It’s not easy to compare airline alliances, but we tried in 2021 and, in terms of lounge access, Oneworld emerged as the clear winner. With the Emerald status, there is the possibility to access almost all first lounges, even with an economy class ticket.
But where can this advantage be utilized? That’s what this article is about. In total, we have found 25 lounges that are accessible to Emerald frequent flyers but not with Sapphire status.
Table of Contentsm
When we mention “buffet” in the list below, it can at least replace a (small) meal. If there are only a few snacks at the buffet, we have not listed them separately.
Europe
In Europe, there are special lounges for Emerald passengers at a total of four airports. The offering at London Heathrow is particularly impressive, with a total of four corresponding lounges – and soon to be five.
Frankfurt FRA
- Japan Airlines First Class Lounge
- Location: Before the security checkpoint, terminal 2
- Food: à la carte
- Review: at Traveling for Miles
Helsinki HEL
- Finnair Platinum Wing
- Location: Next to gate 51. Access only with a non-Schengen ticket
- Food: à la carte + buffet
- Worth mentioning: Sauna
- Review: at Travel-Dealz (4,0 / 5)
London-Heathrow LHR
- Cathay Pacific First Class Lounge
- Location: Terminal 3
- Food: à la carte
- Review: by Callum Elsdon
- American Airlines Int’l First Class Lounge
- Location: Terminal 3
- Food: à la carte + buffet
- Review: at Head for Points
- British Airways Galleries First Lounge (T3)
- Location: Terminal 3
- Food: à la carte + buffet
- Review: at Turning left for Less
- British Airways Galleries First Lounge (T5)
- Location: Terminal 5
- Food: à la carte + buffet
- Worth mentioning: not a “real” first lounge. That would be the Concorde Room.
- Review: at Point Hacks
London-Gatwick LGW
- British Airways First Lounge
- Location: Terminal South
- Food: à la carte
- Review: at LoyaltyLobby
North America
In North America, there are two dedicated lounges for Oneworld Emerald members. Additionally, Emerald frequent flyers have access to the First-Class Room in Seattle (not worth mentioning).
American Airlines also operates Flagship First Dining at several airports. Unfortunately, Emerald frequent flyers do not have access; it actually requires a First-Class ticket.
Los Angeles LAX
- Qantas First Class Lounge
- Location: International terminal, but also reachable with a domestic flight
- Food: à la carte
- Review: at View from the Wing
New York JFK
- BA & AA SoHo Lounge
- Location: Terminal 8
- Food: à la carte + buffet
- Worth mentioning: Not a “real” first lounge. That would be the Chelsea Lounge
- Review: at Travel-Dealz (4,3 / 5)
Seattle SEA
- British Airways Terraces Lounge First Room
- Location: within the Business Lounge
- Food: Basically none
- Worth mentioning: A laughable lounge according to the review
- Review: bei TravelUpdate
Middle East
In Doha, Qatar Airways operates a Platinum Lounge for Emerald frequent flyers. However, it is by no means a true first lounge. It doesn’t even compare to the excellent Qatar Business Lounge. However, the Platinum Lounge is at least better than the Gold or Oryx Lounge, designated for Sapphire status.
Doha DOH
- Qatar Airways Platinum Lounge South
- Location: Next to gate A1
- Food: à la carte (menu here) + buffet
- Worth mentioning: not a “real” first lounge. That would be the Al Safwa Lounge
- Review: at Pointhacks.com.au
- Qatar Airways Platinum Lounge North
- Location: Concourse D
- Food: à la carte + buffet
- Worth mentioning: not a “real” first lounge. That would be the Al Safwa Lounge
- Review: at The Filipino Traveler
Asia
In Asia, not only the lounges of Cathay Pacific are noteworthy, but also Malaysia Airlines, JAL, and Qantas operate international first lounges accessible with Emerald status. However, JAL’s Diamond Lounges for domestic flights are hardly worth mentioning.
