OK, but in my vast (and generally underwhelmed) lounge experience, this is more of a two-to-tango situation (i.e. length of stay can also be determined by the demeanor of the guest/lounge check-in agent).

That's true. While it's easy to enforce policy involving "within X hours of your flight time", how is the "no more than X hours per visit" policy enforced practically? Do the agents put a date stamp on your boarding pass and then go around the lounge checking regularly?!

In most cases the lounge will deny entry if you attempt to enter more than the stated number of hours prior to the boarding time printed on your boarding pass. In Japan I was at a lounge that stated the amount of time you were allowed in the lounge and then handed each guest a ticket with their arrival time and the time to depart bef:ore:

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...08384e7a69.png

Minor data points, but I've had decent success at accessing the priority pass lounges at YVR, not that there are many- a plaza premium lounge that always was open, and a Skyteam branded lounge, even when it was fairly full.

...The skyteam lounge seems to only have bar service when their flights are near departure for what that's worth.

In my experience, we have never been turned away for arriving too early/staying too long. We get PP thru Amex Plat but I would not pay for it.

Here is an example where PP lacks - We recently flew home thru Bermuda. Hosts were turning away everyone in front of us, staying the lounge was at capacity. I could see plenty of seats occupied by luggage. The departure board was showing four flights boarding within 15 minutes so I knew at least a few would be leabing. I stood my ground and said we would wait. The first host did NOT like that, at all. Another arrived shortly and I mentioned the "luggage seats" and said I have no problem asking people to put luggage on the floor. She laughed and checked us in. And I did ask two people to move their bags.

Good for you. So obnoxious for others to hog seats like then when a lounge is crowded.

biggest wind up whenever you find someone doing this. The issue is that the staff rarely care enough to police things like this, and sometimes you do meet the “no I’ll keep them there thanks” type of person

I'd be really tempted to press that one hard. "Well, it's just that I can't find any other seats. Would you please let me sit there?" And if the jerk still won't budge, ask a lounge employee to intervene.

After that, be mockingly polite to the jerk. "I'm heading over to the bar. Would you like me to get you something?"

Dogs and luggage and shoes and feet don't go on the seats.I wonder how people would behave in a friend's house... Sometimes I wish I had a FT gold star to present with thanks to some people and a demerit slip for inconsiderate folks.

"Good afternoon! Would you mind moving your luggage, or would you prefer that I do it for you?"

Was turned away yesterday at the FRA T2 AF lounge because I was arriving, n:mad:t departing. That restriction is certainly not on the PP web site that I've seen. It basically says you should not count on access when arriving because you may not be able to re-clear security. In any event, I've gotten access on arrival at other lounges in the past.

Priority Pass is simply a way for lounges to monetize their surplus capacity. I don't see that Priority Pass has any ability to force lounges to adopt specific policies. They can make their own decisions regarding entry hours, stay duration, guests, etc.

Absolutely -- and most lounges I've tried to enter upon arrival have been happy to let me in. This one was empty, but unwilling to do so. Their l:oss.

A friend just emailed me from Beijing and was disappointed to find that there are no Priority Pass or American Express lounges open in the International Terminal.

I seem to recall PP lounges a few years back, but I guess they are no longer part of the program.