Thanks for all the feedback. This policy is a mess AND stupid. I was at the AC/Star Alliance lounge at Heathrow two weeks ago and the attendant gave me and the wife (*G, clearly printed on the boarding pass) a hard time because when we showed up we didn't have the card. After some digging around in our bags we got it out and she let us in. I just don't get it, why would a sophisticated airline in the age of computers with a hundred million invested in back end systems require me to produce a plastic card with my name on it, AFTER they have already checked my credentials at check in? Duh!