Aviation Writer Denied Sky Club Access, Quotes Animal Farm
Ryan Boyd August 10, 2018
In his column on Boarding Area, Live And Let’s Fly, aviation blogger Matthew (just Matthew, no last name, like Hozier or Madonna) lamented a recent experience at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in which he was denied entrance to the airport’s Delta Sky Club, despite assurances from the Delta Air Lines website that his award ticket would ensure him access to it.
Matthew was allegedly denied access because his ticket was an O class award ticket and not a J, C, D, or I, which the agent claimed was a local rule.
An incensed Matthew went on to say that “In these situations, I always think about George Orwell’s Animal Farm. All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
It is unconfirmed whether George Orwell’s brutal class struggle parable Animal Farm was written with the eligibility of award tickets for business class airport lounge access in mind.
To read more on this story, go to Boarding Area.
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Airlines spend a ton of money to build and operate lounges, but then they impose labyrinthine rules regarding entry. Obviously, capacity controls are necessary, but a little transparency would be helpful. When searching for a multi-leg international trip, it seems like such a simple matter for the airline to include a pop-up that clearly identifies which lounges you can use along the way. Instead, it is more common to arrive at an airport, only to learn that you cannot access Lounge A, but you may access Lounge B, which is three terminals away and operated by a different airline! If access privileges were clearly stated on the itinerary or boarding pass, then the "dragon" at the door might appear as a kitten instead.
Oh my. Dońt know what’s more ridiculous, the aviation writer article or the Frust comment here. Self-entitlement all over the place and false information, like the airline cares here the redemption ticket comes from.
Sounds like a self important blogger who has an inflated view of what he is "owed".
I'm sorry, 'aviation writer'? What a DYKWIA diva...
Every award ticket is a second-class ticket, even if you spent all your carefully hoarded points on a first class ticket for that anniversary trip. In this case, even though Delta's rules explicitly give you lounge access, the dragon will still find a way of humiliating you. Mr Travel Columnist, welcome to the world the rest of us inhabit. Instead of frequent flyer points, focus on premium credit card programs. When you use these to buy a ticket, the airline sees a real-money purchase, and your amenities will be commensurate.