Premium lounge access for Gold discontinued ?
May 16, 2016, 7:27 am
#31
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: AY+ Plat, A3*G
Posts: 672
Shiit. I just booked a 6 hour layover instead of 2 hours (ok, it was also 100€ cheaper) just to do some work and to enjoy Premium lounge offerings. Now must do Burger King for lunch + Business Lounge to survive it.
May 16, 2016, 8:49 am
#32
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,598
(and the young bold and brave cistavoda turned red and raised his hand like a man 
)
May 16, 2016, 10:48 am
#33
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: oneworld, * Alliance, Marriott Bonvoy, HHonors, WoH
Posts: 2,120
May 16, 2016, 10:55 am
#34
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: oneworld, * Alliance, Marriott Bonvoy, HHonors, WoH
Posts: 2,120
But then, AY would not like Golds going to the Diners lounge, since they might suspect that they come back to AY lounge as well, hopping! Remember that Ay told us during the AY meet-up that they do not like lounge hoppers (and the young bold and brave cistavoda turned red and raised his hand like a man )
(and the young bold and brave cistavoda turned red and raised his hand like a man )
May 16, 2016, 1:22 pm
#36
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,174
I haven't seen any communication regarding this. Odd to just have new rules announced at entry with no communication or update on the member pages. Could this really be a new policy?
It seems also very odd to implement new rules for Premium lunge now when the change in Silver access isn't implemented until 1 august.
Once the changes in silver program has gone through I agree it can be vise to alter the premium access rules too.
It seems also very odd to implement new rules for Premium lunge now when the change in Silver access isn't implemented until 1 august.
Once the changes in silver program has gone through I agree it can be vise to alter the premium access rules too.
May 16, 2016, 1:58 pm
#37
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,598
I haven't seen any communication regarding this. Odd to just have new rules announced at entry with no communication or update on the member pages. Could this really be a new policy?
It seems also very odd to implement new rules for Premium lunge now when the change in Silver access isn't implemented until 1 august.
Once the changes in silver program has gone through I agree it can be vise to alter the premium access rules too.
It seems also very odd to implement new rules for Premium lunge now when the change in Silver access isn't implemented until 1 august.
Once the changes in silver program has gone through I agree it can be vise to alter the premium access rules too.
May 19, 2016, 1:24 am
#40
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: BA G; AY Basic; HHonors G; Marriott S
Posts: 141
Jun 14, 2016, 6:31 am
#41
Join Date: May 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Gold (OWS), Hertz PC, Sixt Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 275
Sorry that it's in Finnish but according to AY's staff;
"Rajoitukset ovat tilannekohtaisia, eli koske ihan välttämättä kaikkia päiviä. Ruuhkaisin aika on nimenomaan tuo klo 15 - 17 ja tilanteen mukaan loungen henkilökunta voi rajoittaa sisäänpääsyä. "
-> there are limitations for Gold's access to premium lounge between 3-5 pm, depending on the "utilization" of the lounge.
so when flying in J, the disappearance of premium lounge access makes my Gold card virtually worthless!
"Rajoitukset ovat tilannekohtaisia, eli koske ihan välttämättä kaikkia päiviä. Ruuhkaisin aika on nimenomaan tuo klo 15 - 17 ja tilanteen mukaan loungen henkilökunta voi rajoittaa sisäänpääsyä. "
-> there are limitations for Gold's access to premium lounge between 3-5 pm, depending on the "utilization" of the lounge.
so when flying in J, the disappearance of premium lounge access makes my Gold card virtually worthless!
Jun 14, 2016, 1:53 pm
#42
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+ Plat (OWE)
Posts: 493
I'll eat my hat, that it is not AY Golds flooding the lounge but non-AY OWS status holders.
3 HEL-LHR departures in the afternoon (AY+BA) and a few longhauls definitely have 3-4 times OWS than AY Golds. Statistics not available of course, but AY definitely has it since they are paying for the lounge visits.
This Premium lounge access for OWS is not required by OW and to stay loyal to their own customers and to offer even a small extra perk to AY Golds they should just kick out the OWS clientele until more acreage is available. The AY+ program renewal did not create more value to AY Golds, besides the marginally lowered tier limit, and now they are more or less devalueing it with their own actions.
3 HEL-LHR departures in the afternoon (AY+BA) and a few longhauls definitely have 3-4 times OWS than AY Golds. Statistics not available of course, but AY definitely has it since they are paying for the lounge visits.
This Premium lounge access for OWS is not required by OW and to stay loyal to their own customers and to offer even a small extra perk to AY Golds they should just kick out the OWS clientele until more acreage is available. The AY+ program renewal did not create more value to AY Golds, besides the marginally lowered tier limit, and now they are more or less devalueing it with their own actions.
Jun 14, 2016, 2:03 pm
#43
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,174
Analogous with the silver lounge perk (that wasn't replicated to OW Rubys) they should absolutely be able to do something for AY golds that isn't replicated to sapphires.
But I guess access to the premium lounge was all along a numbers game, to tackle the overcrowding. Moving the OWS to premium made both lounges overcrowded and equally miserable. (A very nordic approach!)
Once they've kicked the silvers out of regular lounge there should be space for OWS to go back.
But I guess access to the premium lounge was all along a numbers game, to tackle the overcrowding. Moving the OWS to premium made both lounges overcrowded and equally miserable. (A very nordic approach!)
Once they've kicked the silvers out of regular lounge there should be space for OWS to go back.
Jun 15, 2016, 1:52 am
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,106
This was verbatim confirmed during our pre-opening visit to the lounge by one of the AY lady reps.
Jun 18, 2016, 2:27 am
#45
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: Finnair Plus Gold(OWS), IHG Gold(Plat Ambassador soon maybe), Accor Platinum, Hilton HHonors Diamond
Posts: 55
If needed just limit the OWS and allow AY Golds in. There has been enough worsenings of the program now that the golds also lose free economy comfort (as bad it already is).
Have been in premium lounge many times on the rush hour and it's not that bad at all especially if you have a seat.
Have been in premium lounge many times on the rush hour and it's not that bad at all especially if you have a seat.