Refused Lounge entry at PHL
Sep 15, 2018, 7:18 am
#106
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,771
Sep 15, 2018, 7:30 am
#107
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Oxford (&Western Isles )
Programs: BA GGL, CCR; RyanAir MillionMiler :( ;
Posts: 756
i was in more AA clubs this week than i care to count. Only 1 or two gave me vouchers ( paper tickets ) but almost all said "for premium drinks the bar staff will scan your boarding pass" which they did.
and i always tip a dollar a drink.
PS first time in the Miami Flagship and i thought it was excellent and better than LAX and JFK.
and i always tip a dollar a drink.
PS first time in the Miami Flagship and i thought it was excellent and better than LAX and JFK.
Mar 1, 2019, 6:57 pm
#108
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Manchester, UK
Programs: BA Exec - Gold
Posts: 17
Surly PHL Lounge Dragon
Gold card holder travelling PHL to MAN on AA tonight.... tried to access the BA lounge only to be sent packing by a very surly and rude lounge dragon (a guy).
Understand that I wasn’t flying BA metal, but the manner of refusal, was very poor, as was the reasoning that it was ‘full’. As I can see through the windows there was literally about four people in the entire lounge (I was connecting and so was about four hours early).
Anyone else experienced similar?
Understand that I wasn’t flying BA metal, but the manner of refusal, was very poor, as was the reasoning that it was ‘full’. As I can see through the windows there was literally about four people in the entire lounge (I was connecting and so was about four hours early).
Anyone else experienced similar?
Mar 1, 2019, 7:45 pm
#109
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
If you search before starting a new thread you will find some number of other threads with the same report.
The issue is not how many people are in the lounge at the instant you arrive, but BA's knowledge of its loads. When it knows that the lounge will be over-crowded, it does not admit passengers on other carriers.
You may join the chorus in complaining to BA if you wish.
The issue is not how many people are in the lounge at the instant you arrive, but BA's knowledge of its loads. When it knows that the lounge will be over-crowded, it does not admit passengers on other carriers.
You may join the chorus in complaining to BA if you wish.
Mar 1, 2019, 7:50 pm
#110
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,374
That is fair but the receptionist's poor attitude is not. BA should absolutely be made aware of this via online complaints. Even if no corrective action is immediately taken, it is good to have a record of the problem.
Mar 2, 2019, 12:01 am
#111
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: BA GGL, UA Premier Gold, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Various Rental Car Statuses
Posts: 104
PHL is probably the rudest and most abrasive city in the United States. Even more than New York. The airport has for decades been employer to some of the worst of Philadelphia’s residents. I grew up there and it was a constant source of complaint and discussion.
Mar 2, 2019, 12:10 am
#112
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,830
We used to get a lot more complaints about this in the past since this is one of the few BA Lounges in the same building as significant AA operations. However these complaints have somewhat died away as AA improved their own lounge offering, so it is difficult to argue that the approach is wrong: The lounge will get fairly full in the 2 hours before the BA departures, it's not the biggest of places, there are several alternative provisions. And while I wouldn't justify any rudeness from the agent, nevertheless I think it's fair that if you were looking for obsequious exquisitely charming customer service, it's probably best not to start in the City of Brotherly Love.
Mar 2, 2019, 1:32 am
#113
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Nottingham, England
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 968
Mar 2, 2019, 7:17 am
#115
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: Mucci, BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Stena Gold
Posts: 1,094
Gold card holder travelling PHL to MAN on AA tonight.... tried to access the BA lounge only to be sent packing by a very surly and rude lounge dragon (a guy).
Understand that I wasn’t flying BA metal, but the manner of refusal, was very poor, as was the reasoning that it was ‘full’. As I can see through the windows there was literally about four people in the entire lounge (I was connecting and so was about four hours early).
Anyone else experienced similar?
Understand that I wasn’t flying BA metal, but the manner of refusal, was very poor, as was the reasoning that it was ‘full’. As I can see through the windows there was literally about four people in the entire lounge (I was connecting and so was about four hours early).
Anyone else experienced similar?
Mar 2, 2019, 7:21 am
#116
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
I agree, although I would consider merely surly to be relatively good customer service at PHL. At least the dragon wasn't shouting expletives at you for asking to enter "his" lounge.
Mar 2, 2019, 11:27 am
#118
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 172
I had a very similar experience last time passing through PHL, although when i explained my internal AA connection was leaving within 90 minutes i was allowed in. I was the first in the lounge and no one else had entered by the time i left.
I was given the same monologue regarding loads including having the manifest waved in front of me, at least common sense prevailed in the end.
its unfortunate the Admirals Club is so poor in PHL, i guess given AAs dominant position there is no need for a Flagship Lounge there.
I was given the same monologue regarding loads including having the manifest waved in front of me, at least common sense prevailed in the end.
its unfortunate the Admirals Club is so poor in PHL, i guess given AAs dominant position there is no need for a Flagship Lounge there.
Mar 2, 2019, 12:15 pm
#120
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Falkirk, Scotland,VS Red, BA Gold, HH Diamond,UK Amex Plat
Programs: Master of the Privy Purse des Muccis
Posts: 17,916
If you are on BA metal for PHL-LHR you should be ok ( all the rejections being reported seem to be pax on AA metal flights)
Regards
TBS