Lounge access - 'three hours before flight', not before?
#17
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London, ARN, HEL, ..... or MAN
Programs: BA GGL / GFL, Mucci Diamond!, HH Diamond, Radisson Premium, IHG Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 5,896
GVA, as I have said in other posts, seems to revel in being a pain in the a** for BA.
It's supposedly BA branded throughout with uniformed staff and a BA lounge, but they can seem to have the attitude that you are there for their benefit, rather than the other way around.
In the last 3 years, I've been refused lounge entry with my family (1x GGL, 1xG, 2xS), been told I'm checking in too early, Mrs. TT1F has been threatened with arrest by the lounge staff, we've been told I can't check in in the Club line, can't use fast track etc. Earlier this year I was speaking to the GGL line and the local staff refused to speak to the GGL line to try and resolve the situation... etc... etc... they seem to create "rules" to justify treatment which would be unacceptable anywhere else!
Edit.. GVA does have a strict rule on not being able to check in more than 3 hours before departure. If you are HBO with a mobile BP, then maybe the first time they'll be able to catch you is at the lounge entrance, I wonder if this is part of the same policy..
I'm used to it now, but still find it astonishing whenever a poster reminds me!
It's supposedly BA branded throughout with uniformed staff and a BA lounge, but they can seem to have the attitude that you are there for their benefit, rather than the other way around.
In the last 3 years, I've been refused lounge entry with my family (1x GGL, 1xG, 2xS), been told I'm checking in too early, Mrs. TT1F has been threatened with arrest by the lounge staff, we've been told I can't check in in the Club line, can't use fast track etc. Earlier this year I was speaking to the GGL line and the local staff refused to speak to the GGL line to try and resolve the situation... etc... etc... they seem to create "rules" to justify treatment which would be unacceptable anywhere else!
Edit.. GVA does have a strict rule on not being able to check in more than 3 hours before departure. If you are HBO with a mobile BP, then maybe the first time they'll be able to catch you is at the lounge entrance, I wonder if this is part of the same policy..
I'm used to it now, but still find it astonishing whenever a poster reminds me!
Last edited by ThatT1Feeling; Mar 7, 2018 at 1:02 pm
#18
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: London/Glasgow
Programs: BAEC Silver (lapsed HNL Gold), Avis Preferred, IHG Diamond Amb, Hilton Plat, Marriot Plat
Posts: 351
I think BHD do it too, or at least they close the lounge when there's a gap between flights, only reopening 2h before departure.
#19
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London
Programs: Ba Silver ( for now!)
Posts: 776
I had a long layover on arrival from Vietnam transiting to palma at Heathrow.
The computer said no but the lady sorted it with a few taps on the keyboard. So based on my sample of one occasion the computer is set with a 3 hour or so starting period but common sense prevails ( but not in Geneva it seems )
The computer said no but the lady sorted it with a few taps on the keyboard. So based on my sample of one occasion the computer is set with a 3 hour or so starting period but common sense prevails ( but not in Geneva it seems )
#20
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,599
I had a long layover on arrival from Vietnam transiting to palma at Heathrow.
The computer said no but the lady sorted it with a few taps on the keyboard. So based on my sample of one occasion the computer is set with a 3 hour or so starting period but common sense prevails ( but not in Geneva it seems )
The computer said no but the lady sorted it with a few taps on the keyboard. So based on my sample of one occasion the computer is set with a 3 hour or so starting period but common sense prevails ( but not in Geneva it seems )
#21
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London, ARN, HEL, ..... or MAN
Programs: BA GGL / GFL, Mucci Diamond!, HH Diamond, Radisson Premium, IHG Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 5,896
BA at LHR has no issues with you entering the lounges more than 3 hours before your flight if you're eligible to be there. It's some of the outstations (even if BA branded) that have capacity constraints or sometimes a lounge that isn't open. I don't have an issue with those. It's GVA who seems to want to stick to the letter of the law even when there are no capacity constraints ... because they can
#22
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: LON
Programs: BA GFL, OW Gold, CX/MP Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 258
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: LON, ACK, BOS..... (Not necessarily in that order)
Programs: **Mucci Diamond Hairbrush** - compared to that nothing else matters (+BA Bronze)
Posts: 15,129
For the night flights the superb lounge at BOS only opens 3 hours before BA 212 leaves in the evening. I know as I've been the first person in there on occasions. Although you can turn up for the later flights at that time.
#24
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BRS
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,993
There was someone trying to get into the BA lounge at Geneva yesterday with an easyJet boarding pass. He was waving his BA GC but obviously didn’t get in. Apparently Air France let him do it all the time, he was completely bewildered!
#25
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Northern Ireland
Programs: BA Silver, A3
Posts: 1,101
With along gap between the morning and afternoon flights I am not surprised. (Which returns to my gripe about not being able to use the b a lounge for IE flights booked on the b a site)
#27
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: BA
Posts: 101
There's a first lounge for Swiss Air and star alliance members but not for one world members.
I would prefer to be wrong though...
#28
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: BA
Posts: 101
Are they going to refurnish the current one or is it going to be a brand new one?
#30
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: 63,804
Well it is certainly less crowded, generally speaking and almost always tidier, in my experience. But the range of food, drink and in particular spirits is less than BA and the wifi is slower. I know some regard the BA lounge as a hovel, but there is a reason why people are keen to get in 3 hours early!