On a recent flight from IAD I was booked onto a late departure at the back of the plane. Looking forward to getting a few hours rest before heading to work in the morning, I decided to eat before takeoff.

As a silver, who only travels in J on her own dime, I headed to the lounge to do some last minute internetty things.

Unfortunately the IAD J lounge (unlike Heathrow) doesn't have a general kitchen available at 19:00, with a separate dragon checking boarding passes on entry to the dining room. While J (and F) customers could "enjoy" the delights of what appeared to be an empty canteen, but I was barred access . A quick trip to "Max and Emmas" provided me with required nourishment and got me back in the lounge to sample a glass or two, so no major harm done, however it was annoying.

While I was in the lounge a fellow passenger offered to "guest" me into the dining room ^. I politely declined, however I did wonder:

Can a J (or F) customer guest a Y (or W) passenger into the dinner part of the lounge, or are they stuck in the drinks-and-nibbles part?

(Of course had MFU on travel agent bookings been available this wouldn't have happened!)