Denied entry in to BA Lounge in Rome as CX Diamond/OWE
Sep 10, 2019, 9:07 am
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 83
This seems like an issue of staff training. It looks like the lounge agent assumed you had access based on your class of service and lounge invitation, not your status. The fact fact that you had a pass to visit the other lounge is irrelevant. Unfortunately not all staff understand access policies and it's often hard to change a decision once it has been made.
Her insistence on my needing to have a lounge pass to enter was based on what CX had told her and she said if they let me in CX would need to pay twice as I had entered the PP lounge. I actually had her call CX and asked to speak to the person there. I didn’t speak to the CX representative but the receptionist and CX rep went back and forth and eventually I was let in as an exception. My rationale being I was entitled to access as per the OWE rules and the original lounge pass didn’t even have the BA lounge as an option (it only showed my choices as being the PP lounge or Satellite Lounge).
Just to reiterate, I have been denied access into the BA Singapore Lounge because of overcrowding and BA reserving space for their own passengers and elite members. However, I have never been denied access into an OWE lounge on the basis of CX telling that lounge not to accept elite members. I am just trying to understand if others have experienced this or it’s just a Rome issue?
Sep 10, 2019, 9:08 am
#18
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
It seems to be a BA issue as I had not experienced any issues getting QF, AA, JL lounges even when taking other OW carrier's flights.
BA PHL does the same thing to AA pax:
Refused Lounge entry at PHL
BA PHL does the same thing to AA pax:
Refused Lounge entry at PHL
Sep 10, 2019, 9:11 am
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 83
It seems to be a BA issue as I had not experienced any issues getting QF, AA, JL lounges even when taking other OW carrier's flights.
BA PHL does the same thing to AA pax:
Refused Lounge entry at PHL
BA PHL does the same thing to AA pax:
Refused Lounge entry at PHL
Sep 10, 2019, 9:13 am
#21
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
That's another he say I say scenario. I never had issues using CX BP accessing OW lounges.
Sep 10, 2019, 9:13 am
#22
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,461
BA is obliged to let you in, period. If they have an issue getting CX to pay (and color me skeptical) that issue will be addressed at a higher level.
Sep 10, 2019, 1:24 pm
#23
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold, AA 1MM lifetime gold, Starwood gold, Marriott Gold Elite
Posts: 719
I agree. BA should have let you in and sorted the finances out with CX later. Oneworld rules are that as a J passenger (irrespective of status) you can enter any Oneworld lounge (subject to capacity constraints). It is annoying when local stations feel they can make up the rules as they see fit , especially when they are expecting passengers to go to a substandard lounge instead of a half decent Oneworld carrier lounge.
Sep 10, 2019, 2:27 pm
#24
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,801