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Arrival Lounges. How do they work?

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Old Jun 30, 2009 | 1:03 pm
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Question Arrival Lounges. How do they work?

Never had the need to use an arrivals lounge, so I have not bothered checking any of them out. I'll be into ZRH early later next week, and I may need to grab some snacks and a shower, due to potential late hotel availability.

So, how does it work? I assume you visit it after you collect your bags, but what do you do with them then? do you drag them in with you? seems weird. Then what? Can they get you a limo and stuff? Just wondering.
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Old Jun 30, 2009 | 1:17 pm
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Originally Posted by Brocktoon
Never had the need to use an arrivals lounge, so I have not bothered checking any of them out. I'll be into ZRH early later next week, and I may need to grab some snacks and a shower, due to potential late hotel availability.

So, how does it work? I assume you visit it after you collect your bags, but what do you do with them then? do you drag them in with you? seems weird. Then what? Can they get you a limo and stuff? Just wondering.
What airline are you using? Which class of service?

There is no Star Alliance arrivals lounge at ZRH. There are some arrivals facilities detailed on the ZRH website, for pay. If you are flying LX in a premium cabin, there are arrivals facilities.

In general, yes, you take whatever belongings you happen to have with you into a lounge you visit after a flight. If you are Super Elite or Elite arriving off a domestic flight in a Canadian airport, you can use the lounge as an arrivals lounge. You would take in your hand luggage. At the arrivals lounge at LHR you would take all your belongings with you, as you are not even in the airport anymore, really.
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Old Jun 30, 2009 | 1:23 pm
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LX flight on LH ticket in Business. I am also *A gold, which according to the Zurich airport website will get me into the Swiss arrivals lounge anyway... I guess it will be outside like at London, and I drag all my gear with me (family holiday).

In Canada, what happens to your bags? If you are sitting around the lounge, I assume if you have checked baggage, it's going unattended on the carousel, right?
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Old Jun 30, 2009 | 1:47 pm
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Originally Posted by Brocktoon
LX flight on LH ticket in Business. I am also *A gold, which according to the Zurich airport website will get me into the Swiss arrivals lounge anyway... I guess it will be outside like at London, and I drag all my gear with me (family holiday).
I don't think *G is enough by itself for free access, but being on an LX flight is business will be enough.

In Canada, what happens to your bags? If you are sitting around the lounge, I assume if you have checked baggage, it's going unattended on the carousel, right?
Yes.
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Old Jun 30, 2009 | 1:50 pm
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I guess that settles that. So you just bring your baggage cart in there. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

Thanks for your help zorn.
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Old Jun 30, 2009 | 3:36 pm
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Originally Posted by zorn
If you are Super Elite or Elite arriving off a domestic flight in a Canadian airport, you can use the lounge as an arrivals lounge.
Seriously?! Without a connection? I had no idea that this was allowed.
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Old Jun 30, 2009 | 3:43 pm
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Originally Posted by j_the_p
Seriously?! Without a connection? I had no idea that this was allowed.
I've done that a couple of times at Pearson when my hubby was on a different flight. Never knew if they were just being nice
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Old Jun 30, 2009 | 3:44 pm
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Originally Posted by j_the_p
Seriously?! Without a connection? I had no idea that this was allowed.
Yes. You get odd looks though.

I think they secretly suspect you're connecting to a WestJet flight or something.
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Old Jun 30, 2009 | 3:48 pm
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I feel somewhat silly not having known this before now. Thanks all.
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Old Jun 30, 2009 | 4:53 pm
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Originally Posted by trackypup
I've done that a couple of times at Pearson when my hubby was on a different flight. Never knew if they were just being nice
My understanding was that you're technically not allowed when you're arriving from a domestic flight, but they're often understanding if (e.g.) after a redeye you want to freshen up before you head out of the airport.

Can anyone point to something that says this is actually allowed?
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Old Jun 30, 2009 | 5:18 pm
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Found it!!

Air Canada Super Elite and Elite members
Air Canada Super Elite and Elite members, along with their spouse or domestic partner, dependant children, and one guest, are entitled to access the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge when departing on an Air Canada or Air Canada Jazz flight, or a flight with any Star Alliance carrier. Super Elite and Elite members and their qualifying guests* enjoy the additional privilege of access to the domestic Maple Leaf Lounge upon arriving at airports in Canada.
Source: http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelin...es/access.html
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Old Jun 30, 2009 | 7:11 pm
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I think the system sends up a red flag if the same card is swiped multiple times to a single lounge on the same day (makes sense). So if you use the lounge as an arrivals lounge in the morning and then a departure lounge later in the day, be prepared to explain. I've never had any trouble getting in, but once or twice have been asked to show my morning boarding card
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Old Jun 30, 2009 | 10:01 pm
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Originally Posted by SYM
I think the system sends up a red flag if the same card is swiped multiple times to a single lounge on the same day (makes sense). So if you use the lounge as an arrivals lounge in the morning and then a departure lounge later in the day, be prepared to explain. I've never had any trouble getting in, but once or twice have been asked to show my morning boarding card
Why? if you can access the lounge upon arrival and later on the same day upon departure, what'd the issue? What red flags? Why is this different than using several lounges on a multi-stop routing?
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Old Jul 1, 2009 | 8:15 am
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I generally use the domestic-lounge-on-arrival for the following:

- after a ~6am flight, to eat some breakfast, which allows me to sleep a little longer and just get to the airport for that early flight.

- last minute email check/print document/look up directions to someplace.

- a quick, free lunch.

- just for the hell of it, because I'm allowed to.

Edited to add: I realize this thread is now in TravelBuzz for some reason. Please be advised that much of the discussion is highly Air Canada-centric and may not apply to your flights if not on Air Canada and if you are not Elite or Super Elite on Air Canada.
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Old Jul 1, 2009 | 9:38 am
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Originally Posted by Shareholder
Why? if you can access the lounge upon arrival and later on the same day upon departure, what'd the issue? What red flags? Why is this different than using several lounges on a multi-stop routing?
I'm just guessing, but I would think that AC wants to stop the two of us SE going into the lounge together, then you taking my bp and card out and handing them over to our non-status friend, who then uses them to come into the lounge and join us. As a way of preventing this, use of the single card to enter a single lounge on the same day sends up some kind of a red flag and prompts the agent to ask. This has certainly happened to me at YOW and YVR when I've been in and out same day for a meeting. As I said, it has never been a problem - the agent asks, I explain, end of story. Again, this is just my guess - but I've never had any queries getting into any MLL under other circumstances...
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