That's because, according to this gatekeeper -- who was very talkative if not somewhat meek -- MIA is the only lounge in the OW world where this is a recognized exception.

Listen, I am not a babe in the woods here. I went over there specifically because I had read about people's problems here on FT, and also, I was curious as to the differences vs. the AC (mind you with my QF status I get unlimited free drinks at the AC, including some pretty decent, and better than the BA lounge, premium wines...so free booze is not a factor, but quality is).

I really didn't even care to stay there because my primary purpose was to:

1. Check out the BA lounges in terms of their amenities (my conclusion: nothing very good, except the Glenfiddich 15 which is marginally "good" but far from special, and NO computers); and

2. See what all this hub-bub was about in terms of people saying the BA MIA lounge was denying access.

So now you have it...one gatekeeper's story that this is an acknowledged exception to the rule.

Now keep in mind that:

a) He did let me into the "Miami Club" lounge, even though he said he wasn't supposed to (I still don't know what this lounge is), which lounge is a part of and open to the business class lounge; and

b) He said that the First lounge, while full, had NO better amenities (a claim which he stood by when I pressed him and asked if there was ANY difference in food or booze and he still said no).

When I toured the First lounge, which he let me do when I was chatting with him on the way out, after I let him rant and complain about how miserable the BA facilities were in MIA and how unfair it is/was, I was looking for ANY reason why I would want to be in the First lounge over the Club lounge -- from the finger sandwiches (same) to the booze/wine (same/worse, IMO) to not even one computer or TV, and I found no reason/advantage of the BA lounge over the AC.

As to whether he would have done the same thing to a BA Gold vs a QF Emerald, I can't really say, except that's what he said -- which combined with the fact that the lounges are the same, makes his comments moot in his opinion, becuase he would have let a BA Gold have the same limited access as me (against the rules), which he would have insisted was a special exception. He was really trying to protect the limited seating/space in the First lounge, which in light of the fact that there's nothing better "in there", isn't a crazy idea.

If he had just said: "listen, the First here is tiny and we have no better amenities than the Club lounge and in fact the other lounge is niver, but go ahead an take a peak at both ( and take anything you want from the First), and we would appreciate it if you then stationed yourself in the Club lounge", I wouldn't have remotely cared.

But tell me I can't do something which I think I am entitled to, and keep it a mystery as to whether it might be better and more special, and I am not a happy camper.