New Lounge Access Policy?
Jul 23, 2013, 10:21 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CGN
Posts: 255
New Lounge Access Policy?
I'm currently sitting at the UA Club in Phoenix and just an interesting conversation with the Agent. I checked in and asked him if he can switch from my TK to my MP number and he told me if he did so I would not be allowed in. When I explained to him that I've done this in ORD, MEX & LAX and probably others he told me he just took a class 2 days ago saying no club access if the FF number on your reservation doesn't match the FF program on which you have *G. Is this new policy? And is it just UA policy? I have certainly walked into UA Clubs before with a BP with my MP number and handed them my TK Elite card for access.
Jul 23, 2013, 10:24 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 565
So change it on your way out of the club instead of on your way in.. problem solved. They probably don't want to pay TK for your lounge access and ALSO give you miles. I'm sure someone has figured out that's a double expense.. at least in the mind of some accountant.
Jul 23, 2013, 10:25 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
I'm currently sitting at the UA Club in Phoenix and just an interesting conversation with the Agent. I checked in and asked him if he can switch from my TK to my MP number and he told me if he did so I would not be allowed in. When I explained to him that I've done this in ORD, MEX & LAX and probably others he told me he just took a class 2 days ago saying no club access if the FF number on your reservation doesn't match the FF program on which you have *G. Is this new policy? And is it just UA policy? I have certainly walked into UA Clubs before with a BP with my MP number and handed them my TK Elite card for access.
Jul 23, 2013, 10:39 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nor Cal
Programs: UA Global Svcs 3 MM, LH Senator, BA Gold
Posts: 537
I've never had this issue, I always have my MP number on the boarding pass and use my LH Hon/Star Gold card to enter. It is a bit of a pain for them, as they have to do some manual data entry to use the one program for entry and another in the record - that may be why you were told that.
Jul 23, 2013, 10:39 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CGN
Posts: 255
I just change it online using the free Internet and don't have to deal with people. But I'm wondering if this is a new policy and/or UA specific as I've never seen this before. Could also have been the agent was making it up. That's why I use their free wifi to ask people more knowledgeable than I.
Jul 23, 2013, 10:42 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
I just change it online using the free Internet and don't have to deal with people. But I'm wondering if this is a new policy and/or UA specific as I've never seen this before. Could also have been the agent was making it up. That's why I use their free wifi to ask people more knowledgeable than I.
Jul 23, 2013, 10:42 am
#8
Join Date: May 2007
Location: variously: PVG, SFO, LHR
Programs: AA ExPlat, UA 1MM Gold, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat, HH Gold
Posts: 1,678
I just change it online using the free Internet and don't have to deal with people. But I'm wondering if this is a new policy and/or UA specific as I've never seen this before. Could also have been the agent was making it up. That's why I use their free wifi to ask people more knowledgeable than I.
You are only supposed to get the benefits of the FF status entered on your reservation, but few agents actually bother to enforce.
Jul 23, 2013, 10:45 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
That's not clearly denoted in any *A or UA website notice. It only requires presentation of the card and an onward boarding pass.
Jul 23, 2013, 10:55 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
People keep saying this like it's true with no support. It's a pet peeve of mine when people use "technically" to mean "as I understand things to be."
Jul 23, 2013, 11:16 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Nexus, GE
Posts: 2,125
I fully agree with mgcsinc. And the UC club agents are the ones that in my experience are the least informed and most likely to just make rules up. I have asked for supervisor every time they've made up a rule. 4 out of 5 times, they don't bother to call a supervisor, and allow a "one-time exception" which is BS. When supervisors have been called, they've always had to explain to the agent what the rules are. It's disappointing they're so poorly trained.
Jul 23, 2013, 11:33 am
#12
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SJC
Programs: NZ*G, QF NB, UA 1K, AA ExecPlat, IHG PlatAmb, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, ZE1 PC
Posts: 2,636
I had this experience at MCO in February. The agent was particularly prickly about it.
Everywhere else, it's never been a problem (although it always seems to take forever to be processed at DEN).
Everywhere else, it's never been a problem (although it always seems to take forever to be processed at DEN).
Jul 23, 2013, 12:02 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
Jul 23, 2013, 12:08 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
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