FAQ: LAX MLL & *A Lounges
Mar 24, 2009, 5:11 am
#76
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: YVR
Posts: 59
Thought I would stop by to check out the Air NZ lounge on Sunday afternoon (Mar 22) while flying back to YYC. Great lounge, quiet overall, great sandwiches, awesome beverage selection (especially the kiwi beer) and nice washrooms & showers available.
Whenever in LAX, I'll probably be visiting the Air NZ lounge over the MLL next door.
Whenever in LAX, I'll probably be visiting the Air NZ lounge over the MLL next door.
Mar 25, 2009, 2:47 pm
#77
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Iqaluit
Programs: Programs? I don't need no stinking programs
Posts: 1,194
Push the button !!!
I shall now break the most frequently broken rule of AC forum etiquette - and probably draw a severe rebuke from zorn - by posting a largely pointless second-hand customer service story which happened to a colleague of mine at the LAX MLL last week. My only excuse for doing this is that I thought it was mildly amusing.
My colleague, whom I shall call Mme. X, had a 3 or 4 h connection in LAX on the way back from HNL. She is Prestige and so does not have lounge access, but being an ignorant neophyte thought she might as well check if it were possible to pay for a one-time use of the MLL (as I pointed out to her afterwards, she could have used her MLL passes, but that makes no difference to the story). She gets to the lounge and waves through the glass door to attract the attention of the lounge dragon who is seated at the desk.
Lounge dragon (silently mouthing the words, while indicating that there is a button at the side of the door): PUSH THE BUTTON !
Mme. X pushes the button. The door fails to open.
Lounge dragon (rolls her eyes, mouthing the words more emphatically with added pantomime): PUSH THE BUTTON !!
Mme. X pushes the button again, and again the door remains shut.
Lounge dragon (still without making any movement to get up from the desk, which is about 10 feet away from the door): PUSH THE BUTTON !!!
This happens about 10 times. Finally, Mme. X, who is getting a bit piqued by this point, decides just to stand there until the lounge dragon opens the door for her. After about 2 minutes, when it becomes apparent that Mme. X isn't going away, the lounge dragon comes over to open the door. It turns out the door was stuck.
Lounge Dragon : Well, are you coming in or not ?
Mme. X : I just wanted to ask a question.
Lounge Dragon : Are you a member ?
Mme. X : No, but -
Lounge Dragon (shuts the door).
End of story. My question to those of you who go through LAX more often than I do : Is this lounge dragon (a woman) a regular feature at the LAX MLL ? She sounds like a hoot.
My colleague, whom I shall call Mme. X, had a 3 or 4 h connection in LAX on the way back from HNL. She is Prestige and so does not have lounge access, but being an ignorant neophyte thought she might as well check if it were possible to pay for a one-time use of the MLL (as I pointed out to her afterwards, she could have used her MLL passes, but that makes no difference to the story). She gets to the lounge and waves through the glass door to attract the attention of the lounge dragon who is seated at the desk.
Lounge dragon (silently mouthing the words, while indicating that there is a button at the side of the door): PUSH THE BUTTON !
Mme. X pushes the button. The door fails to open.
Lounge dragon (rolls her eyes, mouthing the words more emphatically with added pantomime): PUSH THE BUTTON !!
Mme. X pushes the button again, and again the door remains shut.
Lounge dragon (still without making any movement to get up from the desk, which is about 10 feet away from the door): PUSH THE BUTTON !!!
This happens about 10 times. Finally, Mme. X, who is getting a bit piqued by this point, decides just to stand there until the lounge dragon opens the door for her. After about 2 minutes, when it becomes apparent that Mme. X isn't going away, the lounge dragon comes over to open the door. It turns out the door was stuck.
Lounge Dragon : Well, are you coming in or not ?
Mme. X : I just wanted to ask a question.
Lounge Dragon : Are you a member ?
Mme. X : No, but -
Lounge Dragon (shuts the door).
End of story. My question to those of you who go through LAX more often than I do : Is this lounge dragon (a woman) a regular feature at the LAX MLL ? She sounds like a hoot.
Mar 25, 2009, 3:52 pm
#78
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: YYC - soon to be 東京
Programs: AC Prestige, Marriott Silver, Hyatt Gold, Hertz #1 Gold, Radisson Gold Elite, HHonors
Posts: 1,830
Having been to the LAX MLL before, I can assure you that they don't roar in your face unless you look foolish. 
Sanosuke!
Sanosuke!
Mar 26, 2009, 11:37 am
#80
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Iqaluit
Programs: Programs? I don't need no stinking programs
Posts: 1,194
Apparently this was just an isolated incident then... It struck me as outstandingly rude even by the standards of lounge dragons, who as we all know can be a fearsome breed.
