Ongoing MLL Disrepair and Uncleanliness
Jan 12, 2015, 10:41 pm
#31
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,255
Well, I have only had status to enter the lounge 2 out of the past 4 years. AC sells the lounge access as part of the business class fare. AC also sells access to those passengers who do not have FF benefits. I am one of those pax who pays for the access as part of my J class fare.
I was in the AMS KLM lounge the other day. It was massive, and despite the peak hour, there was room for everyone. I also had a wonderful pastrami sandwich, that I made myself. The lounge was kept clean and well stocked by unionized employees who were most likely earning wages and benefits that were relatively more expensive than those paid to the MLL employees. Had it not been morning, I would have sampled the many fine wines that were available, wines of significantly higher quality than I have ever seen in a MLL or on board AC. (BTW, my J class fare include some long haul flights that went to EU airports that have costs as high as, if not higher than Canadian airports. My total fare was approx. $2,000 less than what was available from AC.)
I was in the AMS KLM lounge the other day. It was massive, and despite the peak hour, there was room for everyone. I also had a wonderful pastrami sandwich, that I made myself. The lounge was kept clean and well stocked by unionized employees who were most likely earning wages and benefits that were relatively more expensive than those paid to the MLL employees. Had it not been morning, I would have sampled the many fine wines that were available, wines of significantly higher quality than I have ever seen in a MLL or on board AC. (BTW, my J class fare include some long haul flights that went to EU airports that have costs as high as, if not higher than Canadian airports. My total fare was approx. $2,000 less than what was available from AC.)
Jan 12, 2015, 10:43 pm
#32
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I have a suggestion that would clean out the MLL moochers. Start charging for access to the MLL for those who have lower "status".
Business class - included in the ticket
For those who have E 75K and SE 100K status - included
For those at a lower status;
Tango & Flex fares - $25.
All other fares - $15
If someone really wants access, he/she will pay.
Guaranteed to make me the most hated member here.................
Business class - included in the ticket
For those who have E 75K and SE 100K status - included
For those at a lower status;
Tango & Flex fares - $25.
All other fares - $15
If someone really wants access, he/she will pay.
Guaranteed to make me the most hated member here.................
All *G (E50/E75/S100K/JDCZIP fares) should have access to the MLL.
What AC needs to do is stop allowing access to anyone else.
Jan 12, 2015, 10:45 pm
#33
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Absolutely. You should have such access, along with respectable quality if you are spending good dime on the product.
Jan 12, 2015, 11:43 pm
#34
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YVR
Programs: Aeroplan SE
Posts: 45
I have pretty much given up on LHR T2 MLL. This response could go in any number of threads. Too long a wait for showers - and for a new facility they are nice but... dark, no where to place your bag, no hooks to hang stuff. Two showers only!!! come on. And yes that the men's room urinals have been out of commission for a long period of time. yyznomad - i would push that date back to end of October for when these went out of service, i went thru there in mid Oct and early Nov and dropped in 8 days ago. No urinal availability. I'll check on Thursday. I mean this is a brand new facility. I goto UA - nice showers , get my shirt and jacket pressed.
Jan 13, 2015, 6:05 am
#35
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Wait, let me get this straight. So we're complaining about the condition of a lounge that costs NOTHING to access? We get what we pay for.
And before anyone pipes up, "I pay for lounge access with my J seat", or "I pay for it by earning *G", you are wrong. You pay for your SEAT. Lounge access is a PRIVILEGE. So unless you actually do truly pay to sit in the lounge (which I suppose some people do, although I've never met one of these folks), keep in mind we get what we pay for.
And before anyone pipes up, "I pay for lounge access with my J seat", or "I pay for it by earning *G", you are wrong. You pay for your SEAT. Lounge access is a PRIVILEGE. So unless you actually do truly pay to sit in the lounge (which I suppose some people do, although I've never met one of these folks), keep in mind we get what we pay for.
You clearly do not understand holistic integrated marketing.
Everyone that uses a MLL has the right to provide feedback: good, bad or indifferent (those feedback forms are not for show). You're doing AC a favour in keeping market research costs low for them. Which they could reinvest such savings in increasing the value of its loyalty program and/or lounges.
Jan 13, 2015, 6:57 am
#36
Formerly known as jsfrSuperElite
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Hong Kong, Montreal
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Posts: 590
Lounge costs are built into the premium fares/loyalty programs forming a social contract that is an appropriate exchange of value between two parties (the definition of marketing). This is not rocket science. Further revenue is achieved with marketing partnerships with Banks/CC and selling lounge memberships through various channels (and yes I've observed many who've gone that route).
You clearly do not understand holistic integrated marketing.
Everyone that uses a MLL has the right to provide feedback: good, bad or indifferent (those feedback forms are not for show). You're doing AC a favour in keeping market research costs low for them. Which they could reinvest such savings in increasing the value of its loyalty program and/or lounges.
You clearly do not understand holistic integrated marketing.
Everyone that uses a MLL has the right to provide feedback: good, bad or indifferent (those feedback forms are not for show). You're doing AC a favour in keeping market research costs low for them. Which they could reinvest such savings in increasing the value of its loyalty program and/or lounges.
Jan 13, 2015, 7:57 am
#37
Formerly known as tireman77
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 5,570
Wow, if that's the case, I'd hate to see what the UA lounges were like before the more civilized people showed up....
Jan 13, 2015, 9:01 am
#38
Join Date: May 2004
Location: yyz
Programs: AC*SE 1MM. a bunch of hotel programs.
Posts: 1,592
at UA, AA.. you're not considered civilised until you hit Exec Plat or 100K. at AC they do it at E50.
Jan 13, 2015, 11:45 am
#39
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Wait, let me get this straight. So we're complaining about the condition of a lounge that costs NOTHING to access? We get what we pay for.
And before anyone pipes up, "I pay for lounge access with my J seat", or "I pay for it by earning *G", you are wrong. You pay for your SEAT. Lounge access is a PRIVILEGE. So unless you actually do truly pay to sit in the lounge (which I suppose some people do, although I've never met one of these folks), keep in mind we get what we pay for.
And before anyone pipes up, "I pay for lounge access with my J seat", or "I pay for it by earning *G", you are wrong. You pay for your SEAT. Lounge access is a PRIVILEGE. So unless you actually do truly pay to sit in the lounge (which I suppose some people do, although I've never met one of these folks), keep in mind we get what we pay for.
My flight pass explicitly mentions lounge access as part of what I'm paying for. So does every business class ticket I've ever purchased.
Jan 15, 2015, 7:58 am
#44
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: YOW
Programs: AC*SEMM, *G, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 898
Back to the original topic of "cleanliness" (or lack thereof), I was in the YYZ Domestic MLL on Tuesday PM and it was "fruit flies galore" around cookies, the salads and pretty much any food. In 15 years of travel, this is the first time that I have actually noticed this (or to that extent anyway). Not a huge deal, but does make things less inviting
Jan 15, 2015, 8:35 am
#45
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