BA, Lounge access why bother ?
Feb 11, 2018, 11:27 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: British airways
Posts: 1
BA, Lounge access why bother ?
Perks like lounge access are why maybe somewhat foolishly I've been a loyal BA exec member for more than 25 years. Travelling for leisure for a change I politely asked the LGW lounge receptionist if my daughter could sneak in to the lounge as well as my wife.. it was 0530 and lounge was mostly empty. The receptionist proudly announced that as it was half term they were strictly enforcing a policy of one guest for silver members. I asked was he sure, he was very sure! Oh and flight was delayed 90 mins also. Loyalty index dented yet again. I really do wonder what is the point..
Feb 11, 2018, 11:34 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Brexile in ADB
Programs: BA, TK, HHonours, Le Club, Best Western Rewards
Posts: 7,067
While I agree it would be nice if there was some way to get additional people guested in occasionally (option to pay perhaps) you can’t really grumble when you get the advertised benefits.
Feb 11, 2018, 11:48 pm
#3
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
It's a bit hard to complain when the rules stipulate one guest, you knew the rule on guesting, and you were only allowed one guest.
In addition, BA don't have a single class service any more for which you could only buy an economy class ticket.
Buying a Club ticket (or above if applicable) for either your daughter or wife (or all of you, of course) would have solve the issue by offering all of you lounge access.
In addition, BA don't have a single class service any more for which you could only buy an economy class ticket.
Buying a Club ticket (or above if applicable) for either your daughter or wife (or all of you, of course) would have solve the issue by offering all of you lounge access.
Last edited by LTN Phobia; Feb 11, 2018 at 11:54 pm
Feb 11, 2018, 11:50 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
Welcome to FT.
Frustrating, yes, but when you start making exceptions then you get people complaining about lack of consistency.
The benefits of silver are well known I'm afraid, and the days of staff having discretion are long since gone.
Frustrating, yes, but when you start making exceptions then you get people complaining about lack of consistency.
The benefits of silver are well known I'm afraid, and the days of staff having discretion are long since gone.
Feb 12, 2018, 12:10 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: BAEC GGL/CR; Hilton Diamond; Mucci des Puccis
Posts: 5,581
Presumably you value lounge access, or else you wouldn't have requested it for your daughter. If so, there's the question answered. If not, the Wetherspoons does a nice nosh and drinks inexpensively, and that's where I go if I don't qualify for the lounge.
I quite often see people trying to blag access for an additional colleague or family member. It never hurts to ask, I guess, but if the answer is no, the correct response is to say thanks, you thought you'd ask but guessed that would be the answer, and move on.
I quite often see people trying to blag access for an additional colleague or family member. It never hurts to ask, I guess, but if the answer is no, the correct response is to say thanks, you thought you'd ask but guessed that would be the answer, and move on.
Feb 12, 2018, 12:38 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold/ All the AMEX Plat things
Posts: 195
Why does your wife not also have a Silver Card? I’m sure that it’s mostly when one family member has the privilege of lounge acces it is gained through work travel paid by the company. As myself and my partner has status through our personal spend with BA it would really annoy us if the lounges were overflowed with children, especially as I teach and we have to travel during school holidays.
Last edited by Finavia; Feb 12, 2018 at 12:51 am
Feb 12, 2018, 12:43 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: HKG
Programs: BA(GGL) QF LTS CX AM, Hilton Diamond, PPL(A)
Posts: 1,654
I don't know why the OP is complaining.
If anything it would be Golds ahead of the queue to have a sneaky extra guest into the lounge?
But as a side note - I believe that BAEC could increase the value of their program by giving out say 2 extra lounge passes per annum (obviously tied to the member's account to prevent abuse) to bring in extra guests in excess of the normal benefits.
If anything it would be Golds ahead of the queue to have a sneaky extra guest into the lounge?
But as a side note - I believe that BAEC could increase the value of their program by giving out say 2 extra lounge passes per annum (obviously tied to the member's account to prevent abuse) to bring in extra guests in excess of the normal benefits.
Last edited by ermen; Feb 12, 2018 at 12:50 am
Feb 12, 2018, 12:53 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold, AA 1MM lifetime gold, Starwood gold, Marriott Gold Elite
Posts: 719
Now that our eldest is at school, we are pegged to taking family holidays only during the school holiday season and so far, I have not noticed the lounges to be flooded with children. I think rules should be rules and guest limits should be +1 for silver and gold, otherwise potentially, we will have 1/4 of the year with relaxed guesting policy. That is too much.
Feb 12, 2018, 1:29 am
#11
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Brexile in ADB
Programs: BA, TK, HHonours, Le Club, Best Western Rewards
Posts: 7,067
I do rather get the impression from threads like this that when watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang many FTers would be rooting for Baron Bomburst and the child catcher.
Feb 12, 2018, 2:20 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold IHG Plat SAA Voyager Alaska Airlines
Posts: 142
BA Lounge
I was in the First Lounge at LGW last Saturday afternoon and lots of families families with small children present.. Of course you never know if both adults had status but I was not bothered either way as everybody was well behaved including the adults
Feb 12, 2018, 2:26 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 246
T5 lounges last Friday resembled an understaffed infants' department. Good grief, what a racket.
Feb 12, 2018, 2:48 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: SPG-Plat, Hilton-Diamond, Club Carlson-Silver, Cathay-Diamond, Virgin-Gold
Posts: 2,183
Perks like lounge access are why maybe somewhat foolishly I've been a loyal BA exec member for more than 25 years. Travelling for leisure for a change I politely asked the LGW lounge receptionist if my daughter could sneak in to the lounge as well as my wife.. it was 0530 and lounge was mostly empty. The receptionist proudly announced that as it was half term they were strictly enforcing a policy of one guest for silver members. I asked was he sure, he was very sure! Oh and flight was delayed 90 mins also. Loyalty index dented yet again. I really do wonder what is the point..
While frustrating with the delay also fair to point out that if people have extra guests in there and a delay means the lounge gets even busier as it would mean 3 extra people in the lounge for an extra 90 minutes! Doesn't sound a lot but soon adds up when you multiply it by the number of Silver members who are passing through LGW/LHR a day and then if you extend it to them you also need to do it to the Golds!