Feb 7, 2015, 9:14 pm
Last edit by: Phaze
Previous thread - Global First Lounge (IFL / GFL) Access Questions and Experiences
:-: United's Global First Lounges located at LHR, IAD, SFO, HKG and NRT are for the use of passengers traveling in United's Global First or in International First Class on a Star Alliance member aircraft with more than two classes of service departing that day from that airport.
NOTE: Global First Lounge at ORD has closed. Polaris lounge Chicago is now open, including dining. The Global First Lounge at LHR closes at 18:00, as confirmed by United via phone. The website currently omits this information.
This reconfirmed per UA Insider - see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/21700252-post535.html
Passengers must be holding a same day ticket for flights departing to/from a Trans Atlantic, Trans Pacific, Southern South America, Africa or a Middle East destination. Passengers connecting to/from other United/United Express flights will be admitted as long as the above requirements are met.
Global Services members can also use Global First Lounges when traveling in BusinessFirst or p.s. (EWR-LAX/SFO) BusinessFirst cabin.
A GS who arrives in BF or GF will be admitted to the GFL. This does not apply to a GS flying non-UA metal.
Any passenger holding a boarding pass for travel within 24 hours in UA GF will have access to the GFL at their departure and connecting airports.
from United Global First and Arrivals lounges
:-: United's Global First Lounges located at LHR, IAD, SFO, HKG and NRT are for the use of passengers traveling in United's Global First or in International First Class on a Star Alliance member aircraft with more than two classes of service departing that day from that airport.
NOTE: Global First Lounge at ORD has closed. Polaris lounge Chicago is now open, including dining. The Global First Lounge at LHR closes at 18:00, as confirmed by United via phone. The website currently omits this information.
This reconfirmed per UA Insider - see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/21700252-post535.html
Passengers must be holding a same day ticket for flights departing to/from a Trans Atlantic, Trans Pacific, Southern South America, Africa or a Middle East destination. Passengers connecting to/from other United/United Express flights will be admitted as long as the above requirements are met.
Global Services members can also use Global First Lounges when traveling in BusinessFirst or p.s. (EWR-LAX/SFO) BusinessFirst cabin.
A GS who arrives in BF or GF will be admitted to the GFL. This does not apply to a GS flying non-UA metal.
Any passenger holding a boarding pass for travel within 24 hours in UA GF will have access to the GFL at their departure and connecting airports.
from United Global First and Arrivals lounges
United Global FirstSM Lounge
The United Global First Lounge is an oasis of service and privacy. Tailored to the needs of United Global First customers on long-haul international flights*, we offer personalized services, complimentary hors d'oeuvres and premium beverages.
Access policy
The following customers may access the United Global First lounge by showing their United boarding pass for a flight arriving or departing on a same-day (within 24 hours) itinerary.
United Global First customers traveling on long-haul international flights*
Star Alliance™ First customers departing on international flights
These eligible United Global First Lounge visitors are allowed one adult or child to accompany them as a guest.
*Long-haul international flights are between the U.S. and Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East or South America.
The United Global First Lounge is an oasis of service and privacy. Tailored to the needs of United Global First customers on long-haul international flights*, we offer personalized services, complimentary hors d'oeuvres and premium beverages.
Access policy
The following customers may access the United Global First lounge by showing their United boarding pass for a flight arriving or departing on a same-day (within 24 hours) itinerary.
United Global First customers traveling on long-haul international flights*
Star Alliance™ First customers departing on international flights
These eligible United Global First Lounge visitors are allowed one adult or child to accompany them as a guest.
*Long-haul international flights are between the U.S. and Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East or South America.
Global First Lounge (IFL / GFL) Access Questions and Experiences [2015 forward]
May 24, 2017, 9:39 am
#466
Join Date: Mar 2005
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Airlines in other alliances such as OW also do a lot of market research and have come to different conclusions about lounge access. I think a fair argument can be made that OW gets it right and *A doesn't.
