Jan 5, 2024, 11:41 am
Last edit by: Prospero
For the latest updates and discussion related to the champagnes on offer, please visit the sister thread linked below
JFK Chelsea Lounge | la mise à jour du champagne
JFK Chelsea Lounge | la mise à jour du champagne
British Airways and American Airlines Chelsea Lounge - JFK Terminal 8
Dec 12, 2022, 3:55 pm
#256
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London
Programs: BA GGLfL, WoH Lifetime Globalist, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 711
Whereas here:
https://www.britishairways.com/en-us.../lounge-access
the following are the Chelsea Lounge access rules:
Doc Copper
https://www.britishairways.com/en-us.../lounge-access
the following are the Chelsea Lounge access rules:
Doc Copper
Dec 12, 2022, 5:17 pm
#257
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,637
Has anyone been in the lounge for breakfast? I'm on the red-eye from SFO and would enjoy a nice breakfast before heading into NYC. I remember the breakfasts when it was FFD a few years ago. Very good, but the bagels were mediocre considering this in NY.
Dec 12, 2022, 5:43 pm
#258
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: BCT. Formerly known as attorney28
Programs: LH HON,BA GGL GfL,Hyatt LT Glob,Mrtt LT P,Hilt LT D,IC Amb,Acc P,GHA Tit,LHW Strlg,Sixt/Av/Hz D/Pres
Posts: 6,826
So the lounge doesn't live up to anything that was promised and promoted, but to make up for it, they deny people access who, by their own published rules, should have access (GGL on any BA or AA flight).
Got it.
Great job, BA...
Got it.
Great job, BA...
Dec 12, 2022, 8:25 pm
#260
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Oxford (&Western Isles )
Programs: BA GGL, CCR; RyanAir MillionMiler :( ;
Posts: 756
Flagship First, access on arrival : Datapoint
Yep, arrived 3hours late with a First boarding pass from lax, and offered my GGL card, which wasnt needed. "Welcome sir". No more than 10 people here. Service a bit slow, but the lovely lady from CCR 7 is here and is wonderfully friendly. PS not flying back to London until tomorrow night, in J. So opportunity for another data point. No steak, but offered LPGS at dining table.
Dec 13, 2022, 1:26 am
#261
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: BA GGL, GfL, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist, AllAccor Diamond, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 1,042
strongly disagree with this. I’m a big believer in correcting your mistakes in life, rather than surrendering to them. This is their flagship space in the USA. They need to get it right.
Dec 13, 2022, 2:53 am
#262
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: BA Executive Club and OnBusiness
Posts: 720
I just don't understand why this is so difficult for AA/BA to remedy
They both ran decent quality first class lounges at JFK prior to this, with AA doing it within a few hundred meters of the new lounge. Flagship Dining and CCR both offered a decent menu, a reasonable bar, and reasonable service levels
Someone was in charge of creating the Chelsea Room. Someone is responsible for its operation. In both cases this will be someone who does this for a living and must have experience i.e. a professional
And yet two weeks after opening this sh*tshow is offering burgers and fish and chips and whatever random champagne they have lying around. And they don't even know who is eligible to enter the lounge (clue: you have one job to do.....)
Is no-one accountable? Why bother with a bespoke chandelier if you don't care about the catering or staffing levels? Why can't someone order a decent supply of food and drink so that it doesn't run out every day? If you order 100 burgers then order 100 rolls.
Did they forget everything they knew about operating an airport lounge and installed people who have never done it before so they can learn on the job, using a first class lounge at a key hub as their classroom?
Rule number one - don't make it worse than what you're replacing. Epic fail
Seriously - how is this possible?
They both ran decent quality first class lounges at JFK prior to this, with AA doing it within a few hundred meters of the new lounge. Flagship Dining and CCR both offered a decent menu, a reasonable bar, and reasonable service levels
Someone was in charge of creating the Chelsea Room. Someone is responsible for its operation. In both cases this will be someone who does this for a living and must have experience i.e. a professional
And yet two weeks after opening this sh*tshow is offering burgers and fish and chips and whatever random champagne they have lying around. And they don't even know who is eligible to enter the lounge (clue: you have one job to do.....)
Is no-one accountable? Why bother with a bespoke chandelier if you don't care about the catering or staffing levels? Why can't someone order a decent supply of food and drink so that it doesn't run out every day? If you order 100 burgers then order 100 rolls.
Did they forget everything they knew about operating an airport lounge and installed people who have never done it before so they can learn on the job, using a first class lounge at a key hub as their classroom?
Rule number one - don't make it worse than what you're replacing. Epic fail
Seriously - how is this possible?
