Sweet-talking your way into the CCR - unacceptable
Dec 30, 2018, 3:02 am
#61
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: BA Gold; Surrey CCC
Posts: 97
In response to my initial post, a lot of people here are talking unnecessarily about the class system, entitlement, etc. etc.. but this is actually nothing to do with that. I lived in a council house up until 5 years back! Like many of you on here, I have worked extremely hard, with many sacrifices, to be able to afford these things, and I thought it was unfair that others with the gift of the gab are able to have *partly* the same offering, at much less price. That's really it! Nothing to do with the less-privileged being given entry, etc. etc., that's just being silly.
Dec 30, 2018, 3:14 am
#62
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: London
Posts: 726
Can’t say I notice anyone playing music on speakers today (or yesterday I guess Uk time) in the CCR; I personally find it much more enjoyable not to worry about what others do, but clearly the OP took great pains to observe the lucky couple, inspecting the sofa after and all.
if they were affecting your enjoyment by all means complain to the staff.
if they were affecting your enjoyment by all means complain to the staff.
Dec 30, 2018, 3:24 am
#63
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
It's easy to be vocal on FT but these things need to be addressed at the time.
Dec 30, 2018, 3:26 am
#64
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: BA GGL & GfL, AA LTP, Marriott (sigh) Ambassador, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,233
lol, amazing! what a nice dragon at the gate that day!
usually, as a CCR card holder (which was delivered to my US address, so dont have a physical one) it usually involves "talking my way in" while they look stuff up, write things on paper, make notes, etc etc then only after am i allowed to pass!
usually, as a CCR card holder (which was delivered to my US address, so dont have a physical one) it usually involves "talking my way in" while they look stuff up, write things on paper, make notes, etc etc then only after am i allowed to pass!
Dec 30, 2018, 3:31 am
#65
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
I think you have a point there - I was perhaps being oversensitive to this as I knew that they had sweet talked their way in. Fair enough, but I bet if you had paid £4.5k out of your own pocket for the ticket, it would have been challenging for you also not to get a little frustrated by this.
In response to my initial post, a lot of people here are talking unnecessarily about the class system, entitlement, etc. etc.. but this is actually nothing to do with that. I lived in a council house up until 5 years back! Like many of you on here, I have worked extremely hard, with many sacrifices, to be able to afford these things, and I thought it was unfair that others with the gift of the gab are able to have *partly* the same offering, at much less price. That's really it! Nothing to do with the less-privileged being given entry, etc. etc., that's just being silly.
In response to my initial post, a lot of people here are talking unnecessarily about the class system, entitlement, etc. etc.. but this is actually nothing to do with that. I lived in a council house up until 5 years back! Like many of you on here, I have worked extremely hard, with many sacrifices, to be able to afford these things, and I thought it was unfair that others with the gift of the gab are able to have *partly* the same offering, at much less price. That's really it! Nothing to do with the less-privileged being given entry, etc. etc., that's just being silly.
If these are the things that affect you then indeed you may need to recalibrate your 'sensitivity' as there are many things on this scale that could be trying if one is in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I don't see the relevance of the council house/hard work stuff - so what? There are many examoles on here where people have challenged the boundaries, seems in this case the lucky travellers got away with it.
Dec 30, 2018, 5:23 am
#66
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: 15,128
Heard someone at BOS saying that they'd try to get in to the BA lounge rather than the clubhouse despite flying VS. "Much nicer than that 'basement' hole"
Dec 30, 2018, 7:12 am
#67
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Brexile in ADB
Programs: BA, TK, HHonours, Le Club, Best Western Rewards
Posts: 7,067
Well as some of you know I'm ordinarily resident for tax purposes in the CCR, but I must admit I've not seen that before. Indeed I've certainly seen people try it on and being politely but firmly told "absolutely no way". The other tactic is to kind of mishear and react as if being asked for directions: "oh yes, you're nearly at the right place, just turn around and you see those escalators going up over there...." So yes, leaving aside the details here, I think this couple were extraordinarily lucky.
