I'm not saying it is always the case, but sometimes the lounge agents do seem to look a little snooty when I hand over the M&B card (LHR springs to mind). I can only assume that they they don't like the thought that someone can get status for cheaper than others. It's almost as if they have to pay for us to get in, or that we are somehow freeloading. But I can live with that!

That said, other times I've felt that they really value my status. At ZRH last November the agent at the SWISS Business lounge went out of her way to walk me over to the Senator lounge and made me feel really welcome.

As with most places, who you meet can really change your mood.