Of the “big three” global airline alliances, I tend to think the most valuable alliance-wide status is oneworld Emerald. The oneworld alliance is the only one with three elite tiers, and oneworld Emerald gives you access to some perks typically associated with first class (unlike oneworld Sapphire, which gets you perks typically associated with business class).
My single favorite thing about oneworld Emerald status is that you get access to oneworld first class lounges, even if you’re traveling in economy. Now, some lounges are excluded from this arrangement, like the Qatar Airways Al Safwa Lounge and British Airways Concorde Room. However, many incredible lounges are eligible, including some of my favorite first class lounges in the world.
In this post, I thought it would be fun to share what I consider to be the best oneworld Emerald lounges, roughly ranked in order. Suffice it to say that visiting some of these lounges is almost a rite of passage among oneworld Emeralds, for those earning status like American AAdvantage Executive Platinum and Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Gold 100K.
So below are my favorite oneworld Emerald lounges, and I’m curious to hear how many OMAAT readers have visited all of them. Let’s get into the list, starting with my favorite.
In this post:
Cathay Pacific The Pier First Lounge Hong Kong (HKG)
Cathay Pacific’s The Pier First Class Lounge in Hong Kong is such an incredible lounge. I pinch myself every time I’m in this lounge as a oneworld Emerald member, because it’s such a nice space.
I love the design of the space, the amazing plane views, the a la carte restaurant, the bar with great coffee and cocktails, the private cabanas for relaxing, and even the complimentary massages.
While Cathay Pacific’s The Wing First Class Lounge is also excellent, personally I prefer this lounge, with the exception of the amazing shower suites at The Wing.
Qantas First Lounge Sydney (SYD)
Along with Cathay Pacific’s The Pier First Class Lounge, the Qantas First Lounge Sydney is my other favorite oneworld Emerald lounge.
The lounge has a gorgeous design with amazing apron and runway views, as well as delicious a la carte dining, barista coffee, and even complimentary spa treatments. I could spend hours here and not get bored.
The Qantas First Lounge Melbourne is also excellent, though I’ll only be including one of Qantas’ Australia lounges on the list, since they’re quite similar, and the Sydney lounge does have the edge.
Qantas First Lounge Singapore (SIN)
If there’s one thing that Qantas does a great job with, it’s the carrier’s oneworld Emerald lounges. They’re not just in Australia, but there are also a couple abroad. I really love the Qantas First Lounge Singapore, which has stunning decor, and almost feels like an exclusive restaurant. The lounge has amazing food, with Qantas classics like the salt & pepper squid, as well as some local specialties, like laksa.
Japan Airlines First Lounge Tokyo (HND)
The Japan Airlines First Lounge Tokyo Haneda is another treat for oneworld Emeralds. The lounge is probably the largest first class lounge that oneworld Emerald members have access to. I love how the lounge has so many distinct zones, from a bar with Japanese specialty drinks, to a sushi restaurant, and much more. Bring your appetite to the lounge, to enjoy dishes like sushi and beef curry with rice.
If you ask me, there’s a trick to maximizing this lounge, which is turning left, rather than right, when you enter the lounge. Assuming you’re there over the right hours, you’ll want to spend your time at Sushi Tsurutei and JAL’s SALON.
Qantas First Lounge Los Angeles (LAX)
In the United States, we’re used to airport lounges with cubed cheese and boxed wine. In that sense, the Qantas First Lounge Los Angeles is a real breath of fresh air, as it’s one of the best airport lounges in the United States, in my opinion.
Much like the other Qantas First Lounge locations, the lounge is heavily focused on dining, with a restaurant quality selection of food and drinks. What a treat to be able to use this prior to an American Airlines flight!
Finnair Platinum Wing Helsinki (HEL)
While Finnair doesn’t have a first class product, the airline has the Finnair Platinum Wing especially for oneworld Emerald members. This has to be one of the coziest lounges out there, as it has lots of comfortable seating, a la carte dining, excellent coffee, and even a sauna, which is a mighty unique airport lounge amenity! Nothing quite like sauna-ing it up with your fellow oneworld Emeralds, eh?
