Cathay Pacific – Chicago (ORD) Lounge - FlyerTalk Forums (2024)

G-CIVC

Join Date: Oct 2009

Location: ORD [formerly] + HKG

Programs: CX Diamond, AA exExPlat, BAEC exGold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Starriott Titanium, GE

Posts: 2,968

There are no showers in the BA J lounge.

shd9

Join Date: May 2015

Location: WAS, SZX, HKG

Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, CX Green

Posts: 744

I was not aware of any shower facilities in the BA J lounge. Overall the lounge is pretty underwhelmed so don't expect too much from it.

Keflyer

Join Date: Aug 2004

Posts: 516

Goingto be in the same shoe next week. Which do you like best or recommend?

Stgermainparis

Join Date: Feb 2013

Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat

Posts: 6,034

G-CIVC

Join Date: Oct 2009

Location: ORD [formerly] + HKG

Programs: CX Diamond, AA exExPlat, BAEC exGold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Starriott Titanium, GE

Posts: 2,968

No because the Swissport/AFKLM lounges are located in Terminal 5 but your AA domestic flight will depart from Terminal 3. However, you are eligible to access the AA lounges by virtue of your inbound J boarding pass. They are better than the T5 lounges anyway. Enjoy.

Stgermainparis

Join Date: Feb 2013

Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat

Posts: 6,034

Thanks. Just for clarification: I can use boarding pass for HKG-ORD flight on arrival at ORD for lounge access? The next (domestic) flight is not on the same ticket/PNR. I ask bc my understanding was that arrivals don't get access and for the purposes of my J ticket, I would be considered an arrival not a connection.

jagmeets

Join Date: Jun 2006

Location: NYC/SIN

Programs: CX DM, SQ KF

Posts: 2,186

You'all be fine with the CX J bp even if it's on a separate ticket. My mum's done exactly that @ LAX without any issues. Just hand over your AA and CX nod to the AAngels.

Not sure but you might have access to the AA First class lounge as well, since J customers are eligible for that- atleast for departing flights. Not sure if it's now a designated business class lounge or still a F lounge either exceptions for J class pax and Sapphires..

G-CIVC

Join Date: Oct 2009

Location: ORD [formerly] + HKG

Programs: CX Diamond, AA exExPlat, BAEC exGold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Starriott Titanium, GE

Posts: 2,968

Stgermainparis

Join Date: Feb 2013

Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat

Posts: 6,034

Brilliant. Thanks so much for all this info. Relieved b/c have a 6 hour gap between flights and we will be tired. Lounge access makes that a lot easier to deal with.

Nazdoom

Join Date: Oct 2015

Posts: 739

Was told at check-in that the BA First Class lounge CX uses for F is closed for construction.

Then when I got to the BA Business Class lounge, I was told I wouldn''t be able find a seat. Agent called swissport lounge to accommodate me there instead. I mentioned I had access to that thru PP and she eventually let me go try to find a seat.

Pretty disappointing. The BA F lounge is mediocre at best, and I was downgraded from even that, and then downgraded a second time until I told her to let me at least try to find a seat.

Nazdoom

Join Date: Oct 2015

Posts: 739

Update: BA J lounge has a make shift F area for BA pax to make up for closed F lounge. CX pax are not allowed.

And the BA lounge dragon just gave a lecture to one of the lounge staff saying she needs to stop getting pax things and giving "customer service" because they are too busy. It was weird because it was in front of everyone and the lounge staff seemed really upset.

Really poor experience today.

observer

Join Date: Feb 2004

Location: Chicago, IL

Posts: 650

Nazdoom

Join Date: Oct 2015

Posts: 739

Update on my last two posts.

I wrote Cathay about how CX F pax were being refused entry into the ORD makeshift F lounge while BA F were allowed. They replied today (only 2 business days later!) that there was a miscommunication between Cathay and the BA lounge staff and CX F should be granted access. They stated that they will fix this miscommunication and offered me a $100 voucher.

Hopefully others won't be incorrectly refused anymore.

QRC3288

Join Date: Nov 2007

Location: Hong Kong

Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood

Posts: 7,715

is it really that big a deal? I presume the makeshift lounge was lame too? My recollection of the lounge experience at ORD is that it sucks with or without whatever it is you missed out on.

Nazdoom

Join Date: Oct 2015

Posts: 739

I didn't write in asking for money. I wrote in because I believed the lounge was enforcing a policy against OW rules and that it dampens the experience when you are told you can't even get into the J lounge, so you have to negotiate just to be able to stand in the back while newly arriving BA pax are ushered into the F makeshift area with plenty of seats. I also gave the lounge dragons an opportunity when I left where I explained why it didn't make sense and they didn't have a reply nor care.

Based on the email, they fixed this in light of the feedback. If the BA lounge dragon didn't criticize an employee awkwardly in front of the lounge pax making the employee need to seek counsel from her colleague, or if the CX lounge dragon had tried to check the rules for her own pax and do her job properly (in the email they note this was her responsibility), they maybe I wouldn't have bothered.