Odd near rejection at MXP lounge (contract agent did not know what GS was)
Mar 30, 2019, 4:27 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Round Lake, IL
Programs: UA GS, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,064
Odd near rejection at MXP lounge (contract agent did not know what GS was)
Went to the lounge at MXP with the wife and family. The check in agent said it would be OK as a GS for the 4 of us to go in. I know usually star gold is one guest but check in said no problem. Got to the lounge and was told that if I was 1K I could bring in up to 8 guests (OK, sounds weird) but she said he sheet said nothing about GS. They let us in anyway, but it's kind of odd that they have no clue what a GS is.
Mar 30, 2019, 6:01 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PIT
Programs: OZ Diamond, UA Gold
Posts: 9,906
Mar 30, 2019, 11:03 am
#8
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,779
Why would you expect a contract lounge agent serving dozens of carriers know about a program level barely mentioned on UA's website? That's why they have the reference sheet. The problem was the reference sheet.
Mar 30, 2019, 12:37 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
The check in agent said it would be OK as a GS for the 4 of us to go in. I know usually star gold is one guest but check in said no problem. Got to the lounge and was told that if I was 1K I could bring in up to 8 guests (OK, sounds weird) but she said he sheet said nothing about GS.
Cheers,
James
Mar 30, 2019, 2:20 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
Is there any place that discusses these exceptional *Gold lounge policies? I know for instance that UA and NH elites can access LH lounges on any EuroWings fare. I'm presently in the process of compiling a comprehensive *lounge guide for FT and would appreciate any direction.s
https://www.staralliance.com/en/lounge-access-policy
Mar 30, 2019, 4:03 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
-James
Mar 30, 2019, 4:58 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: TX
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 729
Mar 30, 2019, 5:59 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
Really! Having been to a couple of contract lounges I can assure you that this is the case. For instance whilst in DPS I used the * contract lounge for SQ for my flight back to SIN and here was all the different ways you can get in:
Multiply that by the number of partner airlines you can be a elite flyer with (i.e. UA in my case flying SQ) and it should be no surprise really that the agents don't know the nuances of the dozens of programs they support. And that's saying nothing of the other possibilities that occur when you start mixing fare classes and status to say nothing of the edge cases that could get you in.
-James
Multiply that by the number of partner airlines you can be a elite flyer with (i.e. UA in my case flying SQ) and it should be no surprise really that the agents don't know the nuances of the dozens of programs they support. And that's saying nothing of the other possibilities that occur when you start mixing fare classes and status to say nothing of the edge cases that could get you in.
-James
Mar 31, 2019, 3:45 am
#15
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PIT
Programs: OZ Diamond, UA Gold
Posts: 9,906