Airline lounge guesting dilemma - what would you do?
Apr 17, 2015, 10:26 am
#31
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Depends on the relationship you have. I consider many of my colleagues to be friends, and have even had opportunities to travel with them on occasion.
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.
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.
Apr 17, 2015, 11:16 am
#32
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
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As for the OP's original post, if these were workplace friends then, yes you did the right thing. If this it was a case of feeling obligated because you are traveling together, don't let that feeling of obligation turn the trip into resentment of missed opportunities.
Apr 17, 2015, 11:40 am
#33
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I guess I come down differently.... I see no problem with choosing someone... or have them choose... to join me in a lounge I have paid to be in. I do not find it "tacky" to say I am going to the lounge.
To carry further, would you give up a first class upgrade just because your two travelling companions did not get one? I think not....
To carry further, would you give up a first class upgrade just because your two travelling companions did not get one? I think not....
Apr 17, 2015, 12:10 pm
#34
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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.
I never mentioned lounge access to them.
Apr 17, 2015, 4:19 pm
#35
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 1,782
I know the trip already happened, but I wonder if the OP thought of just explaining the situation to his friends and then just asking if the lounge attendant would let them in (explain to attendant as well). I wonder also if the green club could help in that situation.
Apr 17, 2015, 9:10 pm
#36
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: EWR
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I guess I come down differently.... I see no problem with choosing someone... or have them choose... to join me in a lounge I have paid to be in. I do not find it "tacky" to say I am going to the lounge.
To carry further, would you give up a first class upgrade just because your two travelling companions did not get one? I think not....
To carry further, would you give up a first class upgrade just because your two travelling companions did not get one? I think not....
Apr 18, 2015, 5:34 am
#37
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
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I guess I come down differently.... I see no problem with choosing someone... or have them choose... to join me in a lounge I have paid to be in. I do not find it "tacky" to say I am going to the lounge.
To carry further, would you give up a first class upgrade just because your two travelling companions did not get one? I think not....
To carry further, would you give up a first class upgrade just because your two travelling companions did not get one? I think not....
The tacky part of the decision is ditching one's group over such a trivial "opportunity".
Apr 18, 2015, 5:46 am
#38
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On my last trip through Heathrow and the BA lounge, I had a slightly different take on this. I am OW Emerald, my two companions are OW Sapphire (and one was my boss. Go with both to the Galleries lounge, or go to the First lounge with my boss? ........ opted for all of together in Galleries. What's more important, relationships or food and alcohol??
Apr 19, 2015, 12:03 am
#40
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Actually one coworker was male and the other female. Due to my strict adherence to my company's Standards of Business Conduct policy, I would never dream of favouring the pretty female coworker...
Apr 19, 2015, 12:56 am
#41
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I like it for a couple of reasons: It generates a "we are all in this together" situation, which makes you look like a team player. If it works, then all three of you get in, which would be a great outcome. If not, then at least you all gave it a try. Finally, it gives one person (or even both) the opportunity to say, "I don't really want to go to the club; you guys go," which would nicely solve the problem in a different way.
Quite frankly, if I had spent an entire week with my colleagues from work, I would be very ready for some alone time. This gives me a great excuse to head off on my own and look like a trooper for doing so.
