shandy01

Has anyone ever been successful in getting extra guests into the GB lounge? 4 of us heading over to Berlin in coming months but only one Star Gold amongst us....it will be my birthday that particular day - what are the odds if I play that trick and ask very nicely ?

hugolover

Hi,

DM the Twitter dude, he might give you some vouchers.

Regards,

drspear

We used a much easier system.

BDG goes in, with a guest, and front desk mark the boarding card with their squiggle.

BDG leaves lounge, hands marked boarding card to the next guest. who shows the squiggle to the front desk and goes in.

Repeat ad nauseum, there are usually 3 or 4 people on so choose a different person each time to show the boarding card too

They dont care there, they want you to enjoy their lounge, if you are meaning the main star alliance one in T1. Its so busy they never remember faces.

shandy01

Fab! I like it... will try the squiggles... many thanks!

Oxon Flyer

The OP was actually referring to the bmi "Great British Lounge".

And I would suspect many correspondents here would testify that the dragons guarding the Star Alliance lounge are considerably less naive than your post may suggest.

BristolTraveller

And it's that kind of buggering about that ensures the system gets tightened up for all of us, souring the relationship between the lounge staff and the travellers. What happened to acting honourably and respecting the rules?

It also reduces the chances that staff are willing to be helpful when you do ask nicely, and without expectation.

NWIFlyer

I'd absolutely concur with BristolTraveller, but would go further in saying that deliberately duping the lounge staff to get something to which you are not entitled (and know you are not entitled) is fraud.

I've actually found the *A lounge to be very helpful recently - this week, I began talking to a guy on the tube between Hatton Cross and Heathrow, and it transpired we were both marathon runners. I invited him to join me as my guest so we could continue the conversation, but knew that he'd take considerably longer to go through the UA economy line than I'd take at LH's *G check-in. The lounge staff were extremely helpful in letting me leave his name and just let him in fifteen minutes afterwards without having to drag me back to the desk.

If too many people indulge in something worse than dubious practice, that sort of help is likely to disappear very rapidly, particularly as most lounge dragons are actually very sharp and would pick up on it. I certainly always make a point of letting them know, wherever I am in the world, if I want to wander back out into an airport's public areas but intend to return so they know I'm not trying to somehow pull a fast one.

As for "they want you to enjoy their lounge". Please ...

OttoMH

I didn't think that *G could get into the GBL unless flying C/J on BD? Just the *A Lounge?

Am I wrong?

NWIFlyer

GBL is a *G lounge. It's also open to LH FLT and BD*S when travelling on those airlines' metal.

drspear

Cant speak for everyone of course, but it has worked on at least 5 occassions this year already.

I am definitely meaning the star alliance one I should stress, its the busiest and easiest one to do, especially when it had outside toilets

LiviLion

You've guested in 5 marathon runners this year

Or maybe

NWIFlyer

Well, by drawing attention to this deceitful behaviour, you're a step closer to someone stopping it in the future. Bragging about commiting a crime is how most people get caught. Probably good for those of us who respect the rules and would ask if we wanted something outside them, bad for you.

5 occasions? You're a serial lounge abuser!

drspear

no I think you misunderstand what I am saying.

If you are thinking the people mentioned are using drink and food, then 3 of them are tea total, and they are same as you they are just after a comfortable seat, they are not far from anorexic, I dont think its a crime.

If it is prevented then I dont see Special Branch getting involved, we would just have to use the multi lounge entry technique using split up groups, nothing illegal in that or against any rule, and same drink and food involved.

We are pretty creative usually with these things

EsherFlyer

you must realise it is against a rule to be being creative. If not why not just all rock up together and ask to go in?

The sanction would probably be closure of your account and hence loss of status and benefits.

If you don't get caught probably none of us will suffer
if you do you will probably take the most direct consequences, and the rest of us be inconvenienced

drspear

Do you seriously think people dont do this

It is not against any rule to be creative. You are allowed a guest in each lounge, there are 3 or arguably 4 in T1 to choose from.

I am not advocating anything hugely sinister, we pay tens of thousands a year on flights after all.

I appreciate some do-gooders will preach the gospel, but these are normally the type who speak a good game but get up to all sorts and keep it quiet. thinking they are really clever.