Star Alliance - *A Gold Lounge Access Question

Hi,

If i'm a *G on airline A, Fly on airline B, Credit my miles to airline C (not *G), can I still access a *G lounge?

(For example, I'm a gold on UA, flying on LX, crediting my miles to AC[non *G]) will I be able to access the LX Lounges?

Thanks

Yes but you must have your *Gold card in hand to enter.

As long as you are A* gold on a program and show a A* BP you are fine

As long as you are A* gold on a program and show a A* BP you are fine

I was denied access at EWR by United while having a United boarding pass with *G on it. She said I needed to be traveling international to get access to the lounge. Was she correct?

You can not enter a UA or US Lounge as a UA or US Gold traveling domestic

I was denied access at EWR by United while having a United boarding pass with *G on it. She said I needed to be traveling international to get access to the lounge. Was she correct?

From the StarAlliance Lounge finder

"United Airlines and US Airways Star Alliance Gold customers may only access the United Clubs and US Airways Clubs within the United States when traveling in conjunction with a Star Alliance international flight."

it shows that you should have been able to get into either the SAS Business Lounge or LH Senator Lounge

http://www.staralliance.com/en/benefits/lounges/lounge-finder/

You can not enter a UA or US Lounge as a UA or US Gold traveling domestic

Can I enter as an Aeroplan gold?

Can I enter as an Aeroplan gold?

Yes, which is probably one of the reasons AC requires a portion of travel to be on their metal for status now. Two years ago, an American could fly the required miles all on UA/CO/US and stick AC for his lounge access by crediting the miles to Aeroplan. I'd have done it myself if SMF had a lounge.

I'm a new to *G and unclear about whether or not I'll have access to the SFO UA lounge. I am reading in this thread that UA does not allow *G when travelling domestically... I happen to be travelling UA domestically and then on a *A international flight but on different itineraries... I might be confusing myself, appreciate any insight.

Travelling on same day but not same itinerary:
1. YYZ - SFO on UA in PE (note my destination is New Zealand AKL via LAX) with 6 hour stopover in SFO (and I'd love to have lounge access during this time)
2. SFO - LAX on UA in Economy
3. LAX - AKL on AirNZ in PE


"United Airlines and US Airways Star Alliance Gold customers may only access the United Clubs and US Airways Clubs within the United States when traveling in conjunction with a Star Alliance international flight."

Am I understanding this correctly that I will have access? Or not because it's a different airport that I'm flying out internationally. I'm afraid to be denied and crush my lounge hopes!

I have checked the *A site and the SFO lounges pop up but with footnotes such as the one above re: in conjunction with *A intl flight. Ta!

Yes you will have lounge access.

Yes you will have lounge access.

cheers!

I'm a new to *G and unclear about whether or not I'll have access to the SFO UA lounge. I am reading in this thread that UA does not allow *G when travelling domestically... I happen to be travelling UA domestically and then on a *A international flight but on different itineraries... I might be confusing myself, appreciate any insight.

Travelling on same day but not same itinerary:
1. YYZ - SFO on UA in PE (note my destination is New Zealand AKL via LAX) with 6 hour stopover in SFO (and I'd love to have lounge access during this time)
2. SFO - LAX on UA in Economy
3. LAX - AKL on AirNZ in PE


"United Airlines and US Airways Star Alliance Gold customers may only access the United Clubs and US Airways Clubs within the United States when traveling in conjunction with a Star Alliance international flight."

Am I understanding this correctly that I will have access? Or not because it's a different airport that I'm flying out internationally. I'm afraid to be denied and crush my lounge hopes!

I have checked the *A site and the SFO lounges pop up but with footnotes such as the one above re: in conjunction with *A intl flight. Ta!

Yes you'll have access, and I sense you may have slightly misunderstood what they meant with that sentence, so just for future information: the rule refers to people who are *G through US or UA's mileage programmes only (not people simply flying on UA or US) - and I saw you posting on the Aegean forum, so I assume you're A3*G. Since your membership is through A3, you'd have lounge access on a 100% domestic USA itinerary anyway ^

Yes you'll have access ... Since your membership is through A3, you'd have lounge access on a 100% domestic USA itinerary anyway ^

Is there anything in writing to clearly support this? or are the lounge dragons pretty good about allowing this? I'm chasing A3*G right now and this is my biggest concern. I just hate the vague way the Star Alliance Lounge Access rules use the word customer instead of member, it leaves open the possibility of them saying exactly what you are referring to ("sorry sir, you are a UA customer today flying ORD-DEN, no lounge access for you").

I've never been turned away from a USA Star Gold lounge with an Aeroplan Star Gold card travelling domestically.

Is there anything in writing to clearly support this? or are the lounge dragons pretty good about allowing this? I'm chasing A3*G right now and this is my biggest concern. I just hate the vague way the Star Alliance Lounge Access rules use the word customer instead of member, it leaves open the possibility of them saying exactly what you are referring to ("sorry sir, you are a UA customer today flying ORD-DEN, no lounge access for you").

They won't say that. The UA/US exemption is for their status holders only. Since UA and US sell Club access separately (it doesn't come with status) and give reciprocal access to each others' clubs, accepting *G cards from each other would make the pay-for-Club revenue evaporate overnight. If you hold a *G card from any other carrier, you will have access on a domestic *A itinerary

I've never been turned away from a USA Star Gold lounge with an Aeroplan Star Gold card travelling domestically.

Same for A3 ^

("sorry sir, you are a UA customer today flying ORD-DEN, no lounge access for you").

UA customer is 2nd, your non-UA/US *G card is the most important. And remember if you don't have your A3*G card with you then most likely you won't have access.

