Trip Reports - AS LAX-YVR-Sheraton-No Lounges!-LAX

I took Alaska (no MD-80's!) thanks to upgrade coupons from the grand lady of Flyertalk! She also gave my Board room passes and I used one at the TWA lounge at LAX which AS shares. I boarded in my usual 1A and had a great flight with good food up to YVR. No worries at Customs and I was on my way by taxi to the Sheraton Wall Center. At check-in I met some wonderfully attentive staff who upgraded me to a very large suite with an even larger balcony on the 25th floor. It was just me and the seagulls up there. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I enjoyed the city for a few days and the very cheap shopping, then cabbed it back to YVR where I was shocked to find no Alaska lounge! In the USA gate area there is only a Canadian and Air Canada lounge. I have UA RCC, 1K and BA Gold yet none worked! I have loads of other cards, yet I was shut out. I had to actually sit out with the peasants and pay for my drinks!

Actually it's a very nice area there and even though I passed by the U.S. customs, they still charged Canadian prices for the drinks. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I got back on the new AS 737-700 and had a very relaxing flight back to LAX. Nice trip other than the lounge issue. I was told that American was going to build an Admirals lounge there when the Canadian and Air Canada lounges merge. But I expect that will take a while.

I'm in Seat 2D for my flight LAX-PDX tomorrow, using my last MVP coupon. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Sure wish I had a lovely lady bestow some U/G coupons on me... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Stimpy, this is ommi, but a clarification please...

Does your BA Gold card give you unlimited access to Admiral's Clubs, regarding less of traveling domestic/international (as for American elites)?

Thanks.

Yes, BA Gold members get access to Admiral lounges even on Domestic flights. Plus they get free drink coupons.

However, many Admiral lounge staffers aren't aware of one or both rules. I tell them to talk to their bosses or call headquarters. I don't have time to educate them on how to do their job. I want to ask them if they are embarrased that their customers know the rules better than they do. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Recently I got a US Air Club membership which also works at Admiral Clubs, but I'll stick to using the BA Gold card for the free drink benefit.

Was at the YVR club recently. It looks like since the CPO/AC merger, the two lounges have become one. When I was there, a sign was posted saying that One World members are no longer admitted to the lounge.

According to the staffers I talked to, they are still separate lounges for now. They are building a new lounge for when they merge, and other airlines will use the space they have now. They are physically separate and each have their own staff in their own livery.

The Canadian lounge said I could have used my Oneworld membership if I was flying Canadian. The only sign I saw was the one saying that Alaska Board Room passes are no longer accepted.