Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus - Claiming *G with unposted miles

Hi all,

I have been reading and searching these forums for the last couple of years. Now I have a question which I can't find answered elsewhere, so I signed up.

On Friday I'll be flying with CA in C from PEK to BKK. Somewhere over southern China I will finally achieve *G. Based on previous experience CA takes between 48 - 72hrs to post miles to my TG ROP account.

On Saturday evening I will be flying OS Y to VIE.

If my CA miles haven't posted to my ROP account by the time I check in for the OS flight, what are my chances of using a TG G (or *G) lounge in BKK? Will producing the CA boarding pass help at all? In the past I have had a good hit rate at getting lounge access with *A members when not entitled, but TG in BKK seem very strict.

Similar question, will OS just look at my BKK issued boarding pass and TG *S card and deny me access in VIE? If my miles are showing as posted on the TG wesbite on arrival in VIE can I get access to the OS lounge while waiting for my flight to GVA? The flight to GVA is in Y.

Any advice most welcome.

Notes
Yes, I know I should have joint BD's FF program a long time ago - that is on my todo list.
For the last 6 years I have averaged over 2 MEL <-> Europe return trips each year - too many of them in WHY. Until 2006 I wasn't smart about miles earn. This year has involved more travel for me.

Welcome to FlyerTalk!

I think you'll likely be out of luck unless the lounge dragon has some sympathy for you. But it won't hurt to try. Make a printout of your current ROP account, showing your current status miles and also your boarding pass and give it a try.

If there was a little more time between earning *G and your next flight you could ask TG to fax you a letter stating your *G status, but in this case the miles won't have posted yet so even that won't work.

My miles still haven't posted - as I expected. I suspect they will show up on Monday or Tuesday.

Checked in at OS Y counter - didn't want to push my luck too hard first up. Explained the situation to OS agent, she gave my bag priority tag and recommended I go see TG ticketing.

Overall ticketing weren't very helpful, but they did print out an account statement, then informed me that I didn't have 50k miles and to contact CA about the missing miles.

I arrived at the lounge and presented the print out and the CA and OS boarding passes. I was told that they would do it this time, but they next time I must present a gold card.

Now to see if I can do the same thing in VIE tomorrow morning while waiting for a OS flight to GVA. Hopefully I can post another followup from the lounge :)

@A_Lee thanks for the tip about printing out my account, which I did, even though I didn't need it. Once the miles post to my account I will contact TG and ask them to fax me a letter for my trip home.

Lucky you!

I guess there is a 'risk' to THAI in what you have done if the fare basis was a actually non-mileage earning one! BPs usually just state the cabin, and not the fare code.

If it were me working for THAI, I'd need to check the e-ticket as well as the BP to ensure that the previous flight was indeed a mileage earning flight. I guess too, that your THAI FF# would need to be showing...

It seems you had a great attitude to access being a 'possibility' and not a 'right'. If the gate guardian had indeed, and correctly, denied you entry on the basis of not presenting your BP and Gold Card or letter (since you don 't actually have the mileage and status change yet), I guess you would have been one of the 'understanding but disappointed' types.

Cheers, TK

It also worked for the OS biz lounge in VIE, pity I couldn't get the wifi working there.


If it were me working for THAI, I'd need to check the e-ticket as well as the BP to ensure that the previous flight was indeed a mileage earning flight. I guess too, that your THAI FF# would need to be showing...


Both times the lounge staff were pretty relaxed about it.


It seems you had a great attitude to access being a 'possibility' and not a 'right'. If the gate guardian had indeed, and correctly, denied you entry on the basis of not presenting your BP and Gold Card or letter (since you don 't actually have the mileage and status change yet), I guess you would have been one of the 'understanding but disappointed' types.


It went something along the lines of "oh, hi, I umm, have a bit of a, umm, 'interesting problem', and arrr, I'm not sure if you can help me out ...". Although I was quite clear in my mind what I wanted, I tried to present it in a way that suggested I should get it but wasn't sure if I was right or not, definitely not demanding. It would have been inconvenient to be knocked back, but I would have just said thanks and found a paid lounge or quiet corner.

For others in similar situations, my advice would be to identify the quietest looking lounge so there isn't any 'capacity issues' and the staff only have to deal with your enquiry, not process a bunch of guests (who are entitled to access). I didn't dress like I had just left the office either, comfy and loose jeans, sneakers and a casual short sleeve shirt topped off with a back pack. As A_Lee recommended, having the "paper work" ready was useful too.

In life I have always been willing to try it on every now and again and see where it gets me. I hope for the best, but have a plan for when the "no" comes back.

Now to get that upgrade on the way home ... ;)