Mar 26, 2009, 12:03 pm
#81
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: ACMM SE100K; *G
Posts: 1,526
I couldn't find the answer to this question and I'm also interested. Do they allow this? If I have an AC BP at LAX, can I get into the NZ lounge regardless of whether the MLL is open?
Mar 26, 2009, 3:16 pm
#82
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: YWG
Programs: UA 1K, AC E, *G x2, BMI Silver, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, PC Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,260
Theoretically as a Star Alliance Gold Member, you are allowed access to the NZ Lounge when travelling on a *A airline. That being said, they can deny entry if they are too full (as they could do even when travelling on NZ) and YMMV but quite often you will be told to go to use the MLL, but if you persist you will be let in.
Mar 27, 2009, 3:59 am
#83
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Platinum, hhonors Gold
Posts: 3,422
When the MLL was closed for renovations and they were in hybrid AC/NZ mode, I witnessed an ugly SE go ballistic on the lounge matron. He wanted to bring in his family (two guests) and was told by the MLL person temporarily staffing the lounge that they were following NZ rules on one guest. He called the concierge in who stood behind the MLL matron and despite loud and angry complaints was told no.
In an ultimate show of inconsistency the agent accepted a MLL guest pass (which is not valid for NZ lounge entry) from a sympathetic person who (like everyone else in the lounge) overheard the whole thing and decided to waste a guest pass. In the ultimate insult to that person, the complainer spent five minutes in the lounge and then left for his flight.
Jul 24, 2011, 4:19 pm
#87
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: YEG
Programs: UA 1K, AC SE, WJ Gold
Posts: 352
On Saturday I have a flight LAX-YVR with a friend on WJ LAX-YYC ... we are driving to the airport together. Since the MLL in LAX is now an Amex lounge as well, can he buy access for the day despite being on WJ??
Jul 24, 2011, 6:00 pm
#88
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: Star Alliance G*, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium,
Posts: 3,585
Other lounge options at LAX
We have a 5 hour layover in LAX Apr 2 on the way to OGG.( It started out as a 2 hour but due to schedule changes by both AC & UA, its now 5). Was hoping to spend some of the time in the MLL but it looks like if its under renovation we'll be sitting in the terminal wait room. I am an AMEX Maple Leaf Club member- do you think they will have any alternate arrangement during the reno? Anyone have experience with admittance to LAX lounge on an AMEX card with paying the $20 for spouse and toting kids? Does it matter that we are on UAL metal outbound to OGG?
Failing lounge access, what can we do for 5 hours in LAX?
Failing lounge access, what can we do for 5 hours in LAX?
From what terminal is your depature to OGG? The reason I ask is you may not be able to access a terminal other than the one your flight leaves from! e.g. T7 is United, T2 is AC and there is no airside secure access b/n the 2 terminals!
In my case, I called AMEX 6 weeks prior and obtained a Priority Pass lounge card. It provides free lounge access for me to a number of lounges in each terminal ($27 US per person for other family members). Worthwhile? Yes! It got us into the Alaska Board Room Lounge in Tom Bradley, prior to our departure on VA.
Jul 24, 2011, 8:23 pm
#89
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: YYZ
Programs: ACMM SE100K; Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum Elite
Posts: 957
I was in the MLL lounge @ LAX last week. No suggestion of a pending renovation, so deciding its "under renovation" may be premature.
From what terminal is your depature to OGG? The reason I ask is you may not be able to access a terminal other than the one your flight leaves from! e.g. T7 is United, T2 is AC and there is no airside secure access b/n the 2 terminals!
In my case, I called AMEX 6 weeks prior and obtained a Priority Pass lounge card. It provides free lounge access for me to a number of lounges in each terminal ($27 US per person for other family members). Worthwhile? Yes! It got us into the Alaska Board Room Lounge in Tom Bradley, prior to our departure on VA.
From what terminal is your depature to OGG? The reason I ask is you may not be able to access a terminal other than the one your flight leaves from! e.g. T7 is United, T2 is AC and there is no airside secure access b/n the 2 terminals!
In my case, I called AMEX 6 weeks prior and obtained a Priority Pass lounge card. It provides free lounge access for me to a number of lounges in each terminal ($27 US per person for other family members). Worthwhile? Yes! It got us into the Alaska Board Room Lounge in Tom Bradley, prior to our departure on VA.
Jul 24, 2011, 8:40 pm
#90
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Fairmont Platinum, Aeroplan Diamond, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 18,686
Flying in LAX via UA in about 3 days.. so where is the MLL lounge?
Will be flying out of LAX on the 7th via AC..
Will be flying out of LAX on the 7th via AC..