DYKWIA | 2018 edition
Sep 17, 2018, 3:33 am
#572
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,405
I am Qantas GOLD!
Witnessed a Qantas GOLD chew out a Qantas lounge receptionist who had the audacity to ask him to scan his boarding pass. Never heard GOLD being used so frequently in one sentence. The exchange stopped with him huffing and puffing "I'M QANTAS GOLD. YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT QANTAS GOLDs DO NOT HAVE TO SCAN THEIR BOARDING PASS!"
Sep 17, 2018, 4:18 am
#573
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Brexile in ADB
Programs: BA, TK, HHonours, Le Club, Best Western Rewards
Posts: 7,067
I wonder if they would be upset as the lounge filled up with QANTAS "Golds" who did not have to scan their boarding pass....
Sep 17, 2018, 4:19 am
#574
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
Witnessed a Qantas GOLD chew out a Qantas lounge receptionist who had the audacity to ask him to scan his boarding pass. Never heard GOLD being used so frequently in one sentence. The exchange stopped with him huffing and puffing "I'M QANTAS GOLD. YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT QANTAS GOLDs DO NOT HAVE TO SCAN THEIR BOARDING PASS!"
He probably had his finger on the expiry date to hide it and the lounge receptionist probably asked him to scan the BP because he/she suspected that his claim for lounge access was probably not legitimate.
I've seen the same thing before. They don't normally scan the boarding pass with QF Gold/Platinum (certainly not on domestic) but if they suspect something, they would ask.
Sep 17, 2018, 4:36 am
#576
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC, Eurostar
Posts: 3,292
Sep 17, 2018, 4:42 am
#577
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,252
Not just "posh" areas either! I live in East London between the City and Canary Wharf and the HEX is useless for me also, it saves about 10 minutes vs. a 1 hour 15 minute journey on the Tube and involves more changes. If you live either east of the City or south of The Thames (so probably over half of the population of London) it is almost completely pointless. So sad Crossrail is delayed.
Sep 17, 2018, 4:43 am
#578
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 10,709
Not just "posh" areas either! I live in East London between the City and Canary Wharf and the HEX is useless for me also, it saves about 10 minutes vs. a 1 hour 15 minute journey on the Tube and involves more changes. If you live either east of the City or south of The Thames (so probably over half of the population of London) it is almost completely pointless. So sad Crossrail is delayed.
Sep 17, 2018, 5:04 am
#579
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,405
PS: The lounge reception took it with many eye rolls and a good laugh (once he had left)
Sep 17, 2018, 5:43 am
#580
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: WAW ✈ LHR ✈ GLA
Programs: BA GfL/GGL/CCR, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,500
I used to work near London Bridge and I always took Jubilee to Baker Street, walk across the platform, Bakerloo to Paddington and take Heathrow Express. LB to T5 in well under 1 hour. Piccadilly line is a ....., if you unlucky, you'll have to wait 10 minutes for a T5 train, or get stopped for 10 minutes at Northfields to "regulate the gap between trains".
Sep 17, 2018, 5:45 am
#581
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
I don't doubt that he was indeed QF Gold as he was able to access the QF Lounge. I find it saddening to see a grown adult act like a petulant child rudely screaming at airline staff. Moreover, Gold isn't even top tier with QF, making his fit even more ridiculous. It's barely enough to access their lounges...
PS: The lounge reception took it with many eye rolls and a good laugh (once he had left)
PS: The lounge reception took it with many eye rolls and a good laugh (once he had left)
Even worse than someone who turned defensive because he was caught faking a status!
Sep 17, 2018, 6:53 am
#582
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,145
If I had been caught using my expired HHons Gold card for the DUB Hilton shuttle bus I would have paid up quietly 
Sep 17, 2018, 7:28 am
#583
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,328
Not just "posh" areas either! I live in East London between the City and Canary Wharf and the HEX is useless for me also, it saves about 10 minutes vs. a 1 hour 15 minute journey on the Tube and involves more changes. If you live either east of the City or south of The Thames (so probably over half of the population of London) it is almost completely pointless. So sad Crossrail is delayed.
I live 20 minutes east of Birmingham, and it takes me an hour and 40 minutes to get to Heathrow (train, cab, HEX).
Sep 17, 2018, 7:51 am
#584
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Lincoln, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 1,266
To be frank, public transport access to LHR is dreadful unless you live close to Paddington.
The examples given above show the problem for those living in central London. South of the river and north of the M25 it becomes far more stressful than the flight. Outside, in the regions, unless you are within reasonable access to a feeder airport, then it does not improve.
I use East Coast trains to get there.1 hour 20 to Kings Cross, then have the choice between slow hell or slower hell. So, it's a taxi or circle line to Paddington or Piccadilly line to the airport. With luggage (Air Porter do not serve said regions), the first option is awful. The second is spent wondering where the train will breakdown / stop for service regulation or just stop for no good reason. Depending on timings, and if everything works, there is usually little benefit to paying extra for the HEX. National Express offer a coach service with a change of coach in Leicester, but a journey time of almost 5 hours. And no guarantee that you will make your flight if there are traffic delays.
When does it get better? Crossrail does not serve mainline stations. Upgrades to the Piccadilly line are long promised but short on delivery. Looking at this moment in time, TFL are reporting severe delays between Acton town and all terminals. Tickets accepted on local buses? From Kings Cross? Can that be done in a day? The roads are no more reliable with the Traffic Officers obsession with closing motorways because someone has a flat tyre.
Doesn't bode well for the airports vision of pax getting to the airport on public transport.
The examples given above show the problem for those living in central London. South of the river and north of the M25 it becomes far more stressful than the flight. Outside, in the regions, unless you are within reasonable access to a feeder airport, then it does not improve.
I use East Coast trains to get there.1 hour 20 to Kings Cross, then have the choice between slow hell or slower hell. So, it's a taxi or circle line to Paddington or Piccadilly line to the airport. With luggage (Air Porter do not serve said regions), the first option is awful. The second is spent wondering where the train will breakdown / stop for service regulation or just stop for no good reason. Depending on timings, and if everything works, there is usually little benefit to paying extra for the HEX. National Express offer a coach service with a change of coach in Leicester, but a journey time of almost 5 hours. And no guarantee that you will make your flight if there are traffic delays.
When does it get better? Crossrail does not serve mainline stations. Upgrades to the Piccadilly line are long promised but short on delivery. Looking at this moment in time, TFL are reporting severe delays between Acton town and all terminals. Tickets accepted on local buses? From Kings Cross? Can that be done in a day? The roads are no more reliable with the Traffic Officers obsession with closing motorways because someone has a flat tyre.
Doesn't bode well for the airports vision of pax getting to the airport on public transport.
Sep 17, 2018, 10:10 am
#585
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 327
It's certainly slow from South London (Southern end of the Northern Line) to LHR but it's quite cheap on the tube. If i'm not in a rush I often go via West Brompton to avoid zone 1 and only pay £1.50 off peak. It takes about 1 hr 45 mins though with lots of changes.
If I have bulky luggage I usually drive which only takes 45 minutes outside of rush hour!
If I have bulky luggage I usually drive which only takes 45 minutes outside of rush hour!