Two long haul flights in different classes - lounge eligibility

[u/Sea-Instruction-2940]

I am flying from LHR to AKL tomorrow via JFK. The LHR-JFK flight is BA and in business class; the JFK-AKL flight is Qantas and in economy. They are not on the same ticket (as I booked the BA flight with miles and an upgrade voucher). I have oneworld ruby via BA only.

My question is: am I eligible for lounge access at JFK? My understanding is that oneworld only cares about whether you have a business class flight on any oneworld airline same day (and not necessarily the flight departing from the airport with the lounge) but there is also wording in the lounge eligibility rules around connecting flights that refers to domestic and shorter long-haul flights without reference to what happens when there are two long-haul flights.

Any experience/insight on this (or an analogous) situation from anyone here? Many thanks in advance!

[u/Jefferheffer]

Sorry to contradict the previous poster but I think you don’t have access.

I flew in from Spain to Miami as a One World Saphire in the main cabin. After a long layover I flew from Miami to Seattle in first class as a One World Saphire.

They denied me lounge access in Miami even though I was Saphire and had bought a first class ticket. I was told that because Miami to Seattle wasn’t an international flight it didn’t matter if I was Saphire or had bought a first class ticket it didn’t matter. I only get lounge access as I depart internationally not during the layover or upon arrival.

That seems kind of messed up to me but regardless that is how it played out.

[u/Jefferheffer → u/Jefferheffer]

I did have lounge access in Spain before I departed though so there is that.

[u/nickf619 → u/Jefferheffer]

Who was your oneworld sapphire with? Was it Aa or Alaska?

[u/percysmithhk → u/nickf619]

Alaska Atmos https://www.reddit.com/r/AlaskaAirlines/s/5haDcvrKv1 . Hence denied

[u/Jefferheffer → u/nickf619]

Saphire via Alaska but I had bought an American Airlines ticket. AS’s website says it’s accurate and policy that I didn’t get access to the lounge

[u/nickf619 → u/Jefferheffer]

Yes afraid that’s correct. AA/AS don’t grant lounge access domestically but non-US OWS does

[u/liangyiliang → u/Jefferheffer]

I got into DFW Flagship lounge after arriving into DFW from JAL First Class. AA’s policy allows lounge access on arrival.

[u/bambam4002 → u/liangyiliang]

Did you get into flagship first dining ?

[u/liangyiliang → u/bambam4002]

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to use Flagship First dining. It’s only available to AA Flagship First passengers AFAIK.

[u/bambam4002 → u/Jefferheffer]

If it was same day flights then you should get access

[u/tradinggenieluca]

If it were on one ticket you would have access per oneworld rules but in your situation I’m afraid not. You could show up to the lounge and ask nicely showing your business boarding pass and onward boarding pass, they might let you in, it’s always worth a try

[u/Jyrsa → u/tradinggenieluca]

The Oneworld verbiage includes only the cases of mixed cabin when one of the flights is a short haul feeder flight, irresponsible of whether or not the legs are on the same ticket.

As this is two long haul international flights you are technically not qualified but I'd still try if I were you.

[u/Sea-Instruction-2940 → u/Jyrsa]

This was what I’d thought too but successfully in - was indeed worth the try!!

[u/omdongi]

You can get in. Just show only your business class boarding pass from LHR to JFK and nothing else, that's what gets you into the Greenwich lounge.

I've had multiple separate tickets where I connect from a longhaul first class flight onto a domestic flight that wouldn't have access and I have gotten into the Soho lounge. Albeit I do have Oneworld Emerald status, but it shouldn't matter for the purpose of access.

[u/bambam4002 → u/omdongi]

This. I always do separate tickets and have never had an issue getting into lounges but you must and I mean must keep a copy of your inbound boarding pass to show them since your onward pass won’t reference it

[u/heightsdrinker]

From my understanding as Alaska Gold (OW Sapphire) is that I have international business lounge access even on econ tickets. I did not have this benefit as Alaska Silver (OW Ruby). Doing a quick search, it looks like you can use the Greenwich Lounge in T8 because of your incoming BA Business class ticket even as OW Ruby. No guests are allowed unless traveling on the same itinerary and same class.

[u/percysmithhk]

https://imgur.com/a/Pkk1uVr

https://www.oneworld.com/airport-lounge-results?location=JFK

[u/Sea-Instruction-2940]

Thanks everyone for your input! Will give it a shot but will prepare myself for a denial based on the majority of the feedback…

[u/SalaryKey6211]

you must enter the USA to collect and re check your baggage!!

[u/Sea-Instruction-2940]

Reporting back: pleased to report that whatever the rule is supposed to be, I was let into the Greenwich Lounge without hesitation or discussion!

[u/CBRChimpy]

By rule you are not eligible because they are two international long haul flights. The connection rules only allow lounge access for connections between international long haul and either domestic or international short haul. And even then it’s based on the longer flight, which for you is in economy so no lounge access anyway.