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British Airways changes the access rules for its Dubai airport lounge

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I was in the British Airways Dubai lounge on Saturday – an updated review is on the way.

The bottom line is that, whilst a virtually brand new space, it is far too small, especially when an A380 is running.

BA has now made some drastic changes to offset this. The new policy is confirmed on the oneworld alliance lounge website here.

Bar in British Airways Dubai lounge

Going forward, the British Airways lounge is only accessible to:

  • First Class passengers
  • British Airways Gold and oneworld Emerald members

Club World customers, BA Executive Club Silver and oneworld Sapphire card holders are now meant to use the (not great) Marhaba Lounge opposite.

However, I’m not entirely sure that this is being followed in practice.

When I arrived with my children, I was given a pass for ‘The Bar’ (the renamed ‘Concorde Bar’ – the ‘Concorde’ branding is going at JFK too) which is a private room at the far side of the lounge. This is now the only place with self pour alcohol.

I was travelling Club World and am Gold, not Gold Guest List. My daughter is Silver, my son in Blue.

If I was sent to ‘The Bar’, who was using the rest of the lounge? And why was only one other group in ‘The Bar’? It seems odd that there would only be two Gold card holders on a 100% full Boeing 777 service.

Whatever the answer, you should assume that – unless you are Gold or flying in First Class – you won’t be using the British Airways lounge.

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Category

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Comments (43)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • BC8 says:
    4 Nov4 November 04:24

    What about Qatar first class passengers, can they access the BA lounge? I guess not.

  • Tony says:
    4 Nov4 November 05:32

    Another BA premium cock-up by the work-experience kid!!

    Cardboard cups in Club Europe!!!! Such quality…..

  • Nick says:
    4 Nov4 November 05:47

    All the best in the Business Travel Journalism Awards!

  • Nick says:
    4 Nov4 November 05:51

    TBH, I’ve been an IC Ambassador for well over a decade now, but didn’t even realise, until today, that the inclusion of Kimpton & Regent redemptions was due to Covid!

  • Mark says:
    4 Nov4 November 06:24

    I was there with my family on Thursday, two adults two young kids, I’m Gold they are Bronze all flying in club (a380 PM service) and we were all let into the BA lounge.
    That said I received a text a few days earlier inviting me to go the Marhaba lounge.
    If you have priority pass you also have access to two other lounges but I would say BA has improved in recent years.

  • The Original Nick says:
    4 Nov4 November 06:52

    I always use the Ahlan Business Class Lounge. Much biggger and very quiet. Better food options too. And they have a bar.

    • kitten says:
      4 Nov4 November 09:54

      closed since Covid, as reported by a regular reader yesterday

      • Denis says:
        4 Nov4 November 10:07

        Ahlan Business Class Lounge is not closed (I was there a week ago) There is another lounge with similar name that is closed. Ahlan has a great selection of hot/cold food and is opposite SkyTeam Lounge which is also great and quiet. BA lounge is not better than these two options if you have a PP.

        • Rob says:
          4 Nov4 November 10:16

          Does DragonPass still get you into the Ahlen First Class lounge?

        • Lady London says:
          4 Nov4 November 10:23

          Ah yes just seen on the forum thread where someone said it’s still closed, someone else has come along and said it’s open.

          Got to be better than both the BA and the Marhaba Lounge, surely?

          • Denis says:
            4 Nov4 November 10:36

            Ahlan Business Lounge is way better than Marhaba. Also SkyTeam is better than BA’s in my opinion. Greater selection of food and premium drinks comparing to a BA’s one. Last week they had Ramen and Pho soups! No idea about Ahlan First Lounge though.

  • Gordon says:
    4 Nov4 November 07:30

    In reaching silver status for the first time and I’m left wondering was it all worth it, It’s not a race to the bottom it’s a vertical fall….

    • Qrfan says:
      4 Nov4 November 07:57

      Outstation lounges are generally poor though, unless you’re flying back from another one world hub and you can benefit from one of the other airlines that invests properly in their product. Don’t let that put you off. Extra bags, seat selection in old CW, priority check-in… Silver is the sweet spot in my opinion. Well worth having.

