Another VA low point - denied meet lounge access

[Deleted member 29185]

Yeah but that's if you and your guest appear at the desk and your guest has a boarding pass for that day.

For OP, I took it as "My wife isn't here but she's flying VA so can I sit in your lounge for a while? You can trust me".

Seems two different scenarios.

It is two different scenarios. JohnK was referring to departure access with a friend's boarding pass + his status. I was referring to arrivals access with a friend's (wifes) boarding pass. That's the difference that nlagalle referred to. The part about "trust me" is not part of the equation as a few keyboard taps could have resolved that and neither was my status (I had my current card). As to whether they should or shouldn't have has been debated at length. My view is that as they are happy to provide non-flying access, they should have extended the benefit to a platinum customer as they have previously. Obviously, others disagree.

 

[JohnK]

Yeah but that's if you and your guest appear at the desk and your guest has a boarding pass for that day.

For OP, I took it as "My wife isn't here but she's flying VA so can I sit in your lounge for a while? You can trust me".

Seems two different scenarios.

Same same but different. Your "guest" could be anyone travelling Virgin that day. They don't have to be a "friend" or family member. swanning_it could have gone back out in terminal and grabbed 3 "friends" who looked like they could down an 18 gallon keg and be allowed inside lounge. But all he did was ask nicely.

 

[serfty]

... You can trust me".
...

No need to even take one at their word - they could always have looked the booking up and see SWMBO's is already airborne on the VA flight.

 

[williamsf1]

No need to even take one at their word - they could always have looked the booking up and see SWMBO's is already airborne on the VA flight.

I think in 2016 there are more privacy concerns around such requests…. I know the OP had good intentions, but there are many messy domestic relationships these days and a member of the public asking if passenger xx_ or suggesting passenger xx_ is on a flight the ground staff should not entertain such requests

 

[Denali]

Same same but different. Your "guest" could be anyone travelling Virgin that day. They don't have to be a "friend" or family member. swanning_it could have gone back out in terminal and grabbed 3 "friends" who looked like they could down an 18 gallon keg and be allowed inside lounge. But all he did was ask nicely.

Could of but he didn't. If he did, then he would have met the requirements of the lounge, but again he didn't.

And considering airlines don't confirm if pax are flying, I doubt most desk staff would take a name, search a flight, confirm etc.

To be honest, 13 pages of posts and OP being butt hurt over a perceived entitlement that doesn't exist is amusing to watch and read.

OP: I would like access to the lounge, please.
Va: Are you flying?
OP: No
Va: Are you with a guest that has a boarding pass?
Op: No
Va: Sorry sir, you don't meet the requirements to enter.
OP: *posts online about how VA has reached new low*

It's laughable, I feel like I'm being punked or maybe I'm just being combative this morning.

 

[drron]

I must be feeling just like you this morning Denali but for a different reason.
We have an experienced AFF member recounting his experience of being denied a previously unpublished benefit.Several others back him up on the fact that it was a previous unpublished benefit.Yet many deny it ever existed even in the face of this evidence.That's why I think this is laughable that the thread is still going strong and now over 125 posts.

 

[Punky]

You actually stated that all the FFer "crowd" that you've seen are dishonest when attempting get something and most are outright liars to boot. Given you posted this on a FFer forum, and then go on to state you "stand by your comments", do we simply assume you are a troll attempting to elicit a reaction or are a stubborn and thoughtless poster making crass comments? I actually gave you the benefit of the doubt.

• Making mutliple lounge entries to exceed gust allowances
• Sending in 'photshopped' credentials when making status matches
• 'Expanded' definitions of family for family benefits

Need more examples?

 

[Punky]

I think in 2016 there are more privacy concerns around such requests…. I know the OP had good intentions, but there are many messy domestic relationships these days and a member of the public asking if passenger xx_ or suggesting passenger xx_ is on a flight the ground staff should not entertain such requests

Absolutely, expecting staff to look up the details of what another customer is doing is laughable.

 

[nlagalle]

Absolutely, expecting staff to look up the details of what another customer is doing is laughable.

