Need card to enter LH lounge?
Dec 4, 2015, 10:14 am
#31
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
Dec 4, 2015, 11:58 am
#32
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,119
You should ALWAYS expect that your MP card is required when entering partner lounges. Card be physical or electronic in most cases.
For LH it is hit or miss but the past 3-4 visits I did not need to show my card at all. For LX for example, you always have to show your card.
For LH it is hit or miss but the past 3-4 visits I did not need to show my card at all. For LX for example, you always have to show your card.
And this is exactly why, when UA was so late in printing cards a few years ago (right after the merger, IIRC), people were upset despite others saying, "You don't need the actual card."
Dec 4, 2015, 4:11 pm
#34
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Potomac MD
Programs: UA MP 1K
Posts: 7,182
My experience is that they always want a BP and often want a *G card. LH dragons have seen my BP with *G on it and I have been denied access to the lounge in FRA esp. (haven't flown to MUC for a while) until I delve into my wallet to produce my 1K card.
The BP ismore often a necessity. In IAD and on OLCI I once could not check in on my LH connection--hoped to get it at the Senator lounge in FRA. But the dragon refused to let me in and told me to go all the way back to the LH Customer Service station and wait on line. I asked to speak to a supervisor and was told that the supervisor was not on duty that day. After an extended discussion, I turned around and was going to walk to the Customer Service station when the phantom supervisor suddenly appeared and asked me: "Is there something wrong? May I help you?" She escorted me into the lounge and printed my BP as the dragon stood there fuming.
In Germany, there are always regulations, lots of them, and there is often no way around them. A few years ago two of my hosts wanted to split the cost of my airfare. The bureaucracy of this was horrid. It took months to get this straightened out even though all sides agreed that it was a rather easy thing to do.
The BP ismore often a necessity. In IAD and on OLCI I once could not check in on my LH connection--hoped to get it at the Senator lounge in FRA. But the dragon refused to let me in and told me to go all the way back to the LH Customer Service station and wait on line. I asked to speak to a supervisor and was told that the supervisor was not on duty that day. After an extended discussion, I turned around and was going to walk to the Customer Service station when the phantom supervisor suddenly appeared and asked me: "Is there something wrong? May I help you?" She escorted me into the lounge and printed my BP as the dragon stood there fuming.
In Germany, there are always regulations, lots of them, and there is often no way around them. A few years ago two of my hosts wanted to split the cost of my airfare. The bureaucracy of this was horrid. It took months to get this straightened out even though all sides agreed that it was a rather easy thing to do.
Dec 4, 2015, 5:00 pm
#35
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Gold + 1MM; HHonors Gold; Marriott Plat
Posts: 747
Dec 4, 2015, 6:10 pm
#37
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,119
I've been asked within the past couple of years at a LH lounge and at check-in by a LH agent when checking the *G bag allowance. On the latter, the agent claimed she had no way to prove I was *G without the card and that it didn't show on the reservation at all.
Dec 4, 2015, 7:44 pm
#38
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 403
FWIW I have had no problems this year accessing a number of *G lounges in Europe with a copy of my Gold card that I printed online (after losing the physical card). I asked United to send a replacement, and they said they would, but of course a replacement never arrived. But the printed copy from the website has never raised an eyebrow
Dec 7, 2015, 12:15 am
#39
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: AC 50K, NZ Gold
Posts: 222
LH always checks your card when you enter Senator lounge. Business boarding pass does not cut it. They need to see gold status. Also, early in the morning they set up small kiosks before the entrance to streamline the process when the first wave of NA planes hits FRA before 6 a.m.
Dec 7, 2015, 9:18 am
#40
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1P-1MM, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,930
LH always checks your card when you enter Senator lounge. Business boarding pass does not cut it. They need to see gold status. Also, early in the morning they set up small kiosks before the entrance to streamline the process when the first wave of NA planes hits FRA before 6 a.m.
Dec 7, 2015, 10:07 am
#41
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA MileagePlus (Premier Gold); Hilton HHonors (Gold); Chase Ultimate Rewards; Amex Plat
Posts: 6,664
Related - What do you do about expired cards? I'm starting an international trip end of January and returning early Feb. During my return I'd like to use *G lounges, but my card will have expired as of 2/1/16 and I really doubt UA will have gotten me my new one before I leave.
Dec 7, 2015, 10:48 am
#42
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Southern California, USA
Posts: 1,393
) since my new one hadn't arrive (about 3 years ago) at FRA and was allowed access. NOTE: my boarding pass did show I was *G and the card was <1 week of having expired.
Dec 7, 2015, 11:19 am
#43
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
Fwiw, I've been allowed into an LH Senator lounge in TXL without my card. LX in ZRH asked for card for the Senator lounge (though I could've gone without card in the Business lounge).
Dec 7, 2015, 11:38 am
#44
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: SJC
Programs: Southwest, Alaska, United, American Airlines
Posts: 994
Star Alliance has a Premium Customer Database that verifies whether you're entitled to Star Gold benefits such as lounge access. In general, any lounge entrance point with a BP scanner should be able to confirm your status without presenting a card.
Dec 7, 2015, 2:51 pm
#45
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: MDW/ORD and the late lamented Meigs Field...
Programs: UA 1MM Premier 1K, Hilton Gold, Marriott Titanium/ LT
Posts: 1,229
It depends on what metal you are flying. If you have a LH BP and are *G, they don't generally ask for the card. If you are on a UA BP, they ask for the card. At least, this is my experience at FRA. I haven't taken a UA flight from FRA in a while. In the past, they always wanted your card.