Originally Posted by
lrluis
I achieved * Gold status on my way down to Australia on 10/11. I thought that all of United's systems would already have been updated before my departure on 10/21. When I checked in at the United counter, I was given my boarding pass and it clearly had the correct status on it and they even told me that I had access to the lounge. Unfortunately, when I got to the lounge, the boarding pass wouldn't let me in, and when they checked the computers, it still showed that I was * Silver. The lounge attendants wouldn't let me in and explained that they weren't actually United employees so there wasn't anything they could do. No biggie, but is there a reason for why this might have happened?
Could it be that I have Gold status on Continental and only Premier (2P) status on United? I used my CO OP number and confirmed that it was on my boarding pass.
I'm glad I was able to gain access to the Air NZ lounge in Sydney (stopover). It's funny how a partner treated me better than the airline I actually hold status on.^
As for you having 2P status on UA and gold on CO, that's impossible unless you've neglected to link your M+ and 1pass accounts.
I am gathering that you attempted to use UA's RCC in MEL and were denied.
Not making excuses, but if your gold status is on CO, then I can believe the MEL RCC would deny you. Lounge receptionists of PCs are antagonistic toward RCC members and M+ elites (requiring vastly more documentation of right to access than a PC or 1pass member), and I imagine the converse is true. The United Club is actually a fiction.
Also IME, it is the case some RCCs have less access to information that others. For example, at the RCC in the international terminal at SFO, when I present my BP, I am always asked if I need a Wi-Fi card, whereas at the RCC near the domestic gates at the same airport, the receptionist can clearly see I am an RCC member, and so don't need a Wi-Fi card.
At any rate, if UA is going to provide lounge access to its elites in lounges not operated by UA employees, then it ought to provide lounge invitation cards, like LH does at BLR and other stations.
As for SYD, the NZ receptionists either are trained to accept *G designations on a BP, or Annie, UA's employee who staffs the NZ lounge, was able to verify your status. Most other *A gold lounges would have insisted on your *G card.