I haven't seen this too often myself, but I know it happens at many hotels. And I witnessed it again today at the IC Vienna. Around 9:30am the China Airlines crew was checking in. I got in the elevator with a couple of them as they were heading up to their rooms and showed them how the key works in the elevator. I got the impression that they were not used to this hotel. This is a fairly pricey place and I didn't see any other air crew this week.

Later I was sitting in the Club lounge at happy hour when I heard a bit of commotion at the welcome desk. It was loud enough for me to make out everything they were saying. The Club host said that China Air's contract with the hotel only allows the senior pilot and co-pilot to access the Club lounge. These two (male and female) cabin crew kept pushing and the host said that if they were escorted in by the senior pilot they would be allowed in. The male, who at check in was wearing a cabin crew uniform said "I am a technical supervisor so I should be allowed in". The host said not according to the contract. They kept pushing and then outright lied saying "Our rooms weren't ready til the afternoon and your colleague said we could come up to the lounge". Since I saw them check in and head up to their rooms at 9:30 I knew this was bogus, but the poor lounge host gave in at that point and let them in.

Any other similar stories out there? I've seen similar actions from VS crew in Nairobi in the past.