use any of the registered clubs in the world. There are also a partnership between Priority Pass and American Express for Platinum Card acces - but you must still have joined PP and have their card.
Note that if you take in a guest, you pay a fee for them.
SOMETIMES the commer commercial lounge may also host mainline FF pax but this tends to only be at small airports. If you travel a lot in Europe - particularly in Y - then Priority Pass is well worth having, in my view. Even in the years when I do not use them much, I am glad to know that they are there and it is global.
Firstly, if you have the biz class ticket - then you get in. If you have a Y ticket but have a higher FF card - then you get in.
Secondly, there are now companies who operate commercial lounges. These are available by:
1) Walking in on the day and paying the fee.
2) Some Charter carriers provide discounted access but you still pay.
3) A club scheme called Priority Pass, where you pay an annual fee and can then use any of the registered clubs in the world. There are also a partnership between Priority Pass and American Express for Platinum Card acces - but you must still have joined PP and have their card.
Note that if you take in a guest, you pay a fee for them.
SOMETIMES the commer commercial lounge may also host mainline FF pax but this tends to only be at small airports. If you travel a lot in Europe - particularly in Y - then Priority Pass is well worth having, in my view. Even in the years when I do not use them much, I am glad to know that they are there and it is global.
Too mean to buy a long personal title
chornedsnorkack: It would seem to me that lounges are much easier to build under the European access rules. The airline can just check the seatmaps of their planes, count the seats in the front end, then add up the departing planes from their timetable - and they know the maximum number of people who can be entitled to access on any day, so they know how big lounges must be built.
Also, the US carriers usually have to put up with higher-tier frequent flyers from their alliance partners having lounge access even when their own equivalent tier frequent flyers don't have such access. Very curious.
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In Australia say with Qantas, they have the Qantas Club which is sometimes shared with codeshare or Oneworld alliance airlines in some ports. You can either pay and become a member of the Qantas Club giving you access, or if you're at a certain tier within the QF frequent flyer program you have access, same with Oneworld dependent upon your Oneworld status or i'm sure with pax travelling in First Class or a member of the Chairman's Lounge. (not sure about the first class thing?)
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Crowding
Well, then there is the possibility of having a lounge fill up with frequent fliers or paid lounge members who depart in Economy or even on competing, non-allied airlines. I have heard a Flying Blue customer complaining that this is the case in Schiphol, so the elite is the non-status passengers who occupy airy and quiet departure lounges, while the frequent fliers are lured to crowded lounges with a few free snacks and drinks...
Paxing All Over The World
so the elite is the non-status passengers who occupy airy and quiet departure lounges, while the frequent fliers are lured to crowded lounges with a few free snacks and drinks...
Sometimes a Biz lounge can be noisy and crowded in the Friday evening rush but the main lounges are no longer 'lounges'. I do not find it restful to spend time sitting in the middle of a shopping mall.
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Principles are different
The basic principles about two FF benefits differ greatly between the USA and Europe. In the USA, the main FF benefit is automatic free upgrades on domestic flights, if avaialble. In Europe, the main benefit is lounge access when flying economy, and (for example with BA) access to first class lounges from certain tier levels, when flying business or economy.
The difference in principles causes some obvious issues for the various airlines in alliances. Top-fliers from the USA may expect free upgrades with the European alliance partners. Top-tier Europeans may expect lounge access. (For example, Continental does not have a lounge arrangement in San Diego, as I found out recently. They seemed surprised that I asked.)
As for lounge access on intercontinental flights, I don't know whether I have got it via my elite tier or by the Business tickets. I will find out next week in Newark. Last time I was still Elite Plus (=Gold) with Air France, but am now Silver, which does not give lounge access with Air France/KLM. I have a Continental "Business First" ticket, and don't know whether that will give me lounge access in Newark.
Momo
The difference in principles causes some obvious issues for the various airlines in alliances. Top-fliers from the USA may expect free upgrades with the European alliance partners. Top-tier Europeans may expect lounge access. (For example, Continental does not have a lounge arrangement in San Diego, as I found out recently. They seemed surprised that I asked.)
As for lounge access on intercontinental flights, I don't know whether I have got it via my elite tier or by the Business tickets. I will find out next week in Newark. Last time I was still Elite Plus (=Gold) with Air France, but am now Silver, which does not give lounge access with Air France/KLM. I have a Continental "Business First" ticket, and don't know whether that will give me lounge access in Newark.
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Don't forget that in the USA the majority of business flying is domestic. The result is that there's much more of a 'turn up and climb on board' attitude (admittedly the security checks have inhibited this somewhat, but lounges don't help with that problem).
Many airports handle domestic flights only, and quite a few of those that describe themselves as 'International' do so on the basis of a once a week flight to Toronto/Tijuana
.
Many airports handle domestic flights only, and quite a few of those that describe themselves as 'International' do so on the basis of a once a week flight to Toronto/Tijuana
.
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To add to the Qantas policy, those with a domestic Biz class seat but no Qantas Club or OneWorld Emerald or Saphire will NOT get access !
Also, for domestic flights, you don't need to be booked on a flight that day to use the lounge, just have membership. You can meet PAX at the gate for domestic flights here (having gone through security).
Also, for domestic flights, you don't need to be booked on a flight that day to use the lounge, just have membership. You can meet PAX at the gate for domestic flights here (having gone through security).