May 24, 2017, 9:41 am
#467
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This is absolutely the biggest hole in the *A lounge access rules and I can understand why the unsuspecting passengers are upset to find themselves denied access on the domestic connection.
UA has mitigated the harshness of the rules by offering expanded access for passengers arriving on UA metal . . . would be nice to see LH do the same by making arrangements for its arriving F pax, but that's not likely to happen.
UA has mitigated the harshness of the rules by offering expanded access for passengers arriving on UA metal . . . would be nice to see LH do the same by making arrangements for its arriving F pax, but that's not likely to happen.
May 24, 2017, 10:26 am
#468
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The LH club is a lot nicer anyway.
May 24, 2017, 10:41 am
#469
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Agreed. Arrivals lounges are important, particularly in destinations where long-haul passengers arrive in the morning before their hotels are likely to be ready for check-in. I was frustrated a few months back when I discovered LH offers no arrivals facility whatsoever at MUC, despite having a lovely and well-stocked arrivals lounge at FRA. Worst of all were the FTers in the LH forum, who mocked me for "not understanding what an airport is for." (Can you tell I'm getting annoyed with the amount of snark on FT?)
May 24, 2017, 10:43 am
#470
Join Date: Aug 2005
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I do sympathize with the OP, and well done on the post (in which you sound pretty patient with it all). It's silly; I don't have a UC membership, I can spend $100 on a flight to Toronto and *G gets me in to a UC (and TK/LH).
I would just be peeved and leave to hit a decent airline restaurant for a proper glass of wine. Given you'd just come off LH First (probably on a lovely 748i), the IAD UA lounges would have been thoroughly depressing anyway.
I would just be peeved and leave to hit a decent airline restaurant for a proper glass of wine. Given you'd just come off LH First (probably on a lovely 748i), the IAD UA lounges would have been thoroughly depressing anyway.
May 24, 2017, 10:47 am
#471
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 575
I'm not sure if you were being serious, but if so, I would imagine OP was attempting to purchase first class air travel between one destination and another, and that's about as far as it went. Given that OP bought an expensive first class international fare from UA, it was perfectly reasonable to assume -- incorrectly, it turned out -- that it granted access to the GFL as an arrival lounge.
It's easy to forget that most of the flying public -- even frequent travelers -- doesn't dwell on the minutiae of lounge access, aircraft types, seating charts, and the like. FT is a hobbyist community. Let's leave the snark for other forums.
It's easy to forget that most of the flying public -- even frequent travelers -- doesn't dwell on the minutiae of lounge access, aircraft types, seating charts, and the like. FT is a hobbyist community. Let's leave the snark for other forums.
May 24, 2017, 11:02 am
#472
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Let's say United started admitting non-UA arrivals connecting to domestic flights. Can you imaging the crowds in the peak arrival/departure windows? I can. People already complain about crowding. In short order, you'd have int'l departure passengers denied entry due to capacity limitations reached by admitting arrival passengers.
The OP was indeed accorded access to a lounge on arrival at IAD. Complaining about lounge access not being included in the price is 100% wrong in this case. The price of LH lounge access was included in the LH portion of the ticket. Maybe the OP does not understand how code-shares work - United does not keep all the money. Most of the money he paid for the LH leg went to LH, not UA. LH provides a LH lounge (and he was admitted) for its operated flights at IAD. It just wasn't convenient enough for him.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; May 24, 2017 at 11:18 am
May 24, 2017, 11:19 am
#473
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I'm not sure if you were being serious, but if so, I would imagine OP was attempting to purchase first class air travel between one destination and another, and that's about as far as it went. Given that OP bought an expensive first class international fare from UA, it was perfectly reasonable to assume -- incorrectly, it turned out -- that it granted access to the GFL as an arrival lounge.
It's easy to forget that most of the flying public -- even frequent travelers -- doesn't dwell on the minutiae of lounge access, aircraft types, seating charts, and the like. FT is a hobbyist community. Let's leave the snark for other forums.
It's easy to forget that most of the flying public -- even frequent travelers -- doesn't dwell on the minutiae of lounge access, aircraft types, seating charts, and the like. FT is a hobbyist community. Let's leave the snark for other forums.
