Change in Policy on SKL Access in SIN for UA C class?
 

My sister (a 1K) is at Changi about to board UA 896 and is holding a C-class boarding pass. She's being denied access to the Silver Kris Lounge and they're kicking her back to the Premier Lounge. The United check-in agent also gave her some story about how UA has 'stopped paying for SKL access'.

Is this is a change in policy? Last I knew (as of June/July when I last did the trip) you could use the SKL with a C class boarding pass. Just curious...

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Nooooo. I sure hope not!

Are you confident she is trying to get in based on her C BP, and not her 1K card and/or the "invitation" they sometimes give you at check-in?

Sure would be a shame if that benefit went away. The SKL is much better than the other lounges.

I was able to access the SQ SilverKris Lounge in SYD with my Y SYD-SFO BP and my * Gold card..

I just went into the star alliance website on lounges and typed in the relevant information and it shows SKL is accessible. Looks like I will be bringing a copy/printout of the access rules on my next trip through there. :confused:

Anyone going through SIN in the next few weeks to verify this?

This would be unfortunate if proven to be the new policy.

If I remembered correctly, the invitation UA gives out at the check-in counter is for the regular lounge but I have always been able to get in the SKL with the C boarding pass (last time in May). OP, if your sister was actually refused entry at the SKL, maybe it is a change in policy.

+1

FriendlySkies-Dad received a pass for the lounge in LHR, when he flew paid C DEN-LHR..

If it is a change, it seems strange that SQ let me into the lounge with a Y BP and my * Gold card..

Examples outside of those where this 'incident' occurred really only determine that either there is no system change or that it hasn't been passed down yet. Both are possible, but also possible would be a policy change for SIN station only. Hopefully with the massive number of FTers, we can get another specific example at SIN in the next few days.

I wonder if this could simply be a case of a rogue agent who got stiffed on a non-rev seat or something? There are lots of stories of Senator Lounge dragons telling UA 1Ks and 1Ps that they are supposed to be in the Business Lounge.

A C BP gets you into the Business Lounge. A *G card gets you into the *G lounge. For airlines that make a distinction, *G lounges are generally better than Business Lounges.

Just to be clear my sister is quite knowledgeable about the rules (as they previously existed). SKL was very firm that she had to go to the Premier Lounge (with a C-class boarding pass). She pushed hard on it.

Interestingly there's an inconsistency on the Star Alliance site-the policy says clearly that any Star Business class traveller can enter any Star Business class lounge (which is how SKL is defined), and no exception is stated.

However, if you put in UA Business class on the Star Alliance lounge finder you only get the Premier Lounge. If you put in First Class you get both the Premier lounge and SKL First.

Interesting.. the *A Lounge Finder no longer lists SKL in SIN as *A Gold lounges, even though the airport map shows that they are.

I don't believe the SKL (in SIN) was ever a *A Gold lounge. In Changi T2, the *A Gold lounge is the SATS Premier Club, and in Changi T3, the *A Gold lounge is the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge.

Its been that way for a while, even for SQ's fliers:

Yes, SIN SKL has never been designated as Star Gold Lounge. Other SKLs are *G, just not the one in SIN.

I was there (SilverKris lounge at T3 in SIN) Monday, 10/18. Showed my 1K card and my C boarding pass for UA803 to NRT and was admitted, the same as always.

I believe you that she is both "knowledgeable" and that she "pushed hard". I ALSO firmly believe that she was the victim of a MOLA, and NOT of a change in SIN based policy. The SKL in SIN has never, repeat NEVER been a *G lounge.

However, it has always been a lounge into which *A travellers on a premium class BP's can enter. There have, over the years, been many reports by experienced, knowledgable, FTers of this kind of thing having happened. It has not happened to me, but it has to people whom I know.

When you hear hoofbeats, think horses NOT zebras. This isn't a change in policy, IMO.
Dave

My understanding was that the SKL in SIN was not designated a *G lounge, but you are given access if you are in business on a *A flight. If you are *G and in economy you are given access to the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge.