Hong Kong HKG
- Cathay Pacific The Pier First Lounge
- Location: Terminal 1, next to gate 63
- Food: à la carte
- Worth mentioning: Considered to be one of the best Oneworld Emerald Lounges. 15min massage included (when available)
- Review: at Executive Traveller
- Cathay Pacific The Wing First Lounge
- Location: Terminal 1, next to gate 3 – 4
- Food: à la carte + buffet
- Worth mentioning: The Pier is better
- Review: at Head for Points
Kuala Lumpur KUL
- Malaysia Airlines Platinum / First Lounge
- Location: next to the Business Class / Golden Lounge
- Food: à la carte
- Review: at Point Hacks
Naha, Okinawa OKA
- Japan Airlines Diamond Premier Lounge
- Location: After the security checkpoint, only domestic flights
- Food: Only small snacks
- Review: at SalsaWorldTraveler
Osaka ITM
- Japan Airlines Diamond Premier Lounge
- Location: North Terminal, only domestic flights
- Food: Only small snacks
- Reviews: on Google Maps
Sapporo CTS
- Japan Airlines Diamond Premier Lounge
- Location: Next to gate 14, only domestic flights
- Food: Only small snacks
- Review: at JakartaPotato
Singapore SIN
- Qantas First Class Lounge
- Location: Terminal 1, D gates
- Food: à la carte
- Review: at MileLion
Tokyo-Haneda HND
- Japan Airlines First Class Lounge
- Location: Next to gate 112, only international flights
- Food: à la carte
- Review: at Point Hacks
- Japan Airlines Diamond Premier Lounge North
- Location: Terminal 1, only domestic flights
- Food: Only small snacks
- Review: at JakartaPotato
- Japan Airlines Diamond Premier Lounge North
- Location: Terminal 1, only domestic flights
- Food: Only small snacks
- Review: at KNAvation
Tokyo-Narita NRT
- Japan Airlines First Class Lounge
- Location: Terminal 2, only international flights
- Food: à la carte
- Review: at TravelCodex
Australia & New Zealand
Oneworld member Qantas operates a first-class lounge in Sydney, considered one of the best in the world. Additionally, there is a dedicated first-class lounge in Melbourne and a First-Class Room in Auckland, New Zealand.
We have not listed the Qantas Domestic Business Lounges in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. These are open to business travellers (but not Oneworld Sapphire) and, according to reviews, are not worth mentioning.
Auckland AKL
- Qantas International First Room
Melbourne MEL
- Qantas International First Lounge
- Location: Terminal 2, international flights
- Food: à la carte
- Worth mentioning: 20min massage included (when available)
- Review: at PointHacks.com.au
Sydney SYD
- Qantas International First Lounge
- Location: Terminal 1, international flights
- Food: à la carte
- Worth mentioning: Considered to be one of the best Emerald lounges. 20min massage included (when available).
- Review: at Live and let’s Fly
Planned Lounges
Oneworld Emerald frequent flyers can also look forward to the following new openings or changes:
- Helsinki
HEL: The new Finnair Schengen Lounge will at least have a dedicated, more exclusive area for Emerald members. The exact implementation is still pending. (Source) - London
LHR: In London Heathrow, a Qantas First Class Lounge is expected to open at the end of 2025. Alongside the Cathay First & British Airways First Lounge, this will be the fourth lounge for guests with Emerald status (or first-class ticket) in Terminal 3.
The cover image shows the SoHo Lounge in New York JFK.
Translated and edited by Ditmar
Comments (9)
Id like to share with the team that i really enjoy the fresh and thorough approach to many articles. Travel offers are the out there and some valuable insights….
i meant: travel offers are the best…
Thanks Antonio. We really appreciate the praise
And thanks for everything you are doing here <3
I was always able to access the Platinum wing in Helsinki with a Schengen ticket.
The first lounge of Malaysia Airlines is not within the business lounge, but next to it. There two completely separate entrances.
Did you arrive with a Non-Schengen flight? From what I read:
1) If you cross passport control solely to visit the lounge, they will deny it
2) If you arrive Non-Schengen but continue with a Schengen-flight, it is okay to go in the Platinum Wing
At least that’s from the Flyertalk posts in 2023. So I never tried it myself, to avoid disappointment.
Thanks for the correction regarding the Malaysia one, I have amended it
I actually had all the cases:
– arriving Schengen and departing non-Schengen
– arriving non-Schengen and departing Schengen
– departing directly from Helsinki to Schengen
We always went to the Platinum Wing, which wasn’t surprising as the OW-Lounge-Finger doesn’t state the necessity pf a non-Schengen ticket to enter the lounge (just the location is in the non-Schengen area).
But the experiences at FT seem to be more recent than ours, so maybe that has changed. Or maybe they decide on an occupancy base – if the lounge is empty they don’t care too much…
Looks like I should give it another try next time I am in HEL 🙂
As it doesn’t take too much time to go forth and back at HEL immigration, I think it’s always worth a try 😉
Especially as the Schengen business lounge is often extremely crowded…