I have a related question and not to open another thread, I'll post it here.

I'm *G (SuperFlyers card) on ANA, fly on several StarAlliance members and credit my miles to Lufthansa (general member) because the miles expire on ANA and not on Lufthansa (got their credit card).

I flew recently with Turkish and I was told I cannot credit the miles to Lufthansa AND use the +20kg Gold perk that I got on NH*G. They argued that they could not justify afterwards why I was allowed the excess baggage and that I have to register my NH FFP for the flight. In the end I had to credit the miles to ANA. Sounded reasonable but I'm still in doubt. Is this the norm?
I'm saying this because I had no trouble accessing the lounges (never tried the baggage perk though). They just ask me if this is a mistake and after I explain to them the situation they just let me go through.

Welcome to FT, Megadeth5150

I flew recently with Turkish and I was told I cannot credit the miles to Lufthansa AND use the +20kg Gold perk that I got on NH*G. They argued that they could not justify afterwards why I was allowed the excess baggage and that I have to register my NH FFP for the flight. In the end I had to credit the miles to ANA. Sounded reasonable but I'm still in doubt. Is this the norm?

I'm not really sure what the technical rule is--the Star Alliance rules generally talk about *S/*G members but don't mention whether that has to be reflected in your reservation

That said, flying US-domestic with US and UA, I've had this come up several times. US has always been happy to waive the fee after just looking at the card. UA has generally also done that, but several times they insisted the *G status must be reflected on the reservation for the baggage rule to apply. In that case, I let them put it on, then walked to the lounge and asked them to change it back to the program I wanted to use for credit

When TK said that to you, was that at IST or at an outstation? When UA played that game with me, it's always been at a fairly small station and I got the impression that they didn't know how to--or want to bother with--override the computer to waive the fee. At larger stations they glance at the card and don't say another word. If you were at an outstation, maybe they were just reading off the screen

I'm saying this because I had no trouble accessing the lounges (never tried the baggage perk though). They just ask me if this is a mistake and after I explain to them the situation they just let me go through.

Matches my experience also

In that case, I let them put it on, then walked to the lounge and asked them to change it back to the program I wanted to use for credit




That's an interesting option, I'll have to try it. But, I'm usually flying out of NRT and I'm reluctant to do that at the NH lounge, it might red flag my account and if they cancel my SuperFlyers card, I'm done for (I don't travel that much anymore and I wouldn't be able to reach Platinum NH*G with them again). Or maybe I'm just paranoid. I might try it at the UA lounge at NRT.



When TK said that to you, was that at IST or at an outstation? When UA played that game with me, it's always been at a fairly small station and I got the impression that they didn't know how to--or want to bother with--override the computer to waive the fee. At larger stations they glance at the card and don't say another word. If you were at an outstation, maybe they were just reading off the screen



This was at NRT, with Japanese staff of course. I argued that for the lounge, one only needs to present the card and this should be the same for the other perks as well, but their reason sounded more plausible.

That's an interesting option, I'll have to try it. But, I'm usually flying out of NRT and I'm reluctant to do that at the NH lounge, it might red flag my account and if they cancel my SuperFlyers card, I'm done for (I don't travel that much anymore and I wouldn't be able to reach Platinum NH*G with them again). Or maybe I'm just paranoid. I might try it at the UA lounge at NRT.

That sounds like a good approach. I was also changing the credit-to program to the operator of the lounge and the flight. It's hard to imagine them refusing to do that. But going the other way around and wanting to keep the benefits, I could see there being some pushback

This was at NRT, with Japanese staff of course. I argued that for the lounge, one only needs to present the card and this should be the same for the other perks as well, but their reason sounded more plausible.

The first couple times I also tried that argument. It never worked--nor with the supervisors. So I ask them not to change it, but if they insist, I'm happy to let them do it and then find a way to change it back--knowing that I might not always succeed

It would be great if there was a Star Alliance rule spelled out on this, but somehow I doubt bringing a copy of that is gonna change what happens at the checkin desk. You could, however, opt to simply pay the baggage fee and ask for reimbursement later. Risky

For sure, despite where the miles are being credited, you need to simply present your Star Alliance Gold card and lounge access will be granted

That's an interesting option, I'll have to try it. But, I'm usually flying out of NRT and I'm reluctant to do that at the NH lounge, it might red flag my account and if they cancel my SuperFlyers card, I'm done for (I don't travel that much anymore and I wouldn't be able to reach Platinum NH*G with them again). Or maybe I'm just paranoid. I might try it at the UA lounge at NRT.

If you are flying UA then you can change it at the UA lounge, if flying NH need to change it at NH lounge, or for any airline change at the gate.

I have a related question and not to open another thread, I'll post it here.

I'm *G (SuperFlyers card) on ANA, fly on several StarAlliance members and credit my miles to Lufthansa (general member) because the miles expire on ANA and not on Lufthansa (got their credit card).

I flew recently with Turkish and I was told I cannot credit the miles to Lufthansa AND use the +20kg Gold perk that I got on NH*G. They argued that they could not justify afterwards why I was allowed the excess baggage and that I have to register my NH FFP for the flight. In the end I had to credit the miles to ANA. Sounded reasonable but I'm still in doubt. Is this the norm?
I'm saying this because I had no trouble accessing the lounges (never tried the baggage perk though). They just ask me if this is a mistake and after I explain to them the situation they just let me go through.

There aren't any *A rules preventing doing this, indeed many *A airlines have 2 FFP fields specifically to cater for it (FQTS for status recognition and FQTV for mileage accrual). It is possible TK system required the *G status or fee charged, or possibly more likely the agent didn't know better.