CH entrance limitation in London for SkyTeam Elite+
Jun 14, 2023, 9:41 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2023
Posts: 1
CH entrance limitation in London for SkyTeam Elite+
Hi
Really bad news for SkyTeam elite + members departing from LHR, even for DL & AF Plat members : According to VS website, these FF don’t have access to the CH except if flying PE, and are sent to Club Aspire in T3.
Massive devaluation of status, since AF/DL Plat had access before VS joining ST alliance.
Really bad news for SkyTeam elite + members departing from LHR, even for DL & AF Plat members : According to VS website, these FF don’t have access to the CH except if flying PE, and are sent to Club Aspire in T3.
Massive devaluation of status, since AF/DL Plat had access before VS joining ST alliance.
Last edited by skyteamflyer75; Jun 14, 2023 at 10:11 am
Jun 25, 2023, 5:03 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2022
Programs: Flying Blue Gold
Posts: 92
Just seen this myself! Luckily I'm booked in Premium on my flight in a couple of weeks so will still be able to access the LHR Clubhouse with my partner who is Flying Blue Platinum.
https://flywith.virginatlantic.com/i...clubhouse.html
But agreed, this is a major devaluation and doesn't reflect well for SkyTeam members from other programmes. Not sure why this move was even necessary given that AF/KL had already moved to T4 and there were already certain caveats in place regarding access.
https://flywith.virginatlantic.com/i...clubhouse.html
But agreed, this is a major devaluation and doesn't reflect well for SkyTeam members from other programmes. Not sure why this move was even necessary given that AF/KL had already moved to T4 and there were already certain caveats in place regarding access.
Jul 5, 2023, 2:56 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 129
Hm, on the Skyteam website, under "Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse London Heathrow", it says access is available for "international First or Business Class ticket holders or SkyTeam Elite Plus Frequent Flyers traveling on an international flight operated by the following airlines: Virgin, Delta & AeroMexico." So according to that statement, anyone with Elite+ status traveling in Y on either three airlines should technically be able to get into the lounge....
Jul 8, 2023, 6:17 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,033
Hm, on the Skyteam website, under "Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse London Heathrow", it says access is available for "international First or Business Class ticket holders or SkyTeam Elite Plus Frequent Flyers traveling on an international flight operated by the following airlines: Virgin, Delta & AeroMexico." So according to that statement, anyone with Elite+ status traveling in Y on either three airlines should technically be able to get into the lounge....
The Clubhouse is supposed to be exclusive and having it full of Y passengers with some random status - no loyalty to VS or DL - doesn't help in that regard. Some of those Elite Plus statuses are ridiculously easy to get. Those passengers aren't being excluded from all lounges at T3, just the Clubhouse...
Last edited by craigthemif; Jul 8, 2023 at 6:23 am
Jul 14, 2023, 11:35 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: LHR
Programs: VS Flying Club, UA Mileage Plus
Posts: 166
Not going to lie, it is a bit infuriating that Flying Blue Platinum members traveling in Premium can access the VS clubhouse but not VS Flying Club silver members traveling in Premium even though arguably silver members have more loyalty to VS
Jul 17, 2023, 12:55 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Behind the curtain
Programs: Flying Blue, Accor
Posts: 395
Writing this from the LHR clubhouse where I was let in without any issue as KL platinum for my VS flight in Y. Seems the news also hasn't filtered down to the staff at the door yet...
Jul 31, 2023, 4:53 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2022
Programs: Flying Blue Gold
Posts: 92
- Flying Blue Platinum members (in any cabin class) + a guest traveling in premium on Virgin Atlantic or Delta premium
Aug 3, 2023, 7:39 am
#8
Join Date: Dec 2022
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 473
Virgin Clubhouse access with AF/KL Gold
Hi there,
I am still quite confused over this, and the Head for Points article still confused me.
I have AF/KL Gold (not Platinum) but that therefore makes me SkyTeam Elite Plus.
If I am flying economy in Virgin Atlantic from LHR can I access the clubhouse with my AF/KL Gold?
Reason I am confused is the eligibility explicitly allows AF/KL platinum, and SkyTeam Elite Plus BUT AF/KL Gold IS Skyteam Elite Plus, so why the need to separate these out in the criteria?
Any experiences?
