Hey there, have just arrived at Nice Airport for a flight back to Heathrow (BA 0343).

On arrival at the Airport, and with a mountain of work to get done I headed straight through security and went to Passport control to head through to the B-gates area where the BA Lounge is to settle in, get work done etc before my flight.

Upon arriving at Passport control though, it was totally un-manned (gates open I hasten to add). Anyway, being a good citizen I didn't just walk through but headed back to security to ask them what the situation was.

They told me that 'Passport control would open when the Police get in to work to open it'. I explained that the BA Lounge was of course on the other side of passport control and thus I couldn't get to it. They kindly pointed out that there were lots of seats in the main Terminal, as well as places to buy food and drink and thus it didn't matter that I couldn't get to the lounge.

To add insult to injury I am travelling with a client (non BA status) who I was guesting into said lounge - so I'm now sat perched on a seat having had to change more money to buy food very embarassed with a client I should be having a business discussion with in the peace and quiet of the lounge.

Now you could say "it's not BA's fault it's the airport operator", but surley if BA are paying for lounge facilities, their contract with the airport must state that they have to provide access to people to use it ? If BA havn't at least ensured that is the case then I would say fault lies with BA. I have been told that the Police should be in around 10:00 to open passport control, not much use really on a flight which will be due to board shortly after.

Is it worth complaining to BA ? Aside from the out of pocket expense (which I accept is trivial), there's the work I can't practically get on with, a client I'm mortified in front of etc etc.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm over-reacting, but this just seems a ludicrous situation to be in !

I don't want to start having to wonder when I travel with BA if I will actually be able to get access to the lounge, it was at 09:00 for an 11:00 flight - seems reasonable enough to me ?


Ed
http://www.teamstorm.com