Gate/Lounge check in at LHR T1
 

Does anyone know what the official line is regarding gate/lounge check-in at LHR?

I travelled last week LHR-AMS on BD in economy. I did a phone check-in from home before heading to the airport. Upon arrival at LHR T1, I proceeded straight to the lounge to have my boarding pass issued. At the security check, I just showed my ticket and was allowed through. All was fine...

I did the exactly the same flight last night (BD, LHR-AMS, econ), same phone check in etc. Except I wasn't allowed through with just a ticket - I was told by airport security that I needed a boarding pass.

The security guy added that if I was travelling in C, he'd have let me through, but because I was travelling in econ, he wouldn't/couldn't. I told him that I had done so just a week prior, but that comment just fell on deaf ears...

Full marks to BD as they issued me with a boarding pass at their Silver/Gold desk immediately (I'm only a blue), but said that it seemed to depend on the security individual.

Does anyone know what the official line is on this - in terms of whether a boarding pass is required or not to proceed through security to airside?

I should also add that BMI are absolutely fine with gate/lounge check-in for econ DC members.

The question really is what is the officall BAA Security line on this...

Thanks

As usual, these people are wrong. The problem, as you discovered, is that it doesn't matter who is right or wrong - security staff are still blocking your way. It sometimes happens at EDI, which is also run by BAA.

I usually give up and get a boarding pass from check-in and then raise the matter politely with a security supervisor afterwards. But it is annoying in the first place.

I think (but haven't checked) that the official line is only *Golds can do economy-class lounge checkin.

I was once sent back by Security at MAN. The kind BD checkin ladies had a word with Security-newbie, and he then apologetically let me through.

I've also had them get uppity at my open (Routepass) tickets that don't say "OPEN" on them.

Only Gold can do economy class lounge check-in (logically, since only Golds and Silvers can get into the lounge on economy in the first place) but anyone with only handbaggage can use gate check-in. In theory.

[This message has been edited by ajamieson (edited 12-11-2002).]