Lounge chancers
Jan 17, 2019, 11:34 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2016
Programs: Hilton/Diamond, BA/Gold
Posts: 158
Lounge chancers
I'm not one to typically notice this, but was recently in the AMS lounge, sat close to the desk.
In a ~10 minute period there were 8 people turned away by the lounge dragon. A couple of them were in the wrong lounge (as the BA lounge is next to the Priority Pass lounge this is understandable) but the rest were just people chancing it for access. One guy even said he didn't have a boarding card but claimed to be Gold and should be allowed in.
Is this something that happens a lot and I've never noticed before and is a common occurrence or did AMS just have more than usual here?
In a ~10 minute period there were 8 people turned away by the lounge dragon. A couple of them were in the wrong lounge (as the BA lounge is next to the Priority Pass lounge this is understandable) but the rest were just people chancing it for access. One guy even said he didn't have a boarding card but claimed to be Gold and should be allowed in.
Is this something that happens a lot and I've never noticed before and is a common occurrence or did AMS just have more than usual here?
Jan 17, 2019, 12:05 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: BA Gold, HHonors Diamond, IHG Platinum, Senior Railcard & Bus Pass
Posts: 983
The chancers probably read a post by @onobond last year (my bolding) and can’t wait to see the place for themselves:
It might be easier to just let them in. They won’t stay long.
It might be easier to just let them in. They won’t stay long.
Jan 17, 2019, 2:00 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: LHR/SEA/YVR
Programs: BAEC G/*O E
Posts: 917
Not once did I wander off CCR for a quick shower without having a boarding pass on me and was always let back in. Wonder if dragons there have an exceptional memory for faces or just assume that anyone who walks in with a straight face is entitled?
Jan 17, 2019, 2:05 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: AMS/LON
Programs: BAEC Silver, TK Gold, Eurostar CB, FB Explorer
Posts: 242
Im at AMS lounge every week and I see this a lot. Like you, I was surprised at both the frequency and the paucity of the excuses.
So nothing unusual, but god it must getting tiring for the people guarding the door.
So nothing unusual, but god it must getting tiring for the people guarding the door.
Jan 17, 2019, 4:02 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Oxford
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 378
I had an issue in MAD the other week with my connecting flight, and whilst talking to the lounge dragon, which must have been less than 3 minutes, 3 people tried to claim lounge access, 2 because their flights were delayed and one because it was 3 hours until his connecting flight.
I sympathise with those on very delayed flights, but imagine if BA gave lounge access to pax on flights with 60min+ delays. The carnage...!
I sympathise with those on very delayed flights, but imagine if BA gave lounge access to pax on flights with 60min+ delays. The carnage...!
Jan 17, 2019, 4:16 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: BAEC Blue, EK Skywards Silver
Posts: 5
I used to work as checkin/gate staff for BA at an outstation, and did the odd stint in the lounge to cover breaks. Most of those times, at least one person would come in and chance it, and generally left after being told they weren’t allowed in. I have heard a few horror stories though!
Jan 17, 2019, 4:49 pm
#10
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: 63,766
I used to work as checkin/gate staff for BA at an outstation, and did the odd stint in the lounge to cover breaks. Most of those times, at least one person would come in and chance it, and generally left after being told they weren’t allowed in. I have heard a few horror stories though!
Jan 17, 2019, 8:02 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,753
The chancers probably read a post by @onobond last year (my bolding) and can’t wait to see the place for themselves
Jan 17, 2019, 8:09 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,338
Plenty of "chancers" on FT too...(NOT BA specific) We see the threads all the time.... "Ive got an extra guest, they'll let me bring them in too surely?" or "Those lounges count kids as guests...what chance have I got of getting my whole family in?"
No different in my view....
No different in my view....
Jan 17, 2019, 9:55 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYZ/MGA
Programs: AA 1MM Lifetime Gold, AA Platinum, WS Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 7,607
I see this a lot in Miami when AA passengers discover that the Caribbean and most of Mexico plus Canada is not international travel when they are in J and thus get no access to the Admirals Club. Also at the new Club those who get in via club membership then try to get into the new Flagship Lounge (shared lobby) with the same proviso that it's only for international J and F and not the Admirals Club which I presume must be jammed with domestic passengers.
So not chancers but people used to airlines where all J/F is a freebie lounge invite.
So not chancers but people used to airlines where all J/F is a freebie lounge invite.
Jan 17, 2019, 10:07 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
Jan 17, 2019, 11:04 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: AMS/RTM
Posts: 2,827
Sometimes it's also a matter of wrong information by the airline staff. Recently flew AKL-HKG on CX as part of a LH ticket. I'm *G and of course I don't expect any lounge access since I'm flying Y on a non*A metal service.
The check-in agent starts putting all sorts of priority tags on my bags and tells me "the system doesn't let me print a lounge invitation but you're on a Lufthansa ticket so just go to the lounge and show your card".
So I went and of course the lounge dragon denied access. I guess the check-in agent assumed that *A would have rules similar to OW, and since both NZ and LH have specific arrangements with CX it *could* have been possible that a *G would have access to the lounge. But, alas, no luck.
The check-in agent starts putting all sorts of priority tags on my bags and tells me "the system doesn't let me print a lounge invitation but you're on a Lufthansa ticket so just go to the lounge and show your card".
So I went and of course the lounge dragon denied access. I guess the check-in agent assumed that *A would have rules similar to OW, and since both NZ and LH have specific arrangements with CX it *could* have been possible that a *G would have access to the lounge. But, alas, no luck.