And I suspect the OP didn't necessarily think of the GFL in IAD as an "arrivals lounge". He hadn't arrived yet. He was in the middle of the trip, connecting from one flight to another.
Maybe ask your non-FTer parents or spouse what their expectation would be if they spent 10 grand on a F trip to Europe/
Last edited by notquiteaff; May 24, 2017 at 11:43 am
May 24, 2017, 11:30 am
#474
Join Date: Mar 2001
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We already have our answer to the OP, right from the CEO's lips: "Our employees did not have the authority to do what's right for our customers."
May 24, 2017, 11:47 am
#475
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
But he wasn't a United customer for the purposes of lounge access. He was a Lufthansa customer. United doesn't grant access to its own customers for domestic F.
May 24, 2017, 11:48 am
#476
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I wonder what basis OP was admitted to the LH lounge? If I recall there are reports that they allow non-*G on UA domestic F, but perhaps it was a special case for their own F pax.
May 24, 2017, 11:52 am
#477
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 575
Exactly. There are so many discussions about lounge rules here because they are so confusing even to many frequent travelers.
And I suspect the OP didn't necessarily think of the GFL in IAD as an "arrivals lounge". He hadn't arrived yet. He was in the middle of the trip, connecting from one flight to another.
Maybe ask your non-FTer parents or spouse what their expectation would be if they spent 10 grand on a F trip to Europe/
And I suspect the OP didn't necessarily think of the GFL in IAD as an "arrivals lounge". He hadn't arrived yet. He was in the middle of the trip, connecting from one flight to another.
Maybe ask your non-FTer parents or spouse what their expectation would be if they spent 10 grand on a F trip to Europe/
May 24, 2017, 11:53 am
#478
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 575
I agree. The catch that lounges are departure facilities, and that UA domestic F does not grant lounge access, leaves pax like OP very awkwardly in the lurch. Whenever I use my *G to get into a lounge in a situation like this I think how silly it is that *G gets me something that full F does not.
I wonder what basis OP was admitted to the LH lounge? If I recall there are reports that they allow non-*G on UA domestic F, but perhaps it was a special case for their own F pax.
I wonder what basis OP was admitted to the LH lounge? If I recall there are reports that they allow non-*G on UA domestic F, but perhaps it was a special case for their own F pax.
May 24, 2017, 11:54 am
#479
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 575
Well, it's a departure privilege, not based on price.
Let's say United started admitting non-UA arrivals connecting to domestic flights. Can you imaging the crowds in the peak arrival/departure windows? I can. People already complain about crowding. In short order, you'd have int'l departure passengers denied entry due to capacity limitations reached by admitting arrival passengers.
The OP was indeed accorded access to a lounge on arrival at IAD. Complaining about lounge access not being included in the price is 100% wrong in this case. The price of LH lounge access was included in the LH portion of the ticket. Maybe the OP does not understand how code-shares work - United does not keep all the money. Most of the money he paid for the LH leg went to LH, not UA. LH provides a LH lounge (and he was admitted) for its operated flights at IAD. It just wasn't convenient enough for him.
Let's say United started admitting non-UA arrivals connecting to domestic flights. Can you imaging the crowds in the peak arrival/departure windows? I can. People already complain about crowding. In short order, you'd have int'l departure passengers denied entry due to capacity limitations reached by admitting arrival passengers.
The OP was indeed accorded access to a lounge on arrival at IAD. Complaining about lounge access not being included in the price is 100% wrong in this case. The price of LH lounge access was included in the LH portion of the ticket. Maybe the OP does not understand how code-shares work - United does not keep all the money. Most of the money he paid for the LH leg went to LH, not UA. LH provides a LH lounge (and he was admitted) for its operated flights at IAD. It just wasn't convenient enough for him.
May 24, 2017, 12:02 pm
#480
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Yes, there's a rule, but it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. It's just an arbitrary cut-off that one alliance applies and another (OneWorld) does not.