Enter lounge without card?
Dec 14, 2015 | 11:09 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 12
Enter lounge without card?
I just got gold card from one Star Alliance member but haven't received the card yet. As this is my first this status level, I was wondering if I'm able to enter lounge later this week when flying in KL and BKK without the card? Do I just show the membership number from website or? Thanks!
Dec 15, 2015 | 1:04 am
#2
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BRU
Programs: LH SEN, QR Gold, Accor Gold, Hilton Gold, Hertz 5-star
Posts: 77
I never use a card to enter the lounge. Gold, SEN or something else will be printed on your boarding pass and be enough. In contract lounges they might ask for your freq flyer number. Enjoy 
Dec 15, 2015 | 8:44 am
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP; UA 1MM & PP; Marriott AMB; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 62,340
I've actually had difficulty with TG, although that was at an outstation (KBV). BKK I think will probably be okay so long as the number is printed on the BP. KUL I don't know.
Dec 15, 2015 | 9:14 am
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,253
It is silly, but there are certain lounges which require a physical card or at least the e-card from your carrier's app. In the meantime, if you have neither, perhaps your carrier can provide somehing.
If you tell us the locations to which you are traveling in the near term, people here can tell you about current practice at those specific lounges as the chances are that no card of any kind is required.
If you tell us the locations to which you are traveling in the near term, people here can tell you about current practice at those specific lounges as the chances are that no card of any kind is required.
Dec 15, 2015 | 4:33 pm
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP; UA 1MM & PP; Marriott AMB; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 62,340
As a Star Alliance Gold customer, you have access to any member airline lounge that displays the Star Alliance Gold logo. You will need to present your boarding pass for a Star Alliance flight departing from the local airport. If your boarding pass does not carry the Star Alliance Gold indicator, you will need also to show your valid Star Alliance Gold card.
Lounge Access Policy
Dec 15, 2015 | 6:24 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 53
Thanks for offering! What about Maple Leaf in FRA with O6*G and no card?
Dec 15, 2015 | 11:23 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Melbourne, AU
Programs: *A Gold, QF (ex-QP), AA, TG, A3 Gold, VA, SQ
Posts: 358
That is no longer true (although some lounge dragons believe that it is). The published policy is:
As a Star Alliance Gold customer, you have access to any member airline lounge that displays the Star Alliance Gold logo. You will need to present your boarding pass for a Star Alliance flight departing from the local airport. If your boarding pass does not carry the Star Alliance Gold indicator, you will need also to show your valid Star Alliance Gold card.
Lounge Access Policyhttp://rg.starallianceemployees.com/lounge-access.html
Star Alliance Gold (SAG) customers travelling in any class
Customers have access to any Star Alliance member carriers' owned lounges with the Star Alliance Gold logo at the entrance. To gain access:
The customer must present a boarding pass for travel on a Star Alliance flight departing from the local airport;
The customer must present proof of SAG-level status. This is indicated on the boarding pass by XX*G, where XX is the carrier code of the carrier with whom the customer has SAG-level status. If the boarding pass does not show this, but the customer can prove Star Alliance Gold status via valid frequent flyer programme SAG-level card, access must be granted. In cases where the customer does not have the physical card, another valid indication of SAG-level status can be accepted.
Where a discrepancy exists between the loyalty status levels displayed on the frequent flyer programme card, boarding pass, other document presented and/or the Star Alliancem Premium Customer Database, the highest displayed level will be honoured. Example: boarding pass shows xx*S (xx = airline code *S=Star Alliance Silver), but customer presents a valid FFP card showing the Star Alliance Gold logo, customer must be given access to the lounge.
Always consult your supervisor or airline representative before turning away a customer.
A customer who qualifies for lounge access is entitled to bring one guest, who must also have a boarding pass for a Star Alliance flight leaving from the relevant airport the same day.
Note: UA customers may only access the United Clubs within the U.S. when travelling in conjunction with a Star Alliance international flight.
So failing all else, you should be able to request that staff consult the Star Alliance Premium Customer Database (which I am hoping is kept up-to-date ?) or, failing that, their supervisor.
Staff are encouraged to have a link to the guide on their smartphone ...
http://www.star-allianceemployees.co...enceguide.html
Should you want your own copy, the 2015 PDF version is here:
https://portal.staralliance.com/empl...eference-guide
The exact same text as above appears on page 143.
If people can show the rules in these situations perhaps we have a chance of getting more consistency.
Dec 16, 2015 | 12:41 am
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
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Dec 16, 2015 | 5:06 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold, Former UA 1K
Posts: 6,366
Generally if I enter a lounge without a guest then they don't ask for my card, but sometimes they do. I've never pushed the issue because I always have it, so don't know if access would have been denied or not. Almost without fail though if I have a guest they ask for the card.
Dec 17, 2015 | 4:21 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AC SE, Bonvoy Plat, Natl Exec
Posts: 2,344
Dec 19, 2015 | 6:08 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: ORD, HKG
Programs: UA*G, AA Emerald, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt globalist
Posts: 10,551
E.g. UA*G flying BR in HKG, a lounge invite require to enter VS lounge, VS will then send a bill to BR but not UA, since UA has no contract with VS !
Many of us can tell a different story. Certain lounges are renowned for insisting on seeing the card. You should always carry your card.
I've actually had difficulty with TG, although that was at an outstation (KBV). BKK I think will probably be okay so long as the number is printed on the BP. KUL I don't know.
I've actually had difficulty with TG, although that was at an outstation (KBV). BKK I think will probably be okay so long as the number is printed on the BP. KUL I don't know.
Not to mention, sometimes it is not about the lounge, it is about the lounge dragon. One may use the lounge with no problem repeatedly, but on a particular day and particular time, a different lounge dragon may decide he/she wants to see a physical card.
Last edited by ORDnHKG; Dec 19, 2015 at 6:17 pm
Dec 20, 2015 | 9:21 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: AMS+IAH
Programs: LH: Lifetime SEN *G|| IHG: Dia+RA InnerC
Posts: 5,618
In FRA AC lounge warden's are very friendly so i wouldn't expect any problems.
I do like to give my LH F bp and LH SEN card together and they jokingly said when are you bringing two extra guests in?
I do like to give my LH F bp and LH SEN card together and they jokingly said when are you bringing two extra guests in?