Dec 13, 2022, 4:02 am
#263
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: BA GGL, GfL, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist, AllAccor Diamond, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 1,042
I just don't understand why this is so difficult for AA/BA to remedy
They both ran decent quality first class lounges at JFK prior to this, with AA doing it within a few hundred meters of the new lounge. Flagship Dining and CCR both offered a decent menu, a reasonable bar, and reasonable service levels
Someone was in charge of creating the Chelsea Room. Someone is responsible for its operation. In both cases this will be someone who does this for a living and must have experience i.e. a professional
And yet two weeks after opening this sh*tshow is offering burgers and fish and chips and whatever random champagne they have lying around. And they don't even know who is eligible to enter the lounge (clue: you have one job to do.....)
Is no-one accountable? Why bother with a bespoke chandelier if you don't care about the catering or staffing levels? Why can't someone order a decent supply of food and drink so that it doesn't run out every day? If you order 100 burgers then order 100 rolls.
Did they forget everything they knew about operating an airport lounge and installed people who have never done it before so they can learn on the job, using a first class lounge at a key hub as their classroom?
Rule number one - don't make it worse than what you're replacing. Epic fail
Seriously - how is this possible?
They both ran decent quality first class lounges at JFK prior to this, with AA doing it within a few hundred meters of the new lounge. Flagship Dining and CCR both offered a decent menu, a reasonable bar, and reasonable service levels
Someone was in charge of creating the Chelsea Room. Someone is responsible for its operation. In both cases this will be someone who does this for a living and must have experience i.e. a professional
And yet two weeks after opening this sh*tshow is offering burgers and fish and chips and whatever random champagne they have lying around. And they don't even know who is eligible to enter the lounge (clue: you have one job to do.....)
Is no-one accountable? Why bother with a bespoke chandelier if you don't care about the catering or staffing levels? Why can't someone order a decent supply of food and drink so that it doesn't run out every day? If you order 100 burgers then order 100 rolls.
Did they forget everything they knew about operating an airport lounge and installed people who have never done it before so they can learn on the job, using a first class lounge at a key hub as their classroom?
Rule number one - don't make it worse than what you're replacing. Epic fail
Seriously - how is this possible?
”if you order a 100 burgers, order a 100 rolls” could be one of those great Chinese proverbs that we can tell our grandchildren in years ahead.
Dec 13, 2022, 4:16 am
#264
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,968
I just don't understand why this is so difficult for AA/BA to remedy
They both ran decent quality first class lounges at JFK prior to this, with AA doing it within a few hundred meters of the new lounge. Flagship Dining and CCR both offered a decent menu, a reasonable bar, and reasonable service levels
Someone was in charge of creating the Chelsea Room. Someone is responsible for its operation. In both cases this will be someone who does this for a living and must have experience i.e. a professional
And yet two weeks after opening this sh*tshow is offering burgers and fish and chips and whatever random champagne they have lying around. And they don't even know who is eligible to enter the lounge (clue: you have one job to do.....)
Is no-one accountable? Why bother with a bespoke chandelier if you don't care about the catering or staffing levels? Why can't someone order a decent supply of food and drink so that it doesn't run out every day? If you order 100 burgers then order 100 rolls.
Did they forget everything they knew about operating an airport lounge and installed people who have never done it before so they can learn on the job, using a first class lounge at a key hub as their classroom?
Rule number one - don't make it worse than what you're replacing. Epic fail
Seriously - how is this possible?
They both ran decent quality first class lounges at JFK prior to this, with AA doing it within a few hundred meters of the new lounge. Flagship Dining and CCR both offered a decent menu, a reasonable bar, and reasonable service levels
Someone was in charge of creating the Chelsea Room. Someone is responsible for its operation. In both cases this will be someone who does this for a living and must have experience i.e. a professional
And yet two weeks after opening this sh*tshow is offering burgers and fish and chips and whatever random champagne they have lying around. And they don't even know who is eligible to enter the lounge (clue: you have one job to do.....)
Is no-one accountable? Why bother with a bespoke chandelier if you don't care about the catering or staffing levels? Why can't someone order a decent supply of food and drink so that it doesn't run out every day? If you order 100 burgers then order 100 rolls.
Did they forget everything they knew about operating an airport lounge and installed people who have never done it before so they can learn on the job, using a first class lounge at a key hub as their classroom?
Rule number one - don't make it worse than what you're replacing. Epic fail
Seriously - how is this possible?
My suspicion on the usual dysfunctional BA way of doing things is there is nobody to fire because there was no one person who was in charge of all the planning and opening of the lounges. It's the old saying isn't it, when everyone is responsible, no one is responsible.
