Airline lounge guesting dilemma - what would you do?
Apr 16, 2015, 12:22 pm
#16
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All depends on your company's culture and your relationship with them.
Generally speaking, I would never leave someone out. If I can afford to, I would pay for that person (discretely and presuming that the lounge offers a day pass) and if I could not or a day pass is not available, skip the lounge, be collegial and forget it.
Generally speaking, I would never leave someone out. If I can afford to, I would pay for that person (discretely and presuming that the lounge offers a day pass) and if I could not or a day pass is not available, skip the lounge, be collegial and forget it.
Apr 17, 2015, 12:42 am
#19
Join Date: Feb 2013
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All depends on your company's culture and your relationship with them.
Generally speaking, I would never leave someone out. If I can afford to, I would pay for that person (discretely and presuming that the lounge offers a day pass) and if I could not or a day pass is not available, skip the lounge, be collegial and forget it.
Generally speaking, I would never leave someone out. If I can afford to, I would pay for that person (discretely and presuming that the lounge offers a day pass) and if I could not or a day pass is not available, skip the lounge, be collegial and forget it.
Apr 17, 2015, 1:43 am
#20
Join Date: Feb 2008
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This …
Guys, I am going to the lounge to catch up on some work. You are welcome to join me but the pass I bought will only allow me to guest one person in for free. If you both want to join me you would need to split the cost of a $25 day pass. The booze will probably pay for it self given we have 2 hours.
Guys, I am going to the lounge to catch up on some work. You are welcome to join me but the pass I bought will only allow me to guest one person in for free. If you both want to join me you would need to split the cost of a $25 day pass. The booze will probably pay for it self given we have 2 hours.
Apr 17, 2015, 3:43 am
#21
Join Date: Jan 2010
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Apr 17, 2015, 5:18 am
#22
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A quick update: I decided not to use the BA lounge yesterday. I would have felt really bad to have let one or both colleagues down (both were BA Blue tier). One issue was that I couldn't have purchased entry to the lounge for one of my colleagues even if I had wanted to.
I never mentioned lounge access to them.
We just enjoyed a meal and boarded with everyone else. To be honest, I felt good about that. The choice might have been to sit in the lounge on my own or enjoy a meal with colleagues in the main airport departure lounge. I actually preferred the latter in the end.
The lounge can wait for another day when I'm travelling alone or with just one colleague.
I never mentioned lounge access to them.
We just enjoyed a meal and boarded with everyone else. To be honest, I felt good about that. The choice might have been to sit in the lounge on my own or enjoy a meal with colleagues in the main airport departure lounge. I actually preferred the latter in the end.
The lounge can wait for another day when I'm travelling alone or with just one colleague.
Apr 17, 2015, 5:24 am
#23
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: CMI (Champaign, IL)
Programs: AA, WN, UA
Posts: 268
(talking to my two colleagues) "Hey guys... I'm a lounge member, but my pass lets me bring in only one guest at any given time. I'd really like to give both of you the chance to enjoy the lounge for a bit. I'm happy to guest one of you in first, and then after an hour or so bring you out and guest the other in. What do you think; who's first?"
Maybe not for everyone, but I'm confident that many of my own colleagues would think this is a good solution.
(To avoid any confusion: I am NOT suggesting the unethical approach of guesting in one colleague, then going back out and guesting in the second colleague such that both colleagues are in the lounge at the same time.)
Maybe not for everyone, but I'm confident that many of my own colleagues would think this is a good solution.
(To avoid any confusion: I am NOT suggesting the unethical approach of guesting in one colleague, then going back out and guesting in the second colleague such that both colleagues are in the lounge at the same time.)
Apr 17, 2015, 6:43 am
#24
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
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(talking to my two colleagues) "Hey guys... I'm a lounge member, but my pass lets me bring in only one guest at any given time. I'd really like to give both of you the chance to enjoy the lounge for a bit. I'm happy to guest one of you in first, and then after an hour or so bring you out and guest the other in. What do you think; who's first?"
Apr 17, 2015, 6:53 am
#25
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Apr 17, 2015, 7:08 am
#26
Join Date: Jun 2007
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A quick update: I decided not to use the BA lounge yesterday. I would have felt really bad to have let one or both colleagues down (both were BA Blue tier). One issue was that I couldn't have purchased entry to the lounge for one of my colleagues even if I had wanted to.
I never mentioned lounge access to them.
We just enjoyed a meal and boarded with everyone else. To be honest, I felt good about that. The choice might have been to sit in the lounge on my own or enjoy a meal with colleagues in the main airport departure lounge. I actually preferred the latter in the end.
The lounge can wait for another day when I'm travelling alone or with just one colleague.
I never mentioned lounge access to them.
We just enjoyed a meal and boarded with everyone else. To be honest, I felt good about that. The choice might have been to sit in the lounge on my own or enjoy a meal with colleagues in the main airport departure lounge. I actually preferred the latter in the end.
The lounge can wait for another day when I'm travelling alone or with just one colleague.
Apr 17, 2015, 7:30 am
#27
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: CMI (Champaign, IL)
Programs: AA, WN, UA
Posts: 268
*shrug* That's why I said "maybe not for everyone". Personally I don't think it's petty. If there's two hours to kill, the two colleagues may well appreciate each having an hour in the lounge and a different hour to stretch their legs while walking around the airport, especially if they can leave their bags in the lounge with the others.
Apr 17, 2015, 7:43 am
#28
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
Programs: Independent
Posts: 4,829
I suppose different rules for different countries. Here I would simply bring up that I had lounge access but could only bring in one guest. This is work travel - it's not like these are friends you owe something to. For that matter, if you guys are traveling together one or the other may very well want to get away from the others for a bit.
I guess the real question is how would you feel on the other side of this? If someone I knew had lounge access, I would not expect them to automatically bring me in with them. I might not like the idea of choosing one over the other, but if you brought it up to the both of them, then really you are not playing favorites.
I guess the real question is how would you feel on the other side of this? If someone I knew had lounge access, I would not expect them to automatically bring me in with them. I might not like the idea of choosing one over the other, but if you brought it up to the both of them, then really you are not playing favorites.
Apr 17, 2015, 7:58 am
#29
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Tell the 2 colleagues the situation. Tell them you can take one in free and the other will have to pay. Suggest they split the cost of the pass between the 2 of them.
Apr 17, 2015, 9:12 am
#30
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: gggrrrovvveee (ORD)
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Posts: 6,091
Even if they're not "friends" they are still colleagues with whom you have to work and it makes sense to be sensitive to their feelings. Better to "give up" the lounge in order to build up or preserve a working relationship than to say you don't owe them anything and feel ok leaving them.
Of course, it does depend on the situation, but you cannot assume that others will share your perspectives.
