King David Lounge access for Star Alliance Gold members
#16
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: MAN,TLV
Programs: Silver:BA,VX,AB, QF. Gold:A3,RJ,AZ,GF, EY,SPG,Marriott,Choice, Carlson. Dia/Plat:HH,IHG,BW,Accor
Posts: 1,965
If there is no swiping involved, then maybe i'll get in as well, but if they swipe it, i wouldn't want to try, as i don't think its included in my card, so i may get charged on the card for a lounge access fee.
I remember once i went into the Dan lounge, and just showed the lady my Star Alliance Gold card, and she nodded me in (without swiping it). However, I once emailed the dan lounge to ask how the lounge works (with Star Alliance) - do they charge "Star Alliance" a certain fee per month, and allow access to any Star alliance gold member, (and presumably any airline in Star alliance would pay "Star Alliance" a certain amount for every member they make gold) - according to this way of understanding, it would make sense not to swipe Star alliance gold cards upon entry - because the dan don't get paid per entry. However, the Dan Lounge replied to me that they swipe the gold card (or silver on others like BA) and they charge the airline for each entrance, which would mean that if they did not swipe the card, the dan would technically be losing money.
(In my story, I had already previously been into the lounge and was just returning back a bit later, so there was no "chashash gezel" from the fact they didn't swipe (unless if you leave and come back in, the policy is to charge the airline again which I really wouldn't think is the case!)
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HaMerkaz/Exit 145
Programs: UA, LY, BA, AA
Posts: 13,167
Do they swipe that amex card and american express see that you entered and its automatically registered as free entrance, or do they just nod you in upon sight of the card?
If there is no swiping involved, then maybe i'll get in as well, but if they swipe it, i wouldn't want to try, as i don't think its included in my card, so i may get charged on the card for a lounge access fee.
I remember once i went into the Dan lounge, and just showed the lady my Star Alliance Gold card, and she nodded me in (without swiping it). However, I once emailed the dan lounge to ask how the lounge works (with Star Alliance) - do they charge "Star Alliance" a certain fee per month, and allow access to any Star alliance gold member, (and presumably any airline in Star alliance would pay "Star Alliance" a certain amount for every member they make gold) - according to this way of understanding, it would make sense not to swipe Star alliance gold cards upon entry - because the dan don't get paid per entry. However, the Dan Lounge replied to me that they swipe the gold card (or silver on others like BA) and they charge the airline for each entrance, which would mean that if they did not swipe the card, the dan would technically be losing money.
(In my story, I had already previously been into the lounge and was just returning back a bit later, so there was no "chashash gezel" from the fact they didn't swipe (unless if you leave and come back in, the policy is to charge the airline again which I really wouldn't think is the case!)
If there is no swiping involved, then maybe i'll get in as well, but if they swipe it, i wouldn't want to try, as i don't think its included in my card, so i may get charged on the card for a lounge access fee.
I remember once i went into the Dan lounge, and just showed the lady my Star Alliance Gold card, and she nodded me in (without swiping it). However, I once emailed the dan lounge to ask how the lounge works (with Star Alliance) - do they charge "Star Alliance" a certain fee per month, and allow access to any Star alliance gold member, (and presumably any airline in Star alliance would pay "Star Alliance" a certain amount for every member they make gold) - according to this way of understanding, it would make sense not to swipe Star alliance gold cards upon entry - because the dan don't get paid per entry. However, the Dan Lounge replied to me that they swipe the gold card (or silver on others like BA) and they charge the airline for each entrance, which would mean that if they did not swipe the card, the dan would technically be losing money.
(In my story, I had already previously been into the lounge and was just returning back a bit later, so there was no "chashash gezel" from the fact they didn't swipe (unless if you leave and come back in, the policy is to charge the airline again which I really wouldn't think is the case!)
Regarding *G, I've never once shown my card. As long as I'm *G or I'm flying F/C, I get a voucher to provide at check-in for the lounge.
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: TLV/LHR
Programs: BA GGL, IHG Diamond Elite Amb, HH Diamond, Avis PC, Hertz PC, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 12,948
The biggest issue with the Dan lounges is how crowded they get. If they weren't so crowded they wouldn't be that bad.
Unfortunately, the Dan+ lounge that used to be a haven compared to the regular Dan lounges, is now just as bad or even worse considering it's smaller.
The last couple of times I went in there, I walked straight out.
#24
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: MAN,TLV
Programs: Silver:BA,VX,AB, QF. Gold:A3,RJ,AZ,GF, EY,SPG,Marriott,Choice, Carlson. Dia/Plat:HH,IHG,BW,Accor
Posts: 1,965
I guess the D+ is worse now that both LHR flights are widebodies so more pax?
#25
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London uk
Programs: *A Gold, BA Silver, Avis President, Hertz President circle
Posts: 2,804
Which flight are you taking?
My experience as a star gold member is that usualy at check-in while receiveing your lounge voucher ask them to mark down that you can have a guest, once you have that you can guest anybody.
I was once asked by the check-in lady for the guests name as the passenger has to be on the same flight, from my experience of other airports the guest has to be on a star alliance flight but not the same flight as you (I actually told her that I know he's on the flight and am supposed meet him by duty free but can't remember his name and she fell for it).
My experience as a star gold member is that usualy at check-in while receiveing your lounge voucher ask them to mark down that you can have a guest, once you have that you can guest anybody.
I was once asked by the check-in lady for the guests name as the passenger has to be on the same flight, from my experience of other airports the guest has to be on a star alliance flight but not the same flight as you (I actually told her that I know he's on the flight and am supposed meet him by duty free but can't remember his name and she fell for it).