If you know the flight details and PNR, you pretty know more than what the staff would be able to see.

 

[nlagalle]

• Making mutliple lounge entries to exceed gust allowances
• Sending in 'photshopped' credentials when making status matches
• 'Expanded' definitions of family for family benefits

Need more examples?

I honestly think you are in the wrong forum if you think all Frequent flyers just break the rules. Actually pretty offended you have just generalized.

It's like saying all commodore and falcon owners are hoons

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Need more examples?

Hang yes. A small selective sample of 3 items (perhaps all from one person) of which, I'm guessing, you have no evidence except someone bragging, does not equate to all FFers you've seen being dishonest. You're missing the fundamentals of what you've written.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

And considering airlines don't confirm if pax are flying, I doubt most desk staff would take a name, search a flight, confirm etc.

maybe I'm just being combative this morning.

I told them who the pax was and the flight she was on. The confirmation would be for their benefit, not mine.

You're entitled to feel combative. That does not however, weigh into the debate as to whether I have the right to post up an experience. You're also entitled to feel amused by it all. I must admit, I am to a degree as well (for different reasons). As I said early in this thread, I don't feel aggrieved at all (now what was the term you so eloquently used ... as yes, I remember, butt hurt), in fact I've very clearly stated that I don't class it as a win nor a loss for me personally. I didn't get to read a newspaper in a lounge. Instead I sat happily at the baggage claim area reading the news on my phone. The storm in a teacup has been whipped up by all those moral crusaders who have decided to rant and rave about how unjust it all is for poor ol' VA/VFF. I had to go out and buy a new box of tissues I was so moved by their concern!

 

[vetrade]

I think in 2016 there are more privacy concerns around such requests…. I know the OP had good intentions, but there are many messy domestic relationships these days and a member of the public asking if passenger xx_ or suggesting passenger xx_ is on a flight the ground staff should not entertain such requests

A little OT but your comment brought back memories............around 10 years ago my wife didn't arrive on a flight as scheduled (her flight arrived but she wasn't on it). Citing "privacy" I was point blank refused any information on whether she was booked on another flight, or in fact any flight. Without going into all the details, it was around 12 hours before she was able to call me and explain her delay. I must say those 12 hours were particularly harrowing for me and no thanks to all the people at QF who kept me worrying for those 12 hrs.

 

[Punky]

Hang yes. A small selective sample of 3 items (perhaps all from one person) of which, I'm guessing, you have no evidence except someone bragging, does not equate to all FFers you've seen being dishonest. You're missing the fundamentals of what you've written.

Once again you are changing my words in a peurile attempt to discredit my argument. I never said all frequent flyers were dishonest. I don't really think I need to give any more exmaples, there are plenty around....

 

[davidj]

It sounds like this "low point" Virgin now have is because they have "unpublished" benefits. Why not simply just publish this benefit so all members know about it?

That way everyone knows what to expect and no "low point" for Virgin.

Now it would be a "low point" if the benefit was in writing and they didn't provide the benefit. Have a mate Krisflyer Gold who was denied lounge access in Cairns last month, now that is a low point!

 

[Happy Dude]

snip....
Instead I sat happily at the baggage claim area reading the news on my phone. The storm in a teacup has been whipped up by all those moral crusaders who have decided to rant and rave about how unjust it all is for poor ol' VA/VFF.

You may have done that but you also went online claiming that VA & Velocity had reached a new low, cut off it's nose, and then you booked a bunch of QF fares. And 14 pages later, you're still not really coming across as someone that's not aggrieved or suffered no loss.

There are examples demonstrating both sides of the argument here but all they do is show that VA, like everyone else, are inconsistent. The one thing that is for certain though is that surely it is unreasonable to expect that these so-called unpublished benefits be applied correctly and justly every single time. After all, as they are not published, how is anyone to know to whom they apply and when?

 

[Quickstatus]

It sounds like this "low point" Virgin now have is because they have "unpublished" benefits. Why not simply just publish this benefit so all members know about it?