Your understanding is CORRECT.
Dave

thank you all. just wanted to be sure before i say something to someone at Changi-- which i will do the next time i'm there. i've never actually heard of problems with this policy before- i don't find the SKL matrons the friendliest in the world but they're usually on top of the rules.

anyway, this was a funny trip for my sister.

she flew HKG-SIN and then was turning around and going SIN-HKG-ORD the next morning (we buy B-class fares out of SIN as they're quite a good deal...). anyway, you can have UA pick up and retag the bags while you hang out at the lounge overnight (in her case the premier lounge!!) but this time they forgot to remove the SIN tag from the night before so her bags were loaded on in SIN in the morning but then turned around when they got to HKG and ended up back in SIN that night. needless to say the 1k baggage line was VERY confused about what happened and it took a good 48 hours to sort it out.

SATS Premier lounge for me also the last two turns through SIN.

I've used the SKL with an SQ *G person travelling with me; to be honest wasn't in there long enough to notice much of a difference. (went in for a bite and a drink and internet access)...

What was your outbound class of service??
Dave

Your 1K card is not relevant. The only thing they need to see is your BP. You could well be a non-statused pax. So long as you posses a C or F BP you should be gaining access.

Hmm. The SKL is bigger, has a better food selection, more things to read and showers & bathrooms in the back. Changi has free wi-fi throughout so if OP has a laptop, the internet is/was everywhere...

They seem to look at the card and write something down, but maybe they're just being polite!

This about SKL access at SIN, which is a special exception to the general rules. Elsewhere SKL is all there is and a *A card generally gets you in. At SIN you get the "premium" lounge or whatever, which is a shadow of the SKL lounge there.

Actually IME that's only true on LH (senator for *G and business for C). In SIN the *G lounge is markedly inferior to the "business" lounge.

If this reflects policy and not an on-the-spot rule invention, it is absolutely a change in policy. In the past I have gotten into SKL at SIN with a C boarding pass on UA or other *A carriers without question. When in Y with my *G card I have been politely turned away and redirected to the peasant lounge, I mean, ah, "gold" lounge.

We don't disagree. I think, in fairness, that you misinterpreted my post. I simply DONT BELIEVE that it is any type of policy change. I believe there were other explanations.
I'm aware of that, as that has always been my experience as well.
That also is correct, which is why there have been multiple posts on this thread explaining that the SIN SKL is NOT a *G lounge. ;)

Dave

There does seem to be a bit of confusion at SIN, especially from the gate agents. I flew out of SIN - NRT on 10/18 NF. The gate gave me a pass to the premier lounge (*G one) but I just walked to the SKL and was allowed into the FC lounge. This was my fourth trip to the IFL lounge and never a problem, I disregard what the CSR say or the invitation say.

Last year, on C ticket, was sent to *G lounge by agent again but stupidly, I went to the Kris Gold lounge instead and did not go to the SKL in T3.

Before T3 opened, in the old terminal (T2 I believe), I was never able to get into the SKL business lounge, only the premier lounge on *G and NC ticket. Only time I got in was flying a SQ flight in business.

For a quick update on this topic. On November 21 arrived from DPS in economy class on Singapore Airlines, and departed the next morning in Business Class on United to Narita. No problem at all to use the Silver Kris Lounge in both Terminal 2 and Terminal 3.

As a former SQ PPS Club member, the SKL is not and never has been a Star Alliance Lounge. It's a separate lounge entirely, intended for First/Suites and Business Class Passengers aboard Singapore Airlines Only (and PPS club members)

Star Alliance flyers are usually asked to go to the Krisflyer Gold lounge, which is nice, but not as nice as the SKL.

I am surprised SQ is letting UA pax flying C and F in there. I wouldn't push it.

The rules are clear:

The lounge provides an oasis of calm and respite for PPS Club members and Singapore Airlines customers travelling in Suites, First and Business Class cabins.

Anyone flying NC, NF, C etc on UA metal is not an SQ customer

Did you use the lounge on arrival or departure? Has anyone had lounge access on arrival? Are any of the lounges open 24 hrs?

I have always been allowed into SKL lounge at T3 whenver I flied on United Business. More than 6 times over the last 12 months. The condition is that one needs to have a valid boarding pass (If online checkin is completed but, for some reason, you are issued a document that requires you to see an agent, you may not be accepted though.)

No lounges in SIN are arrivals lounges (at least not for *A). SKL in T2 and T3 and *G in T3 are open 24hours.

