Funniest almost denial of Board Room admittance to date (for me)
Jun 1, 2019, 1:52 pm
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA Plat 2MM. DL Plat, AS MVP
Posts: 12,753
Funniest almost denial of Board Room admittance to date (for me)
I’m flying transcon from LAX-JFK today in F (using an upgrade). As is often the case, the sign at the door said that because of space limitations, Priority Pass would not be honored today. But I have an American Club membership, so I am good to go.
I get to the desk agent and provided my AA number. But I also asked, “Does flying transcontinental in upgraded F allow me access as well?” (I had forgotten the AS policy on this).
He responded, “We don’t have an agreement with them.”
Me: “What do you mean?”
Agent: “Transcontinental is not one of our partner carriers.”
Me: “No, I mean ... if I am flying Alaska transcontinental....”
Agent: “Even if you are flying from Alaska on Transcontinental airlines, there is no agreement.”
Me: “Let me start again.... Transcontinental means coast to coast.”
Agent: “Oh! I had never heard of that word!”
By this time, I had my AA number ready for him, and I was granted access.
Mind you, the whole interchange was with smiles!
I get to the desk agent and provided my AA number. But I also asked, “Does flying transcontinental in upgraded F allow me access as well?” (I had forgotten the AS policy on this).
He responded, “We don’t have an agreement with them.”
Me: “What do you mean?”
Agent: “Transcontinental is not one of our partner carriers.”
Me: “No, I mean ... if I am flying Alaska transcontinental....”
Agent: “Even if you are flying from Alaska on Transcontinental airlines, there is no agreement.”
Me: “Let me start again.... Transcontinental means coast to coast.”
Agent: “Oh! I had never heard of that word!”
By this time, I had my AA number ready for him, and I was granted access.
Mind you, the whole interchange was with smiles!
Jun 1, 2019, 3:14 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Transcontinental Air Tranport (T-A-T) was formed in 1929 and offered a 48 hour coast to coast service with a combination of nine flights by day and trains by night. They were on of the first to offer meal service. Not sure about a PDB though! 
In 1930 the merged with Western Air Express that later became TWA. Agent was correct that they didn't partner with Transcontinental! 
lol
Interesting article you can find here.
James
In 1930 the merged with Western Air Express that later became TWA. Agent was correct that they didn't partner with Transcontinental! lolInteresting article you can find here.
James
Jun 1, 2019, 4:53 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,293
I’m flying transcon from LAX-JFK today in F (using an upgrade). As is often the case, the sign at the door said that because of space limitations, Priority Pass would not be honored today. But I have an American Club membership, so I am good to go.
I get to the desk agent and provided my AA number. But I also asked, “Does flying transcontinental in upgraded F allow me access as well?” (I had forgotten the AS policy on this).
He responded, “We don’t have an agreement with them.”
Me: “What do you mean?”
Agent: “Transcontinental is not one of our partner carriers.”
Me: “No, I mean ... if I am flying Alaska transcontinental....”
Agent: “Even if you are flying from Alaska on Transcontinental airlines, there is no agreement.”
Me: “Let me start again.... Transcontinental means coast to coast.”
Agent: “Oh! I had never heard of that word!”
By this time, I had my AA number ready for him, and I was granted access.
Mind you, the whole interchange was with smiles!
I get to the desk agent and provided my AA number. But I also asked, “Does flying transcontinental in upgraded F allow me access as well?” (I had forgotten the AS policy on this).
He responded, “We don’t have an agreement with them.”
Me: “What do you mean?”
Agent: “Transcontinental is not one of our partner carriers.”
Me: “No, I mean ... if I am flying Alaska transcontinental....”
Agent: “Even if you are flying from Alaska on Transcontinental airlines, there is no agreement.”
Me: “Let me start again.... Transcontinental means coast to coast.”
Agent: “Oh! I had never heard of that word!”
By this time, I had my AA number ready for him, and I was granted access.
Mind you, the whole interchange was with smiles!
Jun 1, 2019, 7:01 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
Jun 1, 2019, 7:38 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Jun 1, 2019, 8:25 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: los angeles, calif.
Programs: Alaska Airlines Gold MVP
Posts: 7,170
Correct, although AA allows access on complimentray upgrades of its a domestic 3-class plane between LA and Miami, Boston or NYC, which in the past then allowed access to the LAX AS lounge when AA was in T6 though not sure anymore.
Jun 1, 2019, 8:54 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,097
Jun 1, 2019, 9:12 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
I wonder if they are more willing to bend the rules for 75ks, particularly those with a history of well over the required EQM. (which would be a very reasonable thing to do -- the best customers should be taken care of!)
Jun 2, 2019, 12:31 pm
#12
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: AS G100K, DL PM, IHG Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 843
That would be nice. But I don't think the agent at the AL/BR front desk can pull up your profile including last year's EQM accrual to grant you leniency with a U fare. Can they? I also saw a pax with kids in front of me got turned away at JFK AL when the agent told her PP membership didn't have arrival airport access to the JFK AL (she and I wwere on the same flight arriving JFK from PDX). So I think those agents there are pretty strict about entrance eligibility,
Jun 2, 2019, 2:53 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: SEA
Posts: 2,021
If you are flying First on an upgrade ticket, you should NOT ever expect to be granted access to an Alaska Lounge.
They will scan your boarding pass, see it is an upgrade, and deny you entry.
I can just see the DYKWIAs from this thread giving the Lounge agents a hard time...
They will scan your boarding pass, see it is an upgrade, and deny you entry.
I can just see the DYKWIAs from this thread giving the Lounge agents a hard time...
Jun 2, 2019, 4:00 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA Plat 2MM. DL Plat, AS MVP
Posts: 12,753
If you are flying First on an upgrade ticket, you should NOT ever expect to be granted access to an Alaska Lounge.
They will scan your boarding pass, see it is an upgrade, and deny you entry.
I can just see the DYKWIAs from this thread giving the Lounge agents a hard time...
They will scan your boarding pass, see it is an upgrade, and deny you entry.
I can just see the DYKWIAs from this thread giving the Lounge agents a hard time...