I was flying TAP yesterday to return to GVA. The FAO checkin agent refused to let me checkin at the "Executive" (read TAP for Business class), even though I have a LH FTL card (silver). She wasn't doing anything before I turned up anyway.
I read her the riot act, reminding her that TAP was a part of *A (she didn't seem to know), that one of the benefits of FTL is the right to check in at business class desks at all *A members, irrespective of the class of travel. She still hesitated, so I invited her to call her boss. She then suddenly "remembered" that indeed TAP was part of *A and finally decided to treat me courteously as I would have expected from the outset. No apology, but correctly treated and even wished a pleasant flight.
This isn't the first time this sort of thing has happened to me, other "smaller" members of *A seem to have the same problem. I do have the feeling that *A is a giant marketing exercise, which sounds more wonderful than the reality. I feel that many staff members seem largely unaware of the partnership and what it is supposed to entail for customers.
Have any others had similar experiences?
PS - I didn't try getting into the lounge