As an additional update, the staff at the Silver Kris Lounges did tell me that access to the lounge is available for flying on any Star Alliance airline in either business class or first class. (I also did not yet have my United boarding pass, and this was also no problem).

I have shown a OLCI page on my comp to gain access before the UA transfer desk opens. I always expect to get kicked back to the *G lounge, but never do.

You are correct that it is not now, nor has it ever been a *G lounge.
Among others, yes.
IF they are flying in Y, that is correct. IF they are in C/F, that is wrong, wrong, wrong. :(
That is because you are WRONG! The SIN SKL is and always has been available for use by C/F pax on *A carriers.
Yes, it does this for SQ pax, AMONG others!!!
NO, they are not SQ customers, they are also entitled to access. Please stop spreading false information on FT.
Thanks,
Dave

Has the SKL been a SQ PPS Club member?

The intended meaning is correct: the new SKL has never been
a Star lounge.

True except for the Only. But that Only turns the post from
true to false in the twinkling of an eye.

How would you know this? Hang around the outside waiting
for Star flyers to be denied entry?

My experience: always been admitted as a *G in C except for
once. On that occasion I was also denied at the KF lounge,
where I was told to use the SKL! I ended up staying at the
KF lounge just to say I'd been: it's not very nice.

Be surprised, then. You don't get out much, do you?

1. What is posted on a website is not necessarily a set of rules.
2. If it is a set of rules, it is not necessarily a complete set of rules.

The fact that this lounge provides an oasis of calm for some does
not mean that it doesn't do so for others.

In fact you're putting out false information that's based on
a too-narrow reading of what some Internet page says. It would
be nice to put out true information based on experience or
observation.

Untrue in its entirety. It is not a *G lounge but it is a Singapore Airlines Biz lounge and hence accessible with a same day *A Biz BP. And always was.
That's an add, not the access rule. It doesn't say "our Star Alliance members are excluded from the use of the lounge".
Ehm ... that is trivially true. And hence - following that brilliant logic - PPS members in C or F should be denied lounge access in every airport on earth which doesn't host a SilverKris lounge as they are not TG, LH, UA, LX, BD etc etc etc etc customers.

It seems that not only does SQ not get the concept of the Star Alliance, its customers are stricken with the same tunnel vision.

I think we've all made our point clear to poor old meFirst!

All I know is that when I check in tomorrow at T3 for UA896 bound for HKG, with an onward flight to SFO, (all in C), the friendly SATS check person will hand me my boarding pass and then proceed to handwrite a lounge invitation, at which point I will politely tell him/her that I don't need it as I know where the lounges are...

I have 3 lounge options.

1. Use the United lounge (which is operated by SATS) and has the UA logo out the front for the morning or walk down the hall a little more and
2. Use the KrisFlyer Gold lounge or keep walking down the hall and
3. Use the SKL lounge

Most people use the lounge that they are instructed to use when they check in. Some wiser folks keep walking to the Krisflyer Gold lounge. And the FT'ers with C or F boarding passes keep walking to the SKL lounge.

But what would I know. I only live here...;)

+1 ^
Dave

Consider yourself lucky. Before Terminal 3 was built, the access policies for the lounge at T2 was a lot more stringent. Back then, there wasn't even a Kris flyer Gold Lounge.

It is not uncommon for a carrier to have a lounge independent of the alliance. Oneworld Emeralds are allowed access to First Class lounges, but British Airways will only admit First Class pax (never emeralds (even though they are entitled) ) into the Concorde Room. If you are an EXP, try to get into the Concorde room with a C boarding pass, you will be turned down. You can only get in with an F boarding pass on British Airways.

And yes, SQ seems to think they are not part of *A (separate topic) - but there is a reason why the Kris Flyer gold lounge was built. It's for the star alliance.

I am not spreading mis information, I am merely suggesting FT's don't push it if they are turned back (and ruining it for others). DYKHIA might end this party.

I'll be back at SIN in a few months, we will see if this trick works.

Since people on NF were allowed in, did SQ let you into the Private Room the the SKL as well? (and the F shower area?)

I hope you understand, that until recently, only Suite passengers were allowed in the Private Room.

And to clarify : We are talking about the Silver Kris Lounge in Singapore, not anywhere else.