Originally Posted by
FlyingFilmGuy
What are the Star Alliance Gold benefits that are also available to the card holder's guest / travelling companion? The obvious one is guest access to the lounge, but what about things like Premium Check-in and Priority Boarding?
In my 13 years being a Gold card holder, almost every airline I fly is happy for my partner to use the Premium Check-in and Priority Boarding when travelling with me. TAP are the only airline that I've come across that says these benefits are only for the card holder, and travelling companions aren't allowed to make use of them.
Are TAP doing things right here? Is it just that other airlines are more generous, and TAP are sticking to the written rules?
I've never had an issue in checking in and boarding together with a non-status travel companion with TP; please note that I never ask if that is possible, I just do it. When asked any questions by the check-in or gate agents, I only say we're travelling together and they always oblige. I even managed to check-in together with a group of 7 people in the Premium area in LIS last July, being the only status pax.
By way of contrast, when I wasn't a status holder, but had a credit card which allowed me to check-in in the Premium area, I wasn't allowed to bringa anyone else and that restriction was enforced.