      • Gordon says:
        4 Nov4 November 08:12

        I agree on your points but it’s just the fact that BA are chipping away at the benefits that customers loyal to the brand benefit from, It leaves a sour taste in the mouth.

        • Qrfan says:
          4 Nov4 November 08:24

          I’m as quick to dismiss BA as anyone, but I don’t think that is what is happening here. We were at this lounge a year ago and it gets busy with a 777. With A380s on the route I think BA are just trying to make sure everyone gets a lounge, and prioritising elites is standard practice. Compared to Montreal recently where we got no lounge at all because the queue for the airport operated lounge was an hour long… It’s really not that bad a policy in my view.

          • yorkieflyer says:
            4 Nov4 November 08:37

            Said as a Gold maybe? I find it disgusting that a clearly stated benefit for Silver is not being honoured at a regular BA lounge, where next at a whim?

          • JDB says:
            4 Nov4 November 08:57

            @yorkieflyer it is not “a clearly stated benefit for Silver” that you will get a BA branded lounge. I am sure you would also be complaining just as much if the lounge were hopelessly overcrowded, so it is good to send some to another lounge. I am not gold, but I fully respect BA’s sensible policy to prioritise its gold and F passengers; it would be stupid for them to do otherwise.

          • Yona says:
            4 Nov4 November 09:08

            The YUL lounge is a joke. No showers, small and packed. And you can access it by having a credit card that costs $15 a month so obviously no exclusive. If you add the fact BA flights the worst kind of 787 there and that the only other option is flying Air Canada the conclusion is it is better not to travel there at all.

    • Harry T says:
      4 Nov4 November 10:47

      Agree with JDB.

  • Joan says:
    4 Nov4 November 07:33

    We flew back Club from Dubai on 1 October (we had gone out first class the week before from LHR) and were told in no uncertain terms that our only option was the Marhaba lounge which was absolutely horrible. I’ve mentioned before on here about our experience as everything about that flight was terrible with filthy and damp bedding, the dinner option being a sandwich , stroppy crew and a stampede of a queue to get on the plane . I complained when we got home and we initially got 10k avios each back . I complained again and we got another 5k avios. I asked for all my avios back and the return of my companion voucher. They refused and said the matter was closed . They said if I wanted to take things further they would take back the avios they had given us – so I gave up !

    • Qrfan says:
      4 Nov4 November 07:39

      Every single club world flight I’ve been on has had sealed bedding. Was yours handed to you loose or something?

      • Joan says:
        4 Nov4 November 09:19

        Qrfan no it was in a supposedly sealed zip up bag – mine was very damp and my partner’s was really filthy – I have a photo but can’t seem to post that here

    • Rob says:
      4 Nov4 November 09:21

      You have no contractual rights to bedding or any level of food quality and they would have taken back the 15k – not a bluff.

    • Lady London says:
      4 Nov4 November 09:51

      Some people have posted some photos of filthy British Airways seats and other things on social media. Jus’ sayin’

      • meta says:
        4 Nov4 November 15:55

        People are saying you have no contractual right, but you do actually have contractual right because of the way BA describes meals on their website. Also putting damp and filthy bedding could pose health risk, which you could go
        legal for negligence.

        I’d actually do S75 claim for the carrier surcharges portion based on that. It’s services. Just add parts of BA’s website describing the service along with pics.

        Did they not offer you new clean bedding? If not, all the more reason to ask for more.

        Whilst I think that asking for all Avios back and companion voucher is too much, 15k Avios is a bit too low in this case. I got 20k Avios for a dirty seat once for CE flight.

        • Joan says:
          4 Nov4 November 19:36

          Hi Meta- after complaining they did go and get us some fresh duvets ( and for several other people in surrounding seats ) but the staff were clearly on the defensive and not open to discussion. So I guessed it was a common problem . I pushed as far as I could for points but feel angry as this was a special holiday and the return journey was a horrible disappointment. It’s put me off going to Dubai again

          • Mr(s) Entitled says:
            4 Nov4 November 21:10

            So the flight, which Dubai have no control over, has put you off visiting the destination? That’s a very unusual conclusion.

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