Aspire Plus Lounge denied access
Jun 13, 2019, 11:39 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum
Posts: 241
Aspire Plus Lounge denied access
Hi all:
Travelled out of Bristol last Thursday and the place was a zoo. Tried to access the Aspire Plus lounge as usual but was denied access due to “overbooking.” Was really just looking for a place to sit and charge my phone / laptop.
Has anyone else experienced being turned away from third party lounges as Platinum? I have been denied entry due to overbooking when trying to access Aspire lounges with Priority Pass, but never when eligible for entry as part of airline FF privileges as in this instance.
Travelled out of Bristol last Thursday and the place was a zoo. Tried to access the Aspire Plus lounge as usual but was denied access due to “overbooking.” Was really just looking for a place to sit and charge my phone / laptop.
Has anyone else experienced being turned away from third party lounges as Platinum? I have been denied entry due to overbooking when trying to access Aspire lounges with Priority Pass, but never when eligible for entry as part of airline FF privileges as in this instance.
Jun 13, 2019, 2:55 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Exeter, UK
Programs: BA Gold. Flying Blue Gold. Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, IHG Plat AMB, Radisson Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 219
I had this at the same lounge (Aspire Plus in Bristol) last summer. Was told that the whole place had been booked out for the TUI Premium customers and waved away to the 'regular' Aspire lounge (with its more limited F&B offering). I did complain to KLM, but got nothing other than a 'sorry' and vague waffle about capacity control.
That was the first and only time that I've been refused access to any lounge when using FF privileges.
That was the first and only time that I've been refused access to any lounge when using FF privileges.
Jun 14, 2019, 1:27 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SJJ/AMS
Posts: 4,647
It does happen at the Aspire in Birmingham (BHX) on a regular basis, especially midweek just after 4PM (i.e. before the Amsterdam/Frankfurt/Munich/etc. flights). They would normally put a sign up saying that they are full and that PP members can head to the nearby lounge.
G
G
Jun 14, 2019, 5:09 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: UK/FR
Programs: FlyingBlue Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 886
It does happen at the Aspire in Birmingham (BHX) on a regular basis, especially midweek just after 4PM (i.e. before the Amsterdam/Frankfurt/Munich/etc. flights). They would normally put a sign up saying that they are full and that PP members can head to the nearby lounge.
G
G
(I have unlimited entries with PP so often just use that instead of using my elite status)
Jun 14, 2019, 5:36 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SJJ/AMS
Posts: 4,647
PP should (I'm not a member hence not hundred-per-cent sure) also give you access to the No1 Lounge, which is slightly better than the Aspire-dump. I normally go when flying SN and, whilst also very crowded at times (i.e. holiday season), I do enjoy the better food and the beer (or sort of 
) on tap from the bar.
G
) on tap from the bar.G
Jun 15, 2019, 6:15 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: UK/FR
Programs: FlyingBlue Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 886
PP should (I'm not a member hence not hundred-per-cent sure) also give you access to the No1 Lounge, which is slightly better than the Aspire-dump. I normally go when flying SN and, whilst also very crowded at times (i.e. holiday season), I do enjoy the better food and the beer (or sort of ) on tap from the bar.
G
) on tap from the bar.G
Jun 17, 2019, 1:37 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: BRS
Posts: 336
Were you on KL1050? Several times I've been turned away from the plus lounge when on 1050 because Thomson/TUi block book the plus for their Dreamliner flights. They'll happily let you into the standard lounge, and last time I was there they told me I could have free prosecco as I was there on KL's account rather than PP. I didn't try to exercise the option, though. The standard lounge is also closer to the gate that KLM use.
Jun 17, 2019, 3:42 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum
Posts: 241
No, 1054.
I did get a nonsensical response from FB however. To make amends for the inconvenience, they wish to look forward to serving my travel needs again:
QUOTE
Thank you for your recent communication. I have forwarded your claim to our Flying Blue department. They handle the claims about not getting access to the lounge.
To make amends for the inconvenience you have experienced, we are pleased to offer you the following:
We look forward to serving your travel needs again in the near future and to welcoming you aboard another of our flights.
UNQUOTE
I did get a nonsensical response from FB however. To make amends for the inconvenience, they wish to look forward to serving my travel needs again:
QUOTE
Thank you for your recent communication. I have forwarded your claim to our Flying Blue department. They handle the claims about not getting access to the lounge.
To make amends for the inconvenience you have experienced, we are pleased to offer you the following:
We look forward to serving your travel needs again in the near future and to welcoming you aboard another of our flights.
UNQUOTE
Jun 18, 2019, 7:33 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
Dec 13, 2019, 1:18 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 1
I just had the same experience in Aspire lounge in Schiphol airport Amsterdam and denied access although the lounge was not full !!
what a shame for a world elite MasterCard holder to face such experience in front of other who was not denied access !
this is unacceptable from MasterCard !!
what a shame for a world elite MasterCard holder to face such experience in front of other who was not denied access !
this is unacceptable from MasterCard !!
Hi all:
Travelled out of Bristol last Thursday and the place was a zoo. Tried to access the Aspire Plus lounge as usual but was denied access due to “overbooking.” Was really just looking for a place to sit and charge my phone / laptop.
Has anyone else experienced being turned away from third party lounges as Platinum? I have been denied entry due to overbooking when trying to access Aspire lounges with Priority Pass, but never when eligible for entry as part of airline FF privileges as in this instance.
Travelled out of Bristol last Thursday and the place was a zoo. Tried to access the Aspire Plus lounge as usual but was denied access due to “overbooking.” Was really just looking for a place to sit and charge my phone / laptop.
Has anyone else experienced being turned away from third party lounges as Platinum? I have been denied entry due to overbooking when trying to access Aspire lounges with Priority Pass, but never when eligible for entry as part of airline FF privileges as in this instance.