lounge "service"
Jan 17, 2020, 11:24 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
lounge "service"
Trying to check-in to the lounge in Seatac C, and there was a line (at least 5). The lady in front was talking on the phone, so the man behind her moved forward, so he could scan his boarding pass. But the agent "barked" at him, "I'm still helping her." Not in a nice way at all. I daresay rude.
Why should you wait for someone who is on the phone? How is that relevant to checking in?
Maybe the agent thought she was "nice" because she was actually helping someone?
Has the culture at Alaska changed? Aren't they supposed to be the nice one? They advertise the smiling old man as Alaskan hospitality.
Why should you wait for someone who is on the phone? How is that relevant to checking in?
Maybe the agent thought she was "nice" because she was actually helping someone?
Has the culture at Alaska changed? Aren't they supposed to be the nice one? They advertise the smiling old man as Alaskan hospitality.
Jan 17, 2020, 11:35 am
#2
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,030
I think its a really, really, really long stretch to believe there is a culture change at Alaska because someone got "barked" at for line cutting (even if justified). I have been to the Lounge a zillion times and always found the agents helpful and pleasant.
Jan 17, 2020, 11:50 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AS, UA, WN, IHG Diamond Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, CET 7*
Posts: 3,300
But seriously, maybe she was having a bad day? Her cat had to be put down? She's in the midst of dealing with a parent with dementia? WHO KNOWS?
But no, the culture hasn't changed. You experienced a one-off, that's all.
Nothing to see here, Folks.
Jan 17, 2020, 12:09 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,968
AS reputation as nice is left over from years ago. Now it’s mostly just indifference with a side of attitude when agents / employees are asked to do something extra. There are some rockstars left but that is an exception and not the rule for the most part. I would put them even with UA and AA, below DL or WN.
In flight is better. And the pilots are still awesome.
In flight is better. And the pilots are still awesome.
Jan 17, 2020, 12:16 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: AS 100k, DL PM, New Sagaya
Posts: 1,291
Sorry to hear the bad experiences. I've found lounge staff to always be warm and affable. If anything their time spent connecting with guests slows down the check in a bit. But the finger scanners are there for people like me who want to zip in.
Jan 17, 2020, 1:16 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Alaska Airlines
Posts: 659
First off - I agree with everyone that one outlier event doesn't define AS culture. The agent could've been having a rough day, or maybe that passenger was being a pill several times before trying to bypass or cut the line? Who knows.
If you don't want to wait in line, register your fingerprints and bypass it nice & quick with a nod from the agents.
If you don't want to wait in line, register your fingerprints and bypass it nice & quick with a nod from the agents.
Jan 17, 2020, 1:17 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS MVPG, 1MM
Posts: 377
Use the Lounge quite a bit and I am more annoyed with the self important people who think they are the only ones there whether it be talking loudly on the phone, taking up multiple seats for one person or blocking the 8 slice toast machine for their one slice to toast and oblivious to others who would want to use the other 7 slots....yeah, I know, first world problems. The staff, however are not a problem for me. Anyway, I use my two fingers on the scanner and head in.
Jan 17, 2020, 2:49 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2003
Location: SFO, mostly
Posts: 2,204
Use the Lounge quite a bit and I am more annoyed with the self important people who think they are the only ones there whether it be talking loudly on the phone, taking up multiple seats for one person or blocking the 8 slice toast machine for their one slice to toast and oblivious to others who would want to use the other 7 slots....yeah, I know, first world problems. The staff, however are not a problem for me. Anyway, I use my two fingers on the scanner and head in.
Jan 17, 2020, 3:10 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2006
Location: TUS/PDX
Programs: WN CP/A-List, AS MVPG75K
Posts: 5,798
Lounge staff, however, is generally really good. Some are friendlier than others of course, but generally everyone I've encountered is really good and wants to help everyone. I wish the fingerprint scanners were faster though.
Jan 17, 2020, 4:11 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: SAN
Programs: AS Mileage Plan 100k, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 991
This is exactly why I enrolled on the finger scanners. For LAX in particular, I come up the back way thru the stairs, scan in, and avoid the glut of people jammed up at checkin.
Jan 17, 2020, 6:52 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Washington DC
Posts: 1,357
Use the Lounge quite a bit and I am more annoyed with the self important people who think they are the only ones there whether it be talking loudly on the phone, taking up multiple seats for one person or blocking the 8 slice toast machine for their one slice to toast and oblivious to others who would want to use the other 7 slots....yeah, I know, first world problems. The staff, however are not a problem for me. Anyway, I use my two fingers on the scanner and head in.