Lounge eligibility in general, cries out for a simple software solution. Whether one is eligible and, if so, how many guests one may bring, and if so, the conditions of their travel, are easily programmable such that staff should not have to be trained or even understand why one is eligible. The same software which causes status to be printed on a boarding pass or a fee to be waived for luggage would solve all of these problems.

In addition, when there are overcrowding situations, it should be for the manager to inhibit entry and an appropriate message to be displayed for staff, e.g. "I see that you are entitled to 5 guests, but as you know, that is subject to over-crowding restrictions and today we are over limit."

Simple steps and simple solutions.