Lounge access - 'three hours before flight', not before?
Mar 8, 2018, 12:26 am
#31
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 151
As I commented on another thread, I was told a couple of weeks ago that there is a new BA manager at GVA, who is being more sensible about rules in general (e.g. allowing rest of your party to join your boarding group). However, he/she can't conjure up lounge capacity out of nowhere.
Mar 8, 2018, 12:36 am
#32
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: BA GGL, LH FTL
Posts: 3,577
BA let you do this many years ago. But the benefit was enhanced away due to customer feedback.
Mar 8, 2018, 12:40 am
#33
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: BA Gold, and others
Posts: 375
This.
Had the 3 hour denial couple weeks ago (got there about 3 hr 30 minutes before my flight). Went to the Swiss lounge (via Priority Pass) .. later on just stepped in to the BA lounge to check it out and almost immediately returned to the Swiss lounge. Much cleaner/nicer atmosphere/better food.
Mar 8, 2018, 1:20 am
#35
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Austria (Vbg)
Programs: LX SEN, BA Gfl/GGL, IC Dia, HH Dia, Hyatt LT GLOB
Posts: 1,584
[...] 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!
I do not care so much about spirits, I have to admit, but the food selection is IMHO way better at the Business Class Lounge of LX, during the main meal times the hot food that is presented is certainly a step above the BA offering. And don't start me with regards to cleanliness, the BA lounge should be ashamed of the state it sometimes (well, nearly always) is in.
Mar 8, 2018, 1:25 am
#36
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,395
Mar 8, 2018, 1:45 am
#37
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 812
CWS, you must be kidding or were forced to spend too much time in GVA I do not care so much about spirits, I have to admit, but the food selection is IMHO way better at the Business Class Lounge of LX, during the main meal times the hot food that is presented is certainly a step above the BA offering. And don't start me with regards to cleanliness, the BA lounge should be ashamed of the state it sometimes (well, nearly always) is in.
I do not care so much about spirits, I have to admit, but the food selection is IMHO way better at the Business Class Lounge of LX, during the main meal times the hot food that is presented is certainly a step above the BA offering. And don't start me with regards to cleanliness, the BA lounge should be ashamed of the state it sometimes (well, nearly always) is in.
Mar 8, 2018, 4:50 am
#38
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Berlin, TXL
Programs: OW Emerald, *A gold, Skyteam elite plus, Hilton gold, SPG gold
Posts: 339
I believe they are using the existing lounge space, but with the new lounge concept, which is fairly cunning in this area, it can get more seats into the same space. The existing lounge, with its internal partitions makes very inefficient use of the space.
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!
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!
good point! but maybe the passenger has long connection.
Last time I was in ZRH I did experienced a time limit but the lounge was a third party lounge. also Priority Pass lounges have a three hours time limit
Mar 8, 2018, 5:03 am
#39
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Englandshire
Programs: SPG LT Plat, BA G, BD*LG, MG Blue+ ...
Posts: 16,016
Speaking of GVA (apart from being initially refused entry because the lounge was bursting with passengers awaiting snow-delayed flights), they were calling boarding very early : about 10 minutes before the inbound had even landed.
The reason for this became apparent when you joined the end of the long (30+ minute) queue to get through passport control - the authorities were doing full and rigorous document checking.
Smart-arse flyers who'd been watching the inbound on FR24 and hung around in the lounge for a few minutes more had a very anxious wait in the queue and a mad dash onwards to the gate.
The reason for this became apparent when you joined the end of the long (30+ minute) queue to get through passport control - the authorities were doing full and rigorous document checking.
Smart-arse flyers who'd been watching the inbound on FR24 and hung around in the lounge for a few minutes more had a very anxious wait in the queue and a mad dash onwards to the gate.
Mar 8, 2018, 5:17 am
#40
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Brighton, UK
Programs: BA Gold, IC Ambassador, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Fairmont Platinum
Posts: 3,166
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!
Reality is that GVA has a very large number of status passengers during the ski season and doesn't have the capacity to deal with this without the measures mentioned.
Mar 8, 2018, 6:28 am
#41
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: BAEC Gold, HHonors Gold, ALL Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 212
The early boarding calls are appreciated; at least someone at that airport's aware there are queues!
Mar 8, 2018, 11:35 am
#42
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: NCL
Programs: BAEC and Hilton mostly
Posts: 652
One more data point - the BA partner lounge at Sofia (Preslav?) also has a dragon-enforced 3 hour limit. I had a long wait after seeing off my wife on the BA flight before going off on Qatar, and had to use Priority Pass to extend my stay - should have moved lounge as it's a dump with uncomfortable seating 
Mar 9, 2018, 3:28 am
#43
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Englandshire
Programs: SPG LT Plat, BA G, BD*LG, MG Blue+ ...
Posts: 16,016
Mar 9, 2018, 5:15 am
#44
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: BG
Programs: BAEC Silver, TK Elite, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 827
One more data point - the BA partner lounge at Sofia (Preslav?) also has a dragon-enforced 3 hour limit. I had a long wait after seeing off my wife on the BA flight before going off on Qatar, and had to use Priority Pass to extend my stay - should have moved lounge as it's a dump with uncomfortable seating
I also saw them turfing out a load of Brits before Christmas when the BA flight was cancelled last minute (I was on a qatar flight). Almost as soon as the announcement was made, the dragon knew exactly who was on that flight and kicked them out, not even giving them time to drink up.
The one good thing about that lounge is they have draft "live" beer, self pour, direct from the barrel which is quite tasty.
Mar 9, 2018, 5:27 am
#45
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Edinburgh
Programs: BA Gold, HHonors Gold, Priority Pass
Posts: 759
The Lounge and Staff at GVA are not my favourite and I believe it is one of the weakest OW Lounges in the network. I have never heard of that rule being imposed on BA or Oneworld. It is common practice with Priority Pass and Dragon Pass but never OW.
I have been asked to use Galleries South when my flight was departing from T5 in 5 hours time and I tried to gain access to Galleries North but never been refused access completely.
I have been asked to use Galleries South when my flight was departing from T5 in 5 hours time and I tried to gain access to Galleries North but never been refused access completely.