BE lounge access
 

Coming back from Europe, I got upgraded to BE due to overbooking.
I was connecting in JFK and tried to enter the BE lounge only to be turned away. "Only paying BE passengers can use the lounge" said the lady at the desk.

Does anybody know if this is true, or has any relevant experience ?

I was under the impression that any BE pax, paying or upgraded, would be admitted as long as their BP stated their proper fare class. Did you have a BE BP (X class) or were you moved up front after boarding?

I'm pretty sure you can use the BE lounge on an award ticket, but then I guess you are "paying" with miles. If you were "upgraded" at the gate due to overbooking, your fare class may not have changed, and that's why you were denied access.

It sounds like the OP was "involuntarily upgraded" which would mean the boarding pass remained in the original Y booking class; hence BE access is not allowed.

Upgrading with miles or PMUs puts one into "Z" class where BE lounge access is definitely allowed; same with using BE Award tickets. In both cases, one has "paid" for the BE seat in one way or another so one is treated like a "real" BE passenger.

Yes, ticket remained in the original booking class.
I was expecting lounge access on the basis that, when I get medallion upgrades on JFK-SFO, I also get CR access.

I don't know, it feels to me a little cheap on Delta's part, almost like if they had told me I would have received standard Y meal, or taken away the amenity kit.

Without a ticket with the proper booking class the lounge has no way to know you were upgraded due to irrops. Were you given the upgrade before or after you boarded the plane? If before, I would have asked for a boarding pass indicating the proper seat number and class code. If not, you just lucked into the seat and nothing more.

Actually, it was exactlt the opposite: my boarding pass stub had "business" written on it, 5F seat number. She went through my record to see that it was a T fare.

I got access when I was upgraded on my ATL-GYE (ecuador) flight, but maybe I really wasn't entitled to access the BizElite lounge. I couldn't find the comprehensive admit policies online, so...

:confused: Since when has Delta given CRC access to upgraded medallions?

Since a few months back on select routes, including JFK-SFO.

Flying in business (first class) on the JFK transcons gives you to the CRC lounges.

Wow, this is news to me. I did a search on delta.com and couldn't find a list of the routes. Are they published or is this only semi-official/a trial promotion?

Semi-official. There is a thread on FT that lists the applicable routes and other rules: link.

I've gotten access when I got an op-up prior to boarding. I entered the BE lounge like I belonged there and was treated as if I did. Of course, I was appropriately dressed and presented myself discretely. My boarding pass said Business Elite and showed a seat number in the single digits. I don't recall what the fare class showed.