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Revised Star Alliance Lounge Access Rules (Updated 2010)
I was recently denied access to the UA First Class Lounge at IAD when flying IAD-xJFK [UA] JFK-oZRH [LX]. I was told the rule was you were only entitled to F-Lounge access at the international gateway when departing in international F. This was contrary to numerous experiences over the years.
Doing some research before sending my complaint letter to United, I found the following on the Star Alliance web site. This is different from what I have seen there in the past and memorializes that what I was told at IAD is now correct. At least I am grateful that there is no longer any decent reason to fly my connecting flights on UA. And I am certainly not going to voluntarily fly my paid F segments on United. International First Class Customers: Customers have access to International First Class and/or any Star Alliance member carriers' own lounges. Customer must present a boarding card for the same day travel in international First Class on a Star Alliance flight Customer must be departing from the local airport in International First Class Customer is entitled to one guest International Business Class Customers: Customers have access to any Star Alliance member carriers' owned Business Class lounges. Customer must present a boarding card for the same day travel in international Business Class on a Star Alliance flight Customer must be departing from the local airport in International Business Class Customer is not entitled to any guests Domestic First Class: Some Star Alliance Member carriers offer lounge access to customers travelling in domestic First Class. Where domestic First Class level lounges are offered, customers must present a boarding card for a same day travel in domestic First Class on a Star Alliance flight Customer must be departing from the local airport in Domestic First Class Customer is entitled to one guest Domestic Business Class: Some Star Alliance Member carriers offer lounge access to customers travelling in domestic Business Class. Where domestic Business Class level lounges are offered, customers must present a boarding card for a same day travel in domestic Business Class on a Star Alliance flight Customer must be departing from the local airport in Domestic Business Class Customer is not entitled to any guests Star Alliance Gold Customers Travelling in Any Class: Customers have access to any Star Alliance member carriers' owned lounges with the Star Alliance Gold logo at the entrance. Customer must present a valid frequent flyer programme Star Alliance Gold level card Customer must also present a boarding card for a same day Star Alliance flight departing from the local airport Customer is entitled to one guest United and US Airways Star Alliance Gold customers are only eligible for lounge access when travelling in conjunction with a Star Alliance international flight Paid Lounge Membership Customers: Customers have access to any Star Alliance member carriers' owned Business Class lounges. Customer must present a valid paid lounge membership card Customer must also present a boarding card for a same day Star Alliance flight departing from the local airport. Customer is entitled to one guest Contract Lounges Star Alliance Gold customers have access to third party Contract Lounges contracted by the Star Alliance member carrier on which the customer is travelling. Customer must present a valid frequent flyer programme Star Alliance Gold level card Customer must also present a boarding card for a same day Star Alliance flight departing from that local airport having contract with the third party lounge Customer is entitled to one guest. Guest must be departing on the same day and same carrier Paid Lounge members are not entitled to use any contract lounges Type of Eligible Customers Eligible guests: International First, Star Alliance Gold and Lounge Paid Membership customers are entitled to one guest The guest must enter the designated lounge with the eligible customer The guest must also present a boarding card for any same day Star Alliance flight departing from the local airport International First Class customers: International First Class customer travelling on a Star Alliance flight International Business Class customers: International Business Class customer travelling on a Star Alliance flight Domestic Business Class customers: Domestic Business Class customers travelling on a Star Alliance flight Star Alliance Gold customers: Customers holding a valid frequent flyer programme Star Alliance Gold level card Paid Lounge Members: Some of the Star Alliance member carriers have Paid Lounge Membership as part of the Star Alliance Lounge Access Policy Others Star Alliance flight: Flights on an aircraft branded or operated by a Star Alliance member carrier. Code share flights or flights marketed by a member carrier but operated by a non Star Alliance member carrier are not included Revenue ticket/customer: All customers excluding airline staff. Customers travelling on discounted fares, frequent flyer award tickets or upgrades are considered revenue customers and are included as revenue customers. Airline employees flying on free or service charge tickets, or Industry Discount (e.g., ID50. ID75, ID90) tickets are not considered revenue customers Same day travel: Eligible travel occurring within 24 hours of the first eligible scheduled departure time |
Wow - that does seem new (and beyond stupid). Are these LX paid F tickets? They probably allow YY to JFK, but I think only UA has F on the RJ's IAD-JFK. Why not the LX flight from IAD?
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Yes...paid ticket in F.
LX doesn't fly out of the Washington DC area. |
Hello.
I am wondering what exactly the change is from before to now?:confused:+ feeling stupid:D |
This "Customer must be departing from the local airport in International First Class" I believe is new, right?
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This is a severe benefit cut for * customers. *A was already at a disadvantage by not giving F lounge access to its top tier customers; this decision is really quite bizarre. I'd love to see them explain this to someone popping for a $15k F ticket, say, LAX-IAD-FRA. Do they really think they can deny IFL at LAX with a straight face? (Bad example since I know the LAX IFL angels have an extremely customer-focused attitude, but still...) :confused:
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Originally Posted by kevinsac
(Post 10955273)
This "Customer must be departing from the local airport in International First Class" I believe is new, right?
Earlier this year, I quoted the old text in an e-mail to 1K voice and that sentence definitely wasn't there before. |
Lame. This severely devalues connecting itineraries and F tix in general, $$$ paid or XF/NF. Wondering which genius thought this one up.
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Originally Posted by Axey
(Post 10955280)
....since I know the LAX IFL angels have an extremely customer-focused attitude, but still...) :confused:
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Originally Posted by kevinsac
(Post 10955323)
Does anyone know.....have the LAX IFL staff been enforcing this rule? I was hoping to crash there for a few hours before a connecting flight in Jan.
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Originally Posted by kevinsac
(Post 10955323)
Does anyone know.....have the LAX IFL staff been enforcing this rule? I was hoping to crash there for a few hours before a connecting flight in Jan.
Unfortunately the ladies at LAX answer to a manager who told me that it was her perogative as to who gets admitted to the IFL regardless of UA's policies. A statement that ultimately resulted in an apology and several thousand miles being deposited into my account... |
Originally Posted by work2fly
(Post 10955352)
You'll get in until the manager decides that you won't.
Unfortunately the ladies at LAX answer to a manager who told me that it was her perogative as to who gets admitted to the IFL regardless of UA's policies. A statement that ultimately resulted in an apology and several thousand miles being deposited into my account... |
For the OP and other * Gold passengers (especially non MP) it should not be an issue to have access. The issue seems more of an issue for non *golf C and F cabin passengers.
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Originally Posted by Tiojelly
(Post 10955413)
For the OP and other * Gold passengers (especially non MP) it should not be an issue to have access. The issue seems more of an issue for non *golf C and F cabin passengers.
It's only F pax who gets to use the first class lounge regardless of status. |
revenue customers?
There is a definition of a revenue customer at the end of the text, but there is no mention of a revenue customer anywhere in the text. Is there something else that restricts something to revenue customers that we should be aware of? When I am flying on an award ticket does not being a revenue customer restrict something for me?
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