But standing back from that, it is amusing to see yet another example of why some people really, reallçy want to get into the CCR, when there are plenty of people in this forum who give the impression it's sub-par to the Cathay lounge. Now I disagree with that view, while accepting that CX First is nevertheless a fine lounge which we are lucky to have in LHR, but I'm quite sure the lovely Cathay agents aren't put under anything like this sort of pressure.
But standing back from that, it is amusing to see yet another example of why some people really, reallçy want to get into the CCR, when there are plenty of people in this forum who give the impression it's sub-par to the Cathay lounge. Now I disagree with that view, while accepting that CX First is nevertheless a fine lounge which we are lucky to have in LHR, but I'm quite sure the lovely Cathay agents aren't put under anything like this sort of pressure.
Dec 30, 2018, 9:09 am
#68
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Arizona
Programs: BA (GGL G4L), AA (Gold), HH (Diamond); Marriott (Gold)
Posts: 3,011
I fear the battle for lounges being a quiet sanctuary may be lost without clearly stated rules and their enforcement, as it’s become far more acceptable to have noise playing from a device than it was 10 years ago, especially with videos and ads that auto-play with noise even in silent mode.
Dec 30, 2018, 9:15 am
#69
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 574
Not wanting to be a scrooge or anything when we're in the holiday period, but I did feel that this was unfair on those who had either paid for their tickets (like me), redeemed F seats through miles or flew with BA so often that they were given such a privilege through the Concorde card.
!
Dec 30, 2018, 9:28 am
#70
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: BA Gold; Surrey CCC
Posts: 97
With respect had you arrived 10 minutes before or after you would not have been aware of it. Also there are many occasions where BA allows access to those who might not otherwise have been entitled (like the Christmas guesting offer).
If these are the things that affect you then indeed you may need to recalibrate your 'sensitivity' as there are many things on this scale that could be trying if one is in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I don't see the relevance of the council house/hard work stuff - so what? There are many examoles on here where people have challenged the boundaries, seems in this case the lucky travellers got away with it.
If these are the things that affect you then indeed you may need to recalibrate your 'sensitivity' as there are many things on this scale that could be trying if one is in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I don't see the relevance of the council house/hard work stuff - so what? There are many examoles on here where people have challenged the boundaries, seems in this case the lucky travellers got away with it.
Dec 30, 2018, 10:12 am
#71
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: All over the place often South Wales and Lake District
Programs: BA Gold for Life Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,552
Fair point - the point about the hard work is that the message from others seemed to be that I'm some sort of an elitist class-driven snob who doesn't want the riff-raff coming in. Nothing could be further from the truth, but if someone pays money for a ticket, then part of the proposition should be protected for those people. Agree to disagree!
Dec 30, 2018, 11:11 am
#72
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,271
If someone is good enough to 'blag' their way in, they sound like people I would enjoy meeting. That takes some real talent. Having status or paying for entry is something pretty much anyone can do quite easily. It's like someone who solos Mt. Everest vs. someone who just buys their way to the top as happens these days.
Dec 30, 2018, 11:15 am
#73
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: COU
Programs: AA EXP, Bonvoy Ambassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 499
Really not crazy that some folks saw that as good ol' English classism...
Dec 30, 2018, 11:32 am
#74
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
Fair point - the point about the hard work is that the message from others seemed to be that I'm some sort of an elitist class-driven snob who doesn't want the riff-raff coming in. Nothing could be further from the truth, but if someone pays money for a ticket, then part of the proposition should be protected for those people. Agree to disagree!
For example would you say no redemptions or cheap upgrades should be allowed in F because you personally have paid £4.5K out of your own pocket for the same seat?
Indeed there are two sides to every argument.....you weren't deprived of your published benefits and what one person may see as unacceptable may be considered by others to be neither here nor there.
Dec 30, 2018, 11:34 am
#75
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: Meh
Posts: 2,598