[beardoc]

I've been searching for this, but I can't find it anywhere. I remember that someone did an elaborate method of getting into the Singapore Airlines lounge at SYD T1 without buying a Singapore Airlines Business Class ticket - or they did and then they cancelled it. I really would like to find this again, but am lost as to where the discussion was.

I'm in the situation where I want to be able to get airside because a friend of mine who is WP is going to be flying SYD-ZQN soon, and wants me to come and join him in the F lounge for the Eggs Benedict!

I'm in Sydney, and whilst I'm happy to pay for a return domestic trip from the International Terminal (e.g. QF81 SYD/ADL), I was wondering about the possibility of even avoiding that. After all, I will be guested into the lounge, I just need to get airside.

I'm wondering, if you buy a fully flexible ticket on QF81, do online checkin and head to the airport, get through immigration, and enjoy the F lounge guested by the WP friend - then either whilst in the QP I call up and have the flight cancelled, or cancel it in the F lounge, (preferably not doing a "no show" and delaying the airline). As I wouldn't bring any baggage on board, and it's a fully refundable ticket, I'll leave through immigration again and get a refund from QANTAS.

I realise that I might raise the ire of some people here, and I'm not doing this to offend people - I'm just really wondering about the issues below:

* Cancelling a flight after OLCI and clearing immigration - as it seems that you can still change a domestic flight after OCLI, this shouldn't be a problem.

* Trying to exit SYD immigration after entering - I'm sure this might delay things and would probably raise some suspicions as well. i'd be prepared to be delayed, as after all, I'm not doing anything illegal.

Any thoughts?

[aubs]

Big downfall is that the WP can only guest someone "travelling with member"

Flying with Us - Qantas Club - Lounge Access

Same restriction does not apply to other oneworld emeralds

[beardoc]

Originally Posted by aubs

Big downfall is that the WP can only guest someone "travelling with member"

Flying with Us - Qantas Club - Lounge Access

Same restriction does not apply to other oneworld emeralds

That's easily fixed - I buy a full fare economy ticket (or business, which is fully refundable) on the same flight that the WP is flying on - and then cancel it again.

Surely it doesn't have to be on the same linked ticket as the WP?

[Travel Guru]

Is it really worth the effort or hassle??

TG

[markis10]

You would need a passport, and a good reason as to why you cannot make the flight, as you would need to pass through border security, and you cannot do OLCI if its international and QF AFIK!

[Mal]

It was a thread over at Flyertalk by a chap who sometimes posts here as well.

I wouldn't really recommend it. Way too many places where things can go wrong, and do you really want to try and explain to an Immigration agent why you're doing this?

[NM]

Originally Posted by beardoc

That's easily fixed - I buy a full fare economy ticket (or business, which is fully refundable) on the same flight that the WP is flying on - and then cancel it again.

Surely it doesn't have to be on the same linked ticket as the WP?

Two things to note: You cannot do OLCI for an international flight. And the refund could take 6-8 weeks to be returned to your credit card.

[beardoc]

Originally Posted by Mal

It was a thread over at Flyertalk by a chap who sometimes posts here as well.

I wouldn't really recommend it. Way too many places where things can go wrong, and do you really want to try and explain to an Immigration agent why you're doing this?

I think it would be interesting explaining this to an Immigration agent. After all, what could they charge me with? They could search me - I wouldn't mind. It's not like they'd find anything.

It's as much the intellectual challenge of achieving the unachievable as much as anything else.

That, and I like Eggs Benedict.

[beardoc]

Originally Posted by NM

Two things to note: You cannot do OLCI for an international flight. And the refund could take 6-8 weeks to be returned to your credit card.

Refund not a big issue - I can cover that. This is not something that I'd do often - it's a one-off treat.

So the question is, if you front up to an agent and check in, then can you cancel a booked fully-flexible fare?

[Travel Guru]

I'm thinking you checking in with nothing but the clothes on your back is going to arouse suspicion.

I think you would get a refund, but wasting peoples time like that, I sure hope you don't!

TG