Lounge access for solo traveler age 17

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Mar 15, 2018, 9:36 am

#31

Yetak

Join Date: Nov 2017

Location: England

Programs: BA Silver

Posts: 278

We'll be departing on a family holiday via the Club lounge at LGW in a couple of weeks at around lunchtime , presumably if my son wants a beer (he's 17 ) this is ok? Same question on board I guess, will he be permitted a beer with his meal ?

If it's against the lounge rules and has to be done surreptitiously I wouldn't run the risk of causing a fuss .

If we were at a restaurant in the UK the licensing laws permit him to have alcohol and obviously as a parent I allow him to enjoy the occasional drink.

Mar 15, 2018, 5:06 pm

#32

tedcruz

Join Date: Nov 2016

Location: Gateshead

Programs: BA Gold, ELAL Top Platinum

Posts: 851

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yetak

There is nothing wrong with you letting him have. It is only forbidden for under 18s to buy. I think over 16 they are allowed to drink.

Yetak likes this.

Mar 15, 2018, 5:18 pm

#33

WorldLux

Join Date: Sep 2015

Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold

Posts: 8,405

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mict

I am 24 and I have been asked to see my ID for the first time ever today in the BA lounge in SEA. At the bar though, not at the entrance.
Been using lounges quite frequently since I am 16 and interesting that it happened for the first time at 24.

FWIW people are really bad at guessing age. IIRC there's a video series on Youtube with bartenders being asked to guess who's underage.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telecasterman

I'd rather have a sensible 17yrs old next to me enjoying the experience than an the ever increasing dykwia and tribe getting laced and challenging the poor sods who have to work in the lounges day in.

Absolutely. On the other hand, it's rather difficult for airlines to know who's a sensible 17 yrs old and who's going to make problems.

A drunk minor would IMO however raise questions and possibly public outrage if something happened to that minor. I do like lounges with bartenders as it will prevent both passenger from getting booze when they shouldn't get it (including those that already had too much)

Mar 16, 2018, 3:05 am

#34

rapidex

Join Date: Nov 2010

Posts: 5,596

Young rapidex and his girlfriend had a glass of LPGS each in the CCR when they were 16. They both had one with their meals. Manners and discretion will achieve the required goal.

Mar 16, 2018, 3:15 am

#35

SEA-Flyer

Join Date: Feb 2001

Location: SEA once more (previously CDG and NRT)

Programs: Former DL DM and UA 1k, now a J class free agent (UA Gold, AS MVP Gold)

Posts: 2,450

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mict

Strike that up to the bartender likely having been checked by the state liquor board recently.

Last year in SEA, I was asked for ID by the bartender in the Delta lounge. I’m in my mid 40s.

TPRun likes this.

Mar 16, 2018, 3:32 am

#36

GlasgowCyclops

Join Date: May 2017

Location: Glasgow and Asia

Programs: BAEC Gold, Hotels.com Gold

Posts: 510

Quote:

Originally Posted by tedcruz

There is nothing wrong with you letting him have. It is only forbidden for under 18s to buy. I think over 16 they are allowed to drink.

Correct. From the UK gov website
You can be stopped, fined or arrested by police if you’re under 18 and drinking alcohol in public.

If you’re under 18, it’s against the law:

for someone to sell you alcohol
to buy or try to buy alcohol
for an adult to buy or try to buy alcohol for you
to drink alcohol in licensed premises (such as a pub or restaurant)

However, if you’re 16 or 17 and accompanied by an adult, you can drink (but not buy) beer, wine or cider with a meal.

tedcruz likes this.

Mar 16, 2018, 3:36 am

#37

Tobias-UK

Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair

Join Date: Sep 2011

Location: UK/Las Vegas

Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)

Posts: 15,928

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yetak

At 17 I wouldn't worry, I've let Junior Tobias have a beer in the UK lounges from when he was 14, and it was never a problem. He is legally allowed to drink in the UK at that age and provided he is with a parent the lounge hosts are not likely to bother you.

There appears to be a Challenge 21 type operation for solo travellers, yesterday a young chap in the CCR was asked for his passport when ordering a drink from the bar. He was 20 - but as soon as the Lounge Manager realised he was travelling with his parents he apologised and said had he realised he would not have asked.

rapidex and Yetak like this.

Mar 28, 2018, 7:23 am

#38

lgwflyer

Original Poster

Join Date: Mar 2018

Location: London

Programs: BAEC Silver, HHonors Gold

Posts: 7

Quick Update

Hi all,

Thanks for your advice regarding the lounges,

On my positioning flight to DUB from LHR I spoke with the check-in agent and they phoned the duty manager who granted me access to the Concorde lounge at terminal 5 so couldn't get any better than that.

I got in the lounge at DUB fine and at T3 LHR for the AA flight to Miami I got told I couldn't at check-in but when to the lounge anyway and it was fine.

So all in all it worked out well

SK, EDIflyer, Tobias-UK and 4 others like this.

Mar 28, 2018, 9:41 am

#39

Steve_ZA

Join Date: Jul 2009

Location: UK

Programs: BA Gold

Posts: 2,422

Quote:

Originally Posted by lgwflyer

On my positioning flight to DUB from LHR I spoke with the check-in agent and they phoned the duty manager who granted me access to the Concorde lounge at terminal 5 so couldn't get any better than that.

That's a result and a good solution from BA to avoid the access to alcohol issue. ^

Mar 28, 2018, 11:43 am

#40

Tobias-UK

Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair

Join Date: Sep 2011

Location: UK/Las Vegas

Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)

Posts: 15,928

Quote:

Originally Posted by lgwflyer

What a result! I hope you enjoyed your lounge visits and your trip, and thank you so much for coming back to us to let us know how it all worked out ^

Mar 28, 2018, 11:53 am

#41

KARFA

Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2012

Location: Leeds, UK

Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond

Posts: 42,968

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve_ZA

That's a result and a good solution from BA to avoid the access to alcohol issue. ^

i have not always found that being in the CCR helps avoid excess alcohol

nice result for the OP ^

Steve_ZA likes this.

Mar 29, 2018, 1:39 am

#42

annihilation

Join Date: Jun 2014

Programs: BA GGL, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Marriott Platinum, IHG Spire

Posts: 160

I'm gonna have to say it but why would they do that? You have people paying F fares and people with extreme loyalty in the CCR and they guest someone flying J in due to him being under 18?

Great result for the OP but what a joke when you think about everyone else who had to "earn" access.

Mar 29, 2018, 2:04 am

#43

Tobias-UK

Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair

Join Date: Sep 2011

Location: UK/Las Vegas

Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)

Posts: 15,928

Quote:

Originally Posted by annihilation

The OP had purchased a long haul business class ticket, that ticket includes access to a lounge. Because of his/her age they might not have been permitted access to a lounge where self-pour alcohol is available. Offering access to the CCR was a way of allowing the OP to benefit from all the facilities associated with the ticket purchased. If the CCR wasn't busy I don't see the problem. Why should the OP not be able to enjoy all the perk of the ticket just because they are under 18?

EDIflyer, rossmacd and Lefly like this.