NYTA

Can you join Priority Pass and use one of their lounges? Do they even have a lounge there? At IST, for example the Priority Pass lounge is quieter and much less crowded than the TK lounge (also easier to get a shower), although the TK lounge has better food.

subject2load

Oh come on Dave, when the words 'licensing laws, unaccompanied minors and young passengers' appear in the same sentence, it doesn't need a rocket scientist or the wisdom of Einstein to work out that an age of 16 is likely to involve restrictions.

Dave Noble

Given the vague way the tewrm is worded, no it isn't obvious that there would be restrictions in Dubai

Dubai is EK's main hub and would expect that EK should publish clearly the rules for its main port.

All it shows is an inability of a company to provide clear information on its website

As far as it goes for the specific customer, he has now been informed by EK of the age requirement in Dubai which should cover the matter for future travels

Airvan00

Dragon is not derogatory when referring to lounges. Dragons traditionally guard gold. Isn't that what a lounge is? In fact dragon is complementary in this sence.

(Maybe I have watched too much Harry Potter)

SimpleDXB

The levels of condescending on this forum know no bounds - some of the posters should be ashamed of themselves on here in addressing a young FT-er who has raised a valid point in the manner they have.

Moving on, it is probably also worth pointing out that the legal age of drinking in the UAE is 21yrs so EK's stated reason for non-admittance until he is 18yrs old is B/S.

Catusa

Actually, the problem is consistency. My son also 16, gold and flying in J gets easy access everywhere but Dubai. So I don't quite get if its a system wide rule or station dependant. About half the time he gets in in DXB too. One time they said "no" he went and got someone at the gate to escort him in and then the guy proceeded to enjoy the free flow alcohol for a couple of hours.

Twice they have given him permission to take a quick shower, eat and vacate the lounge within an hour. The agent kept his passport both times they allowed this.

Ask inbound FA if there is anyone in Y with same destination.

extramileage

I think those are different points.

As the OP said, the lounge staff did not state why the min age was 18. [We can theorize that it's generally seen as the legal adult age]

On EK aircraft, the drinking age is indeed 21. I've seen it enforced a handful of times (though not consistently).

Emirates202

Off topic but how are you still a sky surfer? I thought that once you turn 16 it automatically turns to regular skywards membership? Or maybe my friend said 17? His son is definitely a regular member at 17 now though.

Ahmed777

"The Skywards Skysurfers Website, in conjunction with the Skywards frequent flyer programme, is operated for persons aged between two and 16 years of age by Emirates (a decree corporation established in Dubai, United Arab Emirates) on behalf of itself(the Operator)."

Just noticed this! Quickly fired off an email to EK about it and awaiting the response. I hope that the transition is quick and easy, as I currently have 2 Y-J upgrades booked on miles DXB-LGW and LGW-DXB for December.

Also, does anyone know if, in the transition, your Tier miles are affected or zeroed? I would hope not.

With regards to the lounges worldwide, I am allowed into LHR about 90 percent of the time, and I am allowed into the DUR lounge always, since I am EK Gold, SA Gold and have Investec Private Banking, which all grant me access there.

I was told by Elixir that they are trying to be more consistent with lounge access in outstations, and that I shouldn't get used to them bending the rules so often.

Maybe it would be a good idea to go down to the gate and find a random to take in. That could work.

Also the idea about leaving my passport with them was quite good, but Elixir has made it clear that she isnt breaching the rules for anyone, which I respect.

Let's hope I depart from B or C next time, as I don't know their supervisors! (yet)

jackiedada

You definitely have money to throw . Besides, that borders on being a 'bribe' and not a tip - she could have lost her job had someone seen it....

Lux

Regardless of the OP's age I'm going to have to pick up on this use of 'dragon'. It's not on, and if that's the attitude you take with you then you will be denied access. Being nice to people generally gets better results.

I've been to a <lot> of airport lounges in the past 20 years, and met my share of unhappy or inflexible staff, but Emirates lounge agents are consistently friendly and helpful. So - please, no derogatory language. Harry Potter references do not justify it.

Dave Noble

The use of term "dragon" as a term for a lounge agent has been being used by numerous people on the fora and seems quite unreasonable to pick on this person using the term; searching around and will find lots of posts referring to agents as such

KrnGrs

Yes, I do know the feeling - as lots of us normal people do - yet I do not feel the need to insist on lounge access if it's not allowed? Or open various threads about it in FT.
If you need a shower that bad, use the public access showers, the water is perfectly fine there, I tried.

DYKWIA

^

subject2load

^^