Thanks
https://www.headforpoints.com/2023/0...-access-rules/
I am still quite confused over this, and the Head for Points article still confused me.
I have AF/KL Gold (not Platinum) but that therefore makes me SkyTeam Elite Plus.
If I am flying economy in Virgin Atlantic from LHR can I access the clubhouse with my AF/KL Gold?
Reason I am confused is the eligibility explicitly allows AF/KL platinum, and SkyTeam Elite Plus BUT AF/KL Gold IS Skyteam Elite Plus, so why the need to separate these out in the criteria?
Any experiences?
Thanks
https://www.headforpoints.com/2023/0...-access-rules/
Can you get into the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at Heathrow with SkyTeam status?
Access to passengers with elite status has been equally restricted. You’ll only be able to use the Heathrow Clubhouse if you are:- Virgin Flying Club Gold, flying on a Virgin Atlantic, Delta or Aeroméxico flight (including one guest)
- Delta SkyMiles Diamond or Platinum Medallion, flying on a Virgin Atlantic or Delta flight (including one guest)
- Air France / KLM Flying Blue Platinum, flying on a Virgin Atlantic or Delta flight (including one guest)
- Any SkyTeam Elite Plus member, flying on a Virgin Atlantic, Delta or Aeroméxico flight (including one guest)
Oct 17, 2023, 12:27 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: DL Charter DM/DM/2MM, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 1,925
I recently flew SFO-> LHR->SFO on VS and was booked in Economy as both Premium and UC were sold out both ways and this was a last minute trip. When I went to the LHR Clubhouse just to see what they would tell me (I already knew I wasn’t eligible to enter!), they said I could go to the Aspire Lounge (which I had already heard about but never visited). The two agents at the check-in desks at the Clubhouse both said and agreed that the change in the entry requirements were instigated by DL, and not VS! I thought that was somewhat interesting as it’s VS’s Clubhouse and not DL’s, and DL only owns 49% of VS, so the ultimate decision is really down to VS, not DL! I think they were both passing the blame onto DL for the LHR Clubhouse changes which came into effect on 12 June, although VS joined SkyTeam officially on 2 March.
Oct 17, 2023, 12:32 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2022
Programs: Flying Blue Gold
Posts: 92
I recently flew SFO-> LHR->SFO on VS and was booked in Economy as both Premium and UC were sold out both ways and this was a last minute trip. When I went to the LHR Clubhouse just to see what they would tell me (I already knew I wasn’t eligible to enter!), they said I could go to the Aspire Lounge (which I had already heard about but never visited). The two agents at the check-in desks at the Clubhouse both said and agreed that the change in the entry requirements were instigated by DL, and not VS! I thought that was somewhat interesting as it’s VS’s Clubhouse and not DL’s, and DL only owns 49% of VS, so the ultimate decision is really down to VS, not DL! I think they were both passing the blame onto DL for the LHR Clubhouse changes which came into effect on 12 June, although VS joined SkyTeam officially on 2 March.
Oct 17, 2023, 1:18 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: DL Charter DM/DM/2MM, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 1,925
Like my profile shows on the left side of my posting, I’m a DL Diamond Medallion.
Last edited by audidudi; Oct 17, 2023 at 1:25 pm
Oct 18, 2023, 5:50 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2022
Programs: Flying Blue Gold
Posts: 92
Ah ok - I thought that's what 'DM' referred to but wanted to check. Strange that your experience differs with the above KL Platinum member who was allowed in flying Economy, perhaps they made a mistake on one of these occassions?
Oct 18, 2023, 7:32 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,176
he two agents at the check-in desks at the Clubhouse both said and agreed that the change in the entry requirements were instigated by DL, and not VS! I thought that was somewhat interesting as it’s VS’s Clubhouse and not DL’s, and DL only owns 49% of VS, so the ultimate decision is really down to VS, not DL! I think they were both passing the blame onto DL for the LHR Clubhouse changes which came into effect on 12 June, although VS joined SkyTeam officially on 2 March.
DL pays VS for each DL passenger that uses the CH. Just as KL pays for any of their elites that use it when not flying VS UC etc
If there are capacity issues VS will discuss them with their partners and then basically leave it to the partners to decide which of their elites don;t get access and get sent to one of the commercial lounges.