Originally Posted by
Viajero
This works: on arrival after the qualifying segment call the airline and ask them to annotate the PNR to reflect the fact you have attained such and such status. On entry to a lounge ask the agent to please read your PNR.
That's it; you don't have to wait for the card, or the miles to be credited, or for your new status to show on your profile. A correctly worded annotation on your PNR is all that it takes,
I qualified years ago (when lounge dragons were less fierce) so I don't have any personal experience with this, but almost every time that I go into certain lounges (BA at LHR, FL at ORD, etc.) there is someone at the desk arguing with the lounge dragon. Often along the lines of "I don't have my card, and my BP doesn't show the right status, but I really am Emerald" and they never get in. BA current policy is that they will not call anyone or look at anything in the computer to determine lounge admission eligibility. It is in writing in their procedures book. So you
must present the physical card to get in. Sometimes that requirement is waived, but that is a favour and not an entitlement.