Cathay Pacific First Lounge London (LHR)
While nothing can compete with Cathay Pacific’s lounge presence in Hong Kong, the carrier also has a great first class lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 3. In addition to having comfortable seating, the lounge also has a la carte dining, with an impressive food and drink selection.
If you’re flying American out of London and are a oneworld Emerald member, this is so much better than visiting the American International First Lounge.
American & British Airways Soho Lounge New York (JFK)
American & British Airways both operate out of Terminal 8 at New York JFK, and they have three shared lounges — the Chelsea Lounge, the Soho Lounge, and the Greenwich Lounge. The Soho Lounge is primarily for oneworld Emerald members, and it’s quite pleasant. It has views of the apron, comfortable seating, an extensive buffet, and a limited selection of a la carte dining options.
Malaysia Airlines Platinum Lounge Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
While Malaysia Airlines no longer has first class, the airline does have an exclusive lounge for oneworld Emerald members. To be honest, it’s far from my favorite lounge in the world, but it’s still nice to have a much quieter space than the main lounge. The lounge has plenty of private seating, and otherwise the main point of differentiation is a la carte dining.
Bottom line
I love having oneworld Emerald status, because it provides access to some amazing lounges that you’d otherwise have to be flying first class to visit. There are some incredible oneworld Emerald lounges out there, and visiting them has to be one of the nicest aspects of any airline elite status.
To oneworld Emeralds, which lounge is your favorite? How many of the above have you visited?
@Lucky, MH's Business Suite is still treated as F for lounge and mileage accrual purposes, just a different name. MH's keeping the Platinum Wing not just for Emeralds but also for Business Suite pax.
Thank you for the review and the list of OW lounges. For me, JAL followed by QR lounges are superior to QF lounges or CX lounges as quality has been consistent. I've always enjoyed the JAL lounges in Japan. QF and CX lounges are always overcrowded, be it first class or business class and food quality has declined over the last 10 years.
In no particular order as they are all top class:
CX
QR
QF
JAL
We just visited the Qantas Lounge in Sydney and it was fantastic, seated immediately at a table to dine and presented with a menu and wine list and asked whether we’d like sparkling or still water , coffee excellent and hot !! Food was ordered and came within 5 minutes (eggs Benedict) French Champagne a smoothie and brioche - just flawless and friendly attentive staff
I have been Alaska MVP Gold every year since they acquired virgin America (and before that, Elevate Gold on VX). So, when AS became a full member of the OneWorld Alliance, I inherited OW Sapphire status. But there is a significant gap between the 40k miles needed for OW Sapphire and the 75k required for OW Emerald. (@Ben, OW Emerald is granted at 75k, no need to wait for 100k, which has added benefits wit...
I have been Alaska MVP Gold every year since they acquired virgin America (and before that, Elevate Gold on VX). So, when AS became a full member of the OneWorld Alliance, I inherited OW Sapphire status. But there is a significant gap between the 40k miles needed for OW Sapphire and the 75k required for OW Emerald. (@Ben, OW Emerald is granted at 75k, no need to wait for 100k, which has added benefits wit hAS but not with OW).
Of course earning status is like a pyramid -- few people earn it the higher up one gets. I know I'll never get to OW Emerald (sigh), but it *would* be nice to visit some of these lounges. Alas, I can dream...
I agree, reaching Emerald with any OW airline can be difficult, especially if you only fly domestic. I've managed it with QF but probably not this year (unless I score an offer to retain). If I fly a couple of TPAC round trips in J it's possible, but that's not easy. Sapphire is nice enough.
As nice as the Qantas First Lounge in SYD can be, it's always given me 90s cruise ship vibes.
What? Also, if you improve your status with Qantas you can dine in the reserved roped off area. That is always a pleasure.
I was talking about the design and decor.
Any matches to non-US OneWorld status? Beggars can't be choosers, so I'm willing to slum it in Sapphire. Coming from ITA Volare Club Executive and Delta Platinum...
Personally I believe that every day is a school day. Therefore, having read many of Ben’s news items, reviews and insights over the past year or so, I have been able to glean a tremendous information about the commercial aviation industry. Thank you Ben, for posting interesting and informative articles such as this one.
