Plaza Premium used as an overflow lounge at YVR
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA EXP (LT Plat 2MM), Marriott Plat, IHG Plat, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Plat, SPG Plat75, UA1K
Posts: 1,248
Plaza Premium used as an overflow lounge at YVR
OW Sapphire flying paid WTP YVR-LHR. At check-in, agent seemed a it confused and said "oh, you don't get a lounge invitation." I corrected her that I should as a OW Sapphire (AS Platinum) flying on an this flight. She corrected herself and stamped my BP with "Plaza Premium" and handing me an invitation saying that the flight was full tonight in F and J and that I would be able to use the Plaza Premium Lounge. I asked again why I couldn't use the Galleries Lounge and she said because it will be full. Of course, the flight wasn't so full that they didn't try and upsell me on a CW seat for $850CAD. Really Queen????
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA EXP (LT Plat 2MM), Marriott Plat, IHG Plat, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Plat, SPG Plat75, UA1K
Posts: 1,248
Dear God, if this is better than the Galleries Lounge....... I shudder to think what that must be like!
#4
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: DUB/ORD/SIN/PVG
Programs: EI AerClub Concierge, EK Gold, BA Gold, BD Gold (Retired), HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold
Posts: 2,923
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,397
Leave the Plaza lounge and head over to the CX lounge RIGHT NOW! Thank me later. :P
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA EXP (LT Plat 2MM), Marriott Plat, IHG Plat, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Plat, SPG Plat75, UA1K
Posts: 1,248
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,397
ah, bummer. opens in 50mins it seems. Hope you get a chance to drop by there, it's similar to the LHR CX lounge and has a dim sum made to order bar, too.
But yeah, the Plaza one actually isn't too bad I find. Open bar with a bartender and hot food items is more than the BA and AC lounges have to offer... -cough-
But yeah, the Plaza one actually isn't too bad I find. Open bar with a bartender and hot food items is more than the BA and AC lounges have to offer... -cough-
#8
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,592
Perhaps I'm missing something obvious but I wasn't aware AS were part of OneWorld. Yes you can earn miles on BA flights but your status with AS will mean nothing to BA (as would be the case if I a BA status holder flew on AS). Do you mean AA Platinum perhaps?
#9
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Programs: BA GGL, FPC Plat, HH Diamond, IHG Amb
Posts: 3,372
A couple of points:
1) The lounge being full is not the same thing as the flight being full. The Lounge was designed for 744 operations, and BA operates in the summer with a 380--that's 45 extra J class seats, even if they're not all occupied it can still put the lounge overlimit.
2) BA know how many BAEC GGLs, Golds and Silvers they have in WTP and WT, and there can be a lot of them on a not-quite-full 380.
While the plaza premium lounge is a bit of a trek from Gate 64 (not to mention backtracking), I'd give some credit to BA for paying for an alternative lounge space for their overflow customers.
1) The lounge being full is not the same thing as the flight being full. The Lounge was designed for 744 operations, and BA operates in the summer with a 380--that's 45 extra J class seats, even if they're not all occupied it can still put the lounge overlimit.
2) BA know how many BAEC GGLs, Golds and Silvers they have in WTP and WT, and there can be a lot of them on a not-quite-full 380.
While the plaza premium lounge is a bit of a trek from Gate 64 (not to mention backtracking), I'd give some credit to BA for paying for an alternative lounge space for their overflow customers.
#10
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: HKG
Programs: BA(GGL) QF LTS CX AM, Hilton Diamond, PPL(A)
Posts: 1,654
Yes confused too. probably meant AA.
#11
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,923
#12
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: UK
Programs: BA Blue, IC Spire Ambassador
Posts: 5,227
A couple of points:
1) The lounge being full is not the same thing as the flight being full. The Lounge was designed for 744 operations, and BA operates in the summer with a 380--that's 45 extra J class seats, even if they're not all occupied it can still put the lounge overlimit.
2) BA know how many BAEC GGLs, Golds and Silvers they have in WTP and WT, and there can be a lot of them on a not-quite-full 380.
While the plaza premium lounge is a bit of a trek from Gate 64 (not to mention backtracking), I'd give some credit to BA for paying for an alternative lounge space for their overflow customers.
1) The lounge being full is not the same thing as the flight being full. The Lounge was designed for 744 operations, and BA operates in the summer with a 380--that's 45 extra J class seats, even if they're not all occupied it can still put the lounge overlimit.
2) BA know how many BAEC GGLs, Golds and Silvers they have in WTP and WT, and there can be a lot of them on a not-quite-full 380.
While the plaza premium lounge is a bit of a trek from Gate 64 (not to mention backtracking), I'd give some credit to BA for paying for an alternative lounge space for their overflow customers.
#13
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,923
I think credit where credit is due, given the cost cutting we've seen in recent times they could quite easily play the 'capacity' card and refuse access to guests and oneworld cardholders.
#14
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,344
The OP doesn't appear to have actually been denied access to the BA lounge.
Isn't a BA BP (with status printed or OW Sapphire card) sufficient, without needing a specific invitation from check-in? Anyway it looks like the OP did not try to access the BA lounge so can't say whether he would have really been denied.
I've only been to the PP lounge at YVR myself and I didn't think it was too shabby. But if the CX lounge is so great, which I don't doubt, then won't lots of BA pax will head there anyway, meaning that the BA lounge is less likely to be full?
OTOH, nice of BA to pay PP for OP's access when the OP is just about the lowest lounge-qualified pax. OK he was in WT+ not WT, but would a GGL in F get access to PP if they wanted?
I have been "denied access" to the CX lounges at HKG when flying BA but it was just the check-in agent not really thinking or knowing.
Isn't a BA BP (with status printed or OW Sapphire card) sufficient, without needing a specific invitation from check-in? Anyway it looks like the OP did not try to access the BA lounge so can't say whether he would have really been denied.
I've only been to the PP lounge at YVR myself and I didn't think it was too shabby. But if the CX lounge is so great, which I don't doubt, then won't lots of BA pax will head there anyway, meaning that the BA lounge is less likely to be full?
OTOH, nice of BA to pay PP for OP's access when the OP is just about the lowest lounge-qualified pax. OK he was in WT+ not WT, but would a GGL in F get access to PP if they wanted?
I have been "denied access" to the CX lounges at HKG when flying BA but it was just the check-in agent not really thinking or knowing.
#15
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: somewhere north of stateside...
Posts: 4,152
I've flown out of YVR a few times on the A380 flight. The lounge is honestly heaving (to the point that I've seen some people standing), and the furniture is very tightly packed.
I think that the Plaza Premium access is a relatively new offering, and was very badly needed to reduce congestion.
I think that the Plaza Premium access is a relatively new offering, and was very badly needed to reduce congestion.