Dec 13, 2022, 6:12 am
#265
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 833
Dec 13, 2022, 7:15 am
#266
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2019
Programs: AA: CK
Posts: 2,230
Menu here. Haven't been to Chelsea but went to FFD in Sept and it was great. Just remember no booze 4am-8am.
Last edited by Prospero; Dec 20, 2022 at 1:07 pm Reason: combine consecutive posts
Dec 13, 2022, 7:59 am
#267
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,720
2 weeks is a long time in the airline industry. The steak has become burger and chips, the vintage champagne is something sparkling (but not water) and the entry criteria are different to those advertised.
Dec 13, 2022, 8:49 am
#268
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,324
I just don't understand why this is so difficult for AA/BA to remedy
They both ran decent quality first class lounges at JFK prior to this, with AA doing it within a few hundred meters of the new lounge. Flagship Dining and CCR both offered a decent menu, a reasonable bar, and reasonable service levels
Someone was in charge of creating the Chelsea Room. Someone is responsible for its operation. In both cases this will be someone who does this for a living and must have experience i.e. a professional
And yet two weeks after opening this sh*tshow is offering burgers and fish and chips and whatever random champagne they have lying around. And they don't even know who is eligible to enter the lounge (clue: you have one job to do.....)
Is no-one accountable? Why bother with a bespoke chandelier if you don't care about the catering or staffing levels? Why can't someone order a decent supply of food and drink so that it doesn't run out every day? If you order 100 burgers then order 100 rolls.
Did they forget everything they knew about operating an airport lounge and installed people who have never done it before so they can learn on the job, using a first class lounge at a key hub as their classroom?
Rule number one - don't make it worse than what you're replacing. Epic fail
Seriously - how is this possible?
They both ran decent quality first class lounges at JFK prior to this, with AA doing it within a few hundred meters of the new lounge. Flagship Dining and CCR both offered a decent menu, a reasonable bar, and reasonable service levels
Someone was in charge of creating the Chelsea Room. Someone is responsible for its operation. In both cases this will be someone who does this for a living and must have experience i.e. a professional
And yet two weeks after opening this sh*tshow is offering burgers and fish and chips and whatever random champagne they have lying around. And they don't even know who is eligible to enter the lounge (clue: you have one job to do.....)
Is no-one accountable? Why bother with a bespoke chandelier if you don't care about the catering or staffing levels? Why can't someone order a decent supply of food and drink so that it doesn't run out every day? If you order 100 burgers then order 100 rolls.
Did they forget everything they knew about operating an airport lounge and installed people who have never done it before so they can learn on the job, using a first class lounge at a key hub as their classroom?
Rule number one - don't make it worse than what you're replacing. Epic fail
Seriously - how is this possible?
With the preview/opening/Champagne List etc, I (like many others?) was excited, and actually going out of my way to book BA F to at least try this out and/or make it a staple. Now? I have no desire to visit in its current state.
They'll say "supply chain issues" and "training" for a while, and then hopefully address it ala the LHR Galleries F buffet "Slop-gate" saga from years ago.
A great thing would be to get it right, get feedback, improve it again - and then send out an apology and one-time guest pass for the top tiers to show they are confident issues have been addressed (I know, I'm dreaming).
Dec 13, 2022, 9:02 am
#269
Join Date: May 2014
Location: BRU
Programs: BA GGL, TK E (*G), ITA exec
Posts: 4,104
Dec 13, 2022, 9:08 am
#270
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: NYC
Programs: BAEC (GGL)
Posts: 47
Just had this response from the GGL team regarding Chelsea access:
"I'm sorry to report that the access has changed and what you were advised is correct.
Gold Guest List members can only access the Chelsea Lounge when travelling either on a BA flight or any AA long haul service. Access to both Soho and Greenwich Lounges are both options when not travelling on the above.
I have fed this back to all the GGL team so were all aware of this change to access requirements. BA.com will be updated to reflect this in due course. I appreciate this isn't the outcome expected but rest assured this will be under review as we settle into life in the new shared space with AA."
So this seems to be aligned with CK access now.
"I'm sorry to report that the access has changed and what you were advised is correct.
Gold Guest List members can only access the Chelsea Lounge when travelling either on a BA flight or any AA long haul service. Access to both Soho and Greenwich Lounges are both options when not travelling on the above.
I have fed this back to all the GGL team so were all aware of this change to access requirements. BA.com will be updated to reflect this in due course. I appreciate this isn't the outcome expected but rest assured this will be under review as we settle into life in the new shared space with AA."
So this seems to be aligned with CK access now.