Refused Lounge entry at PHL
#76
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 935
Sorry if I have missed this information techie. How often do you travel on AA through PHL? Just wondering how much impact this would actually have on you?
From very recent experience (about two weeks ago) I can say the BA lounge is very small, and the offering in the GC is better than the AC lounges, so if there was unrestricted access to AA passengers the place would quickly be overcrowded. As a BA passenger at PHL I was grateful that a very pragmatic measure was enforced which ensure that doesn't happen.
From very recent experience (about two weeks ago) I can say the BA lounge is very small, and the offering in the GC is better than the AC lounges, so if there was unrestricted access to AA passengers the place would quickly be overcrowded. As a BA passenger at PHL I was grateful that a very pragmatic measure was enforced which ensure that doesn't happen.
#77
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
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Well it was pretty full a few weeks ago when I was there so had you and even a small proportion of the rest of the AA passengers decided to avoid the poorer offering in the AC I suspect that it would be a poor result.
#78
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 935
I wasn't actually avoiding the poorer offering in the AC, I was actually making my way to the flight, passed the BA Lounge and decided to nip in.
#79
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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#80
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: US of A
Programs: Delta Diamond, United 1K, BA Blue, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 1,775
Thanks, my friends think so too ^
They are not going to call security, because it would be embarrassing for them and because their argument is already a weak one. At most, they would huff and puff and roll their eyes and tut "he is one of those" under their breath. I can live with that.
It is a cynical world out there. Unless otherwise noted, if the only rule that BA are putting on their lounge is that it is subject to capacity and there are spare seats clearly available, I am going in. If BA are happy to shout from the rooftops about how certain tiers confer lounge access, I am only too happy to hold them to their word. BA want to attract customers to fly with them, but seems to not be a fan when those customers attain a tier that makes them eligible for access to the very lounge BA are using to attract other passengers as part of their service offering. Classic bait and switch.
I have transited PHL when flying on AA and BA numerous times in the past and will probably do so many times in the future. It is not my favourite airport -- due to experiences with immigration handling, but GE should take care of that going forward -- but combinations of scheduling and price do make it an attractive proposition at times when flying to/from my internal US destination that is not served by a non-stop UK service.
Personally, I never had issues with getting into BA's PHL lounge. And this includes during the hours preceding BA's flights. Maybe lucky, maybe not. However, I am still of the opinion that BAEC members whose tier allows them access to the lounge should not be treated as inferior to those who happen to be flying in a premium cabin on the day. Those AA road warriors and members of other OW FFPs? That is a different story. BA should put its FFP elites and premium pax first.
I'd like to know where a lot of (misplaced) the sense of entitlement is coming from.
Maybe airlines are harming people with all the 'status' talk?
Perhaps we should recognise that with entitlements come obligations to be reasonable and live with what the rules say and that entitlements do not entitle us to be rude to others in any way?
Maybe airlines are harming people with all the 'status' talk?
Perhaps we should recognise that with entitlements come obligations to be reasonable and live with what the rules say and that entitlements do not entitle us to be rude to others in any way?
Sorry if I have missed this information techie. How often do you travel on AA through PHL? Just wondering how much impact this would actually have on you?
From very recent experience (about two weeks ago) I can say the BA lounge is very small, and the offering in the GC is better than the AC lounges, so if there was unrestricted access to AA passengers the place would quickly be overcrowded. As a BA passenger at PHL I was grateful that a very pragmatic measure was enforced which ensure that doesn't happen.
From very recent experience (about two weeks ago) I can say the BA lounge is very small, and the offering in the GC is better than the AC lounges, so if there was unrestricted access to AA passengers the place would quickly be overcrowded. As a BA passenger at PHL I was grateful that a very pragmatic measure was enforced which ensure that doesn't happen.
Personally, I never had issues with getting into BA's PHL lounge. And this includes during the hours preceding BA's flights. Maybe lucky, maybe not. However, I am still of the opinion that BAEC members whose tier allows them access to the lounge should not be treated as inferior to those who happen to be flying in a premium cabin on the day. Those AA road warriors and members of other OW FFPs? That is a different story. BA should put its FFP elites and premium pax first.
#81
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 228
They weren't saying anything about capacity last Friday. The reason a whole string of people (over a couple of hours) were refused entry was that 'the BA lounge is only available to international passengers'. Domestics have the use of the AA facilities.
#82
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: UK
Programs: I go wherever the content takes me.
Posts: 5,698
How does that square with your assertion that if the tier affords the benefit then by all means enter the "best" lounge? All OWE passengers have the benefit of getting into the PHL F lounge.
#83
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Since when did you become the final arbiter of these decisions? Who appointed you?
#84
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: FLL -> Where The Boyars Are
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Surely, techie, you understand that the definition (interpetation) of "capacity" is wishy washy by intentional design?
I understand your objection on principle, but reality often differs from theory.
I understand your objection on principle, but reality often differs from theory.
#85
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: US of A
Programs: Delta Diamond, United 1K, BA Blue, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 1,775
Look folks, we are going around in circles and are going to have to agree to disagree. As I previously said, I never had an issue with that specific lounge or, for that matter, been denied entry to any lounge I am eligible to enter. I wish others the same fortune in their travels.
#86
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Arizona
Programs: BA (GGL G4L), AA (Gold), HH (Diamond); Marriott (Gold)
Posts: 3,011
uu
That is a slippery slope though. BA lounge re-opens at 1500 while the first BA flight does not leave until 18:20. The 2nd BA flight leaves almost 4 hours later. This creates pockets of time when there are unlikely to be any BA pax in the lounge because they have either not yet arrived for their flight or the lounge emptied in time for the flight about to depart. At what point does the "capacity" excuse starts being banded around when the glass windows of that lounge clearly visualise its utilisation?
I'm in the first area. It is a small lounge, though about 5-6X the size of PHX, and it has a first dining area. I'm not going to tempt fate and see if GGL gets access to first dining.
#87
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA - Gold for Life, CCR & GGL; IC Spire Elite Ambassador; Diamond Hilton Honors; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 6,720
I was warmly welcomed into the GF last week.
Enjoyed the snacks and champagne.
My AA flight departed before the second BA flight to LHR.
Enjoyed the snacks and champagne.
My AA flight departed before the second BA flight to LHR.
#88
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 228
They are ruthless in kicking people out (tho very politely) who aren't travelling First. I love the watching the range of reactions to this, funnily you can always tell the ones who are going to throw their toys out of the pram 😀
#89
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Arizona
Programs: BA (GGL G4L), AA (Gold), HH (Diamond); Marriott (Gold)
Posts: 3,011
They had the first dining section closed off or I might have been tempted to see if first dining was available for GGL/CCR. I realized after I left the lounge and walked by the BA aircraft that the second flight was a 788, hence no first dining at that hour.
#90
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: BA GFL. AA EXP. Amex Plat. Mucci.
Posts: 187
Refused Lounge Access at BA Galleries in PHL
I travelled through PHL last night on an AA flight to SJU (001 ticket stock and AA flight number). I have BA Gold, but the BA Galleries Lounge at PHL refused me access because they said I was not travelling to an international destination. The Lounge was fairly quiet (I was not refused on capacity grounds). This is the first time I have been refused at this lounge. Have the rules changed?