Is BA Removing Lounge Access in Europe - Is This a New Cost-Cutting Strategy?
Aug 2, 2021, 9:15 am
#61
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 847
This was available last summer for BA passengers although if I recall, access didn’t start quite in time for the first flights of the summer season. However it’s now August and having been there today, access is still not available for those flying BA.
Aug 2, 2021, 9:19 am
#62
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 579
So in summary, BA failing to agree new contracts to the lounge IS a failure of BA (not their third party provider) (11.1), given their failure to notify customers in a timely manner (11.4).
Therefore compensation for lack of provision should be due from BA?
Therefore compensation for lack of provision should be due from BA?
Aug 2, 2021, 9:27 am
#63
Join Date: Jul 2014
Programs: BAEC, VS Flying Club
Posts: 797
Although it could then be argued that the lounges are not closed, merely unavailable.
Aug 2, 2021, 9:45 am
#64
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: London
Programs: Sir Ratechaser Seigneur de la Patience d'un Saint (Mucci), BA Silver, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 2,562
)
Aug 2, 2021, 9:48 am
#65
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,926
11.4. British Airways reserves the right to discontinue relationships with Service Partners at any time and will give Members such notice of any discontinuance as is reasonably practical in the circumstances.
My highlighting. BA manage to send me countless E-Mails about every flight so it is reasonably practicable to E-Mail me if they have discontinued their relationship with a service partner in an outstation. Having used the word "and" these two cannot be considered mutually exclusive.
My highlighting. BA manage to send me countless E-Mails about every flight so it is reasonably practicable to E-Mail me if they have discontinued their relationship with a service partner in an outstation. Having used the word "and" these two cannot be considered mutually exclusive.
Aug 2, 2021, 9:53 am
#66
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, HHons diamond
Posts: 86
Valencia lounge also no longer available to BA passengers ‘because BA have not renewed the contract’ according to the very pleasant entry attendant. Seems that the information hasn’t reached check-in staff who are telling Club Europe customers that the lounge is again open. The lounge is indeed open and accessible for those flying BA with priority pass or by paying the walk up price . The layout of the lounge has been changed and there’s no more self service. Actually makes for a far better experience given there’s only a handful of people in here. But a succession of bemused/fed-up BA customers…
Aug 2, 2021, 10:19 am
#67
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 182
As a result of COVID-19 lounge facilities are offered at selected locations only.
Please check here to see if your departure or arrivals lounge is open."
Very disingenuous language; whether deliberate or incompetent, one could only speculate...
Aug 2, 2021, 11:32 am
#68
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
Valencia lounge also no longer available to BA passengers ‘because BA have not renewed the contract’ according to the very pleasant entry attendant. Seems that the information hasn’t reached check-in staff who are telling Club Europe customers that the lounge is again open. The lounge is indeed open and accessible for those flying BA with priority pass or by paying the walk up price . The layout of the lounge has been changed and there’s no more self service. Actually makes for a far better experience given there’s only a handful of people in here. But a succession of bemused/fed-up BA customers…
Aug 4, 2021, 12:40 am
#69
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,926
"Third party and partner lounges
As a result of COVID-19 lounge facilities are offered at selected locations only.
Please check here to see if your departure or arrivals lounge is open."
Very disingenuous language; whether deliberate or incompetent, one could only speculate...
As a result of COVID-19 lounge facilities are offered at selected locations only.
Please check here to see if your departure or arrivals lounge is open."
Very disingenuous language; whether deliberate or incompetent, one could only speculate...
I’m not sure how it is disingenuous, if you follow the link details of each lounge's access policy is clearly provided with each search result showing which oneworld airlines have access and for which passengers the lounge is open.
If a lounge is operating yet unavailable to BA passengers that would suggest BA have deliberately chosen not to pay for its customers to use it, in those cases it's certainly worth complaining to BA to share your disappointment. Given BA’s T&Cs no compensation is due, but that shouldn’t stop those unhappy with BA’s decision from complaining.
Last edited by Tobias-UK; Aug 4, 2021 at 4:10 am
Aug 4, 2021, 4:15 am
#70
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,741
I’m wondering if this partly explains BA’s lounge strategy:
“Enjoy access to non-British Airways airport lounges across the globe with Lounge Pass, no matter what airline you are flying with or cabin you are travelling in. Choose from 600 lounges, at over 350 airports worldwide, including over 45 in the UK. Executive Club Members can collect 5 Avios per £1/€1/$1 spent…[click button]”
Presumably BA will have negotiated a deal and will get a share of the profits from passengers who buy a pass using the link on ba.com - which means that it’s in BA’s interest not to have a wide network of its own lounges anymore…?
“Enjoy access to non-British Airways airport lounges across the globe with Lounge Pass, no matter what airline you are flying with or cabin you are travelling in. Choose from 600 lounges, at over 350 airports worldwide, including over 45 in the UK. Executive Club Members can collect 5 Avios per £1/€1/$1 spent…[click button]”
Presumably BA will have negotiated a deal and will get a share of the profits from passengers who buy a pass using the link on ba.com - which means that it’s in BA’s interest not to have a wide network of its own lounges anymore…?
Aug 4, 2021, 6:05 am
#71
formerly fdemoulin
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: UK
Programs: SPG Lifetime Platinum, BA Silver, Virgin Flying Club Red
Posts: 916
Even worse many years ago when we were not silver, denied entry to the lounge in Mauritius as it was only for status pax. We were travelling on paid CW. Also same experience in Portugal. These were many years ago though.
Aug 4, 2021, 4:26 pm
#72
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 182
I’m not sure how it is disingenuous, if you follow the link details of each lounge's access policy is clearly provided with each search result showing which oneworld airlines have access and for which passengers the lounge is open.
If a lounge is operating yet unavailable to BA passengers that would suggest BA have deliberately chosen not to pay for its customers to use it, in those cases it's certainly worth complaining to BA to share your disappointment. Given BA’s T&Cs no compensation is due, but that shouldn’t stop those unhappy with BA’s decision from complaining.
If a lounge is operating yet unavailable to BA passengers that would suggest BA have deliberately chosen not to pay for its customers to use it, in those cases it's certainly worth complaining to BA to share your disappointment. Given BA’s T&Cs no compensation is due, but that shouldn’t stop those unhappy with BA’s decision from complaining.
Using VLC as an example, the lounge is clearly open, but is not offered to otherwise qualifying BA passengers.
Aug 4, 2021, 5:34 pm
#73
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: London UK
Programs: BA Gold/Marriott Titanium Lifetime/UA/JetBlue
Posts: 618
This situation is clearly a cost cutting exercise. More and more lounges are open but not available to BA customers. It really is a devaluation of the GGL/Gold Executive Club Benefits and will influence peoples choice of carrier. The lounge experience was one I valued in many destinations and one of the reasons I chose to pay for BA flights and keep up the Gold membership. If this is a permanent (or even extended period change) I will be more inclined to fly with an airline that does offer the facility. I am sure many will feel the same way.
Aug 26, 2021, 3:16 am
#75
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,347
Club Europe can easily be had for under £100 one way, even lower on some routes. The lowest I've seen is £65 for INV-LHR. At this price point, there's no way BA can afford to pay for lounge access.
A couple of years ago these would have been reasonable Euro Traveller prices.
A couple of years ago these would have been reasonable Euro Traveller prices.