Dambus

Recent experience traveling through DUB to N.Amer in C and with AerClub Concierge status:

New lounge access policy - Only one of the available lounges can be accessed (i.e. The AerClub lounge in the main departures area and the 51st&Green after USPC). But not both.

Both staff in attendance at the AerClub lounge said this had been communicated internally as the policy (due to the cost of lounge access) and they have a stamp which is applied to boarding passes at the AerClub lounge to ensure PAX are then unable to access the 51st&Green lounge.

Unvelievable.

I hope this is either a total internal comms failure or some local "initiative" that quickly gets stomped.

Anyone else had a similar experience?

- Dambus

[Edited]

Just adding another similar experience I have now heard about - in this case the lounge staff stated that the 51st&Green lounge is now the "designated Business Class lounge" and Bus class customers no longer have access to the AerClub lounge. The stamp is apparently for AerClub elites who have the choice.

All very much at odds with the language in the EI blog announcing the lounge:

http://blog.aerlingus.com/blog/2016/07/27/new-post-us-preclearance-lounge-at-dublin-airport

soy

I've read several other reports to the same effect. One lounge only

Shamrock125

So, if flying in J, you can only access the post Pre Clearance lounge now?

Ber2dca

This is the kind of bush league crap that makes me doubt Aer Lingus as a company can pull off a legit premium product. That company has long been fully RyanAirized in terms of their attitudes and approaches.

Dambus

Here on FT? Did a quick scan before posting but may have missed previous reports on this.

My assumption that this was just a screw up may also be wrong so! Perhaps we should start a lounge guesting thread so that trans-Atlantic C pax can be guested into the AerClub lounge by generous DUB-KIR day trippers....

Hopefully EI re-joining OW at some point in 2017 will bring some order the lounge access rules.

correction

Which lounge is better?

ROKNA

Depends, 51st is probably the better in general, plus it's on the far side of USPC

EI lounge does have showers (edit 51st does as well it appears) and is EI so the reception can sort you out with changes, seats etc

I don't see the big fuss, going to the US, you use the USPC lounge, travelling elsewhere you use the EI one. I'd much rather get through all the formalities as soon as possible and get to the 51st and have no stress.

To be fair to the EI lounge crew they had a magic ability to call a flight for USPC and you would end up at the gate with 5-10 minutes before boarding. If you got pulled for secondary it might be very uncomfortable

Dambus

The AerClub lounge is a good spot to:
- Park while other half does some duty free shopping
- Feed the baby before joining the USPC queue
- Deal with seating for upcoming flights (lounge agents are great)

The 51st&Green is better for
- Quality of food and beverage offering
- Views
- Space
- Stress free boarding

Have used both pretty much as above on previous trips. No more it seems.

Not sure what The Loop would say if they knew Bus Class Pax are being encouraged to by-pass the bulk of airport shopping.

Drums

51st&Green is NOT an Aer Lingus lounge...therefore you should never be able to access it with an AerClub card.

ROKNA

I can

Anyone with Platinum or Concierge has access with Aer Club, previously Prestige and Elite GC

https://www.aerlingus.com/travel-inf...lounge-access/

trustno1

I'm confused. Can you use the 51st and Green if you are Platinum or Concierge but not traveling transatlantic?

Shamrock125

The 51st & Green is past US Preclearance, so unless you're going to the US, you won't be able to access it.

Can anyone confirm ​​​​that US bound J travellers are now being directed straight to 51st & Green?

trustno1

Thanks for that. However, I think on at least 1 occasion I went through US immigration but then ended up going back upstairs and boarding my flight to the States through gate 426.

ROKNA

You were within the USPC area at all times even at 426

With the exception of 4 gates, all other gates in T2 can be setup for USPC through series of doors/barriers to divide the terminal due operational requirements

You will NEVER mix with non USPC flights once you have passed through USPC

stuart_f

What if you simply print 2 copies of your boarding pass?