Many fellow travellers have also added value to my knowledge base, to them I also say thank you.
That...
Personally I believe that every day is a school day. Therefore, having read many of Ben’s news items, reviews and insights over the past year or so, I have been able to glean a tremendous information about the commercial aviation industry. Thank you Ben, for posting interesting and informative articles such as this one.
Many fellow travellers have also added value to my knowledge base, to them I also say thank you.
That only leaves the website trolls, who although are sometimes entertaining, mostly they just bore the pants off genuine readers. You really are too easy to ridicule and it so tempting to submit to one’s more basic instincts with click bate missives.
Entertainment value 50%, educational value 0%.
Ok thanks Ben. I usually do call BA and have them attach the number to get the free seat selection.
If I have Oneworld Emerald status as American Platinum Pro how do I prove it to gain access- for example if flying BA from LHR?
@ Flinn -- Just have the frequent flyer number attached to your reservation, and it should show on your boarding pass. Then when they scan you in, they'll see you're eligible for access.
This is fine if you want to credit the flight to your AA account (or any other OW account you have E status with), but can you do that if you want to credit it somewhere else?
@ Mike C -- If you want to credit somewhere else, just have a digital copy of your card or account available, including the frequent flyer number. They can typically input that information manually.
I've done this a number of times. The entry agent might be unfamiliar with this manual process but you can reassure them it's possible.
Now I’m curious: with first class shrinking, how many emerald and/or first lounges are left for OneWorld? How many in North America to pick from here? Are there any outside of London and Helsinki (does Iberia offer anything)? Are there even any in South America?
And yea, I should have been clearer: in EUROPE are there any outside of London and Helsinki.
Frankfurt has a JAL First Lounge
@ Chucky -- As noted by Bjarne, the only other one I can think of in Europe is the Japan Airlines First Lounge in Frankfurt. Meanwhile in North America, it's mostly oneworld Sapphire lounges, and oneworld Emerald lounges are limited to the Qantas First Lounge Los Angeles and Soho Lounge New York. Maybe some British Airways locations also have a oneworld Emerald section, but it's not much to get excited about.
It is rumored that JAL will close their F lounge (and maybe Sakura lounge) in FRA once terminal 2 is closed for renovation. As JAL has only one flight to Frankfurt from Narita and no longer offers first class, it would be hard to justify the cost to maintain a lounge in longer term. Interestingly, among OW carriers, only JAL has an airline lounge in Frankfurt so there would be a Oneworld lounge after T2 renovation?
BA Lounge at IAD has a sit down dining section open to all classes of service if you are flying BA. If you are Emerald, but not flying BA, even if on a OneWorld International flight in J, you are not allowed to eat in the dining area. So Emerald is restricted. Not sure if other OW flights there now - but that was the case with CX did fly out of IAD. BA also restricts OW fliers in PHL.
Is Toronto BA First just for BA golds or Emerald? I think it's pretty good. Small, but the a la carte dining was good when I went.
I don't believe BA has a lounge at YYZ post-COVID-19.
As far as I can see, South America is pretty much a desert for OW lounges of any sort. AA has some, and in SCL, there are two Latam lounges, one giving access to BA and IB status holders and the other to QF when they are departing on their respective carriers.
To answer your question, there are about 20 One World Emerald lounges. In the US, it's LA and NY. The Qantas lounge at LAX is has a tired post-industrial decor. The BA lounges at SEA and ORD are closed as far as I know. The lounge at ORD was a dump.
This excludes first class specific lounges like Flagship First Dining, JFK's Chelsea Lounge, and Concorde Dining.
To the guy who wrote this ... The Qantas lounge at LAX is has a tired post-industrial decor ... mate you need spectacles.
Just the QF F LAX carpet makes you dizzy looking at it.
There's no single FC lounge in South America!
In the whole continent there are only 3 Oneworld own lounges: Admirals Rio de Janeiro, são Paulo and Buenos Aires. The last is a double airline AA/IB. Also if you are flying AA you will be allowed also at GOL lounges both in GIG and GRU. This is for business class, Sapphire and Emerald status and above.