Programs: Hyatt and Hilton Diamond, Delta Skyclub and PM or DM (depending on year)
Posts: 792
Wife denied SC access in ATL flying Airtran
My wife and I have a joint Skyclub account. I fly a lot more than she does on Delta, but she flies enough for business it is worth the extra money to have a joint account.
She normally flies Delta but a client wanted her to fly on Airtran for a LA. Seeing they paid for "business class" and it's very hard for an FO to get upgraded on that route/times, she had no problem with it, especially since she was flying a redeye home and just wanted to sleep.
She flew a redeye lax/atl last night night on FL and arrived in ATL this morning with a long layover and decided to go to the E concourse SC to see if she would be able to get a shower in if there wasn't a long wait, as well as grab a bagel and some coffee and then was going to head back to concourse C to fly home.
She was denied entrance to the SC because she wasn't flying on Delta or ST partner!!!! Did Delta change their policy on this? I was always under the impression that as long as you were on a same day ticket on ANY airline, you had access. She is using an actual SC membershipcard, not an Am Ex. If she was using an Am Ex to try to gain entrance, I totally understand them denying people, but this is a paid membership!
She was also denied entry earlier this year at the LHR ST lounge, even though she had her membership card.
She was upset at LHR since she wanted to eat a hot breakfast, but she ended up getting an op-up, so she didn't bother complaining.
She isn't sure if it's worth it to complain about today or not either since she wasn't flying on Delta.
Aren't the dragons being trained as to who should get access. What really iritates me over this is that a year or two ago, the dragon at the SFO lounge admitted a couple flying on Southwest on an Plat. Am Ex card
She isn't sure if it's worth it to complain about today or not either since she wasn't flying on Delta.
It is absolutely worth a complaint and some DL credit is owed. In fact, given the time, I would have pushed the issue right there. That agent needs re-training. Or maybe a job with the TSA .
I have had SC access even when not flying at all, much less not on DL/ST. Sounds like a big boo boo here. Report it, save another person from the same result.
Definitely complain. Having a full membership gives you access to the club regardless of what you're flying, and you don't even have to be flying. With the CC you're supposed to be on a DL ticket that same day.
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
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Membership card in her name plus a photo ID should be enough for admission to any DL SC. Partner and contract lounges that are available to SC members could have different rules (LHR). I assume that by "joint" SC account you mean that you and your wife are each members with separate cards in your respective names and not just that you're sharing one membership card somehow.
When flying someone else, I would enter with just the card and ID, without having my boarding pass in hand. I suspect the problem arose in ATL E if your wife had to leave a boarding pass in exchange for a shower key if that's the procedure they use to make sure that people don't forget to return the key after the shower.
If you suspect that the lounge dragons might give you a hard time, it can help to have a printout of the rules from DL's website.
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Programs: DL DM MM, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, National Exec
Posts: 464
Last time through ATL, went to SC and after checking my DM card and picture ID, was asked for my boarding pass. Told the agent that I was already taken care of and she insisted that I produce it for her.
I had it in my shirt pocket, so pulled it out. But then asked her 'Why?'. She responded that I had to be flying DL to be admitted. I told her she was absolutely wrong about that as I have a paid SC membership that is augmented by my DM complimentary membership. And card carrying members have access regardless of their flight plans.
She disagreed and I asked her to take the issue up with her supervisor for corrective action or I would certainly elevate it on my next visit.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ScroogeMcFlyer
The house rules say "Members can only use the Club in conjunction with same-day ticketed air travel but such travel may be on any airline."
Indeed it does say that. Is this a change? I've heard of folks getting a gate pass to visit the SC when not flying, but I guess that isn't allowed anymore.
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Programs: Delta Gold Medallion, American AAdvantage, Southwest Rapid Rewards
Posts: 741
Quote:
Originally Posted by ScroogeMcFlyer
It could be because you were trying to enter the club on the next day after your departure, especially after a red-eye.
The house rules say "Members can only use the Club in conjunction with same-day ticketed air travel but such travel may be on any airline."
Technicality, but this might be the reasoning.
OP's wife was still flying later that day. Even with the redeye technically departing the day before, OP's wife had a layover in ATL and thus still had a flight later that same day she was trying to access the SC.
Indeed it does say that. Is this a change? I've heard of folks getting a gate pass to visit the SC when not flying, but I guess that isn't allowed anymore.
The house rules also specifically disallows access on a gate pass --
"A Delta issued security gate pass is not valid for Club access."
Not sure if this is new, or just not consistently enforced.
I'll have to make sure to print out the rules and have them with me next month. I am flying Airtran and connecting via ATL and have over a 3 1/2 layover going and a 2 hour layover in ATL coming back, and was going to use the skyclub to kill sometime after eating. If I can't get access it is going to make for a VERY LONG layover there.
I have used the skyclub in BNA and at SFO before when flying WN and have never had a problem getting in.
This has gotta be new. I'll dig through my SC membership pack when I get home.
The whole rules page looks like it was written by an 8th grader. Also in the 'new' rules, is a great Freudian slip:
Quote:
Membership
Delta Sky Club memberships are non-transferable and non-refundable.
Membership is effective from the date of purchase and continues for the duration of the membership type purchased.
For memberships that are renewed prior to the expiration date of a current membership, the length of the membership purchased will be added to the current expiration date.
Members must agree to abide by and be subject to all the Delta Sky Club House Rules.
Membership will be terminated for inappropriate conduct or for not adhering to the house rules.
The membership card is the property of Delta and must be returned upon request.
Delta Sly Club House Rules must be observed or membership may be terminated without compensation.
Delta Sky Club members will not be compensated for changes in locations, rates or House Rules.
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LBJ
The house rules also specifically disallows access on a gate pass --
"A Delta issued security gate pass is not valid for Club access."
Not sure if this is new, or just not consistently enforced.
I don't think a gate pass has ever been considered to be a boarding pass, although technically seat request cards (for those confirmed on the flight but without seat assignments) aren't boarding passes either and I've never heard of someone being denied lounge access over this detail.
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