Free access to Int'l First Class Lounges?
 

While morally and ethically suspect, is there anything in the reservation/check-in system to prevent one from buying two tickets on the same flight, one refundable in First with its ground amenties like IFL, and then actually traveling on a discounted restricted fare in Y?

Thinking through the issue, one has two confirmed seats with the same name but different PNRs. You check-in online and print your BP for one ticket (refundable F but without MP number) and then do it again a second time for the other ticket (Y with MP number). When you get to the airport you can go through fast-lane security and visit the IFL on your first class BP. Close to boarding you call UA reservations and cancel the first class ticket and then present your coach BP for the flight. Upon return, you request a charge-back for the unused first class ticket. It sounds too easy to game the system this way but I don't know where the process would hiccup. Thoughts?

You really want that much to go to the IFL???

Apparently, some people do. I remember reading an article where two people bought full fare F tickets with LH around new-year. They had a very nice dinner in the IFL, with all the bells and whistles and then canceled their tickets.

To the OP: I'm not sure I would do that, since you have to check in for your flight and you need to submit your passport information. I'm wondering if it would raise any flags, if a person uses the same personal and passport information for two tickets on the same flight.

While I would never do this or advocate anyone else doing it... I think that a better idea would be to purchase the F seat on a flight to a separate destination that is leaving at the same time or later than the flight you are actually on. That way there is no issue with having dupe names on the same flight. Still you would not include your MP# on the F class reservation. Since there are only IFL's at hub airports there are usually multiple international flights to choose from.

Edited.. yes the passport info is a way they could check for duplicates. But you could even try to get around that by entering a false address and passport number on the OLCI screen. Not sure if that would work.

Now that could easily be considered fraud, and a quick way to get yourself pulled in by ICE and possibly get a nice engraved invitation to the no-fly list.

ohhh they're engraving those now, sweet:p

I've been to many an IFL and I can't say that any of them are worth the trouble (esp the UA ones).

LOL yep!

If one really wants to experience Intl F lounges, I would advise saving miles for an award ticket preferably on one of the Star carriers.

But you don't want to know what they engrave it on...

:D The only airline lounge I'd do something like this for would be the QF First lounge at SYD. But UA's IFLs....:D

Back in the days of paper tickets, I remember reading an article where a guy got in loads of trouble for the following:

1) He would buy a cheap ticket
2) he would buy a F class ticket for the same flight
3) because he got boarding cards in advance, he would staple the F class card to the Y class ticket
4) he would always arrive to the gate just as the doors were closing, so the GA would not have time to verify things
5) he would then refund the unused F ticket, though he rode in F for the flight

Wouldn't it be easier to just buy the F ticket on a completely different airline? That avoids the duplicate/false issue, and works as long as the other flight has a nice IFL and is in the same terminal as your actual flight.

Doesn't PS F get IFL access? If so, doesn't have to apply to an intl itin and does away with passport issues.

Why would you even consider requesting a chargeback? If you have a refundable ticket you go through the proper procedure for a refund! :td:

Perhaps my terminology was incorrect- I was trying to say get a refund on a credit card either at the airport or online.

The reason I asked the question is my disbelief that the reservation/check-in process is that easy to fool. I would have thought entering into an IFL (or pick your favorite lounge) and not boading the aircraft would have major implications (taking a seat from a paying/upgrading customer, making a potentially wasted meal, defrauding the airline of revenue by the unwarranted use of the lounge and amenties, etc...) that some check and balance would be in place to prevent such shenanigans. The only potential benefit for the airline from this scenario that I can see is the float on the money spent to buy the unused first class ticket.

FWIW, I was inspired to ask the question based on reading an earlier FT thread where a father travelling domestically bought a refundable ticket with no intention of using in order to guest his minor son into a RCC who was travelling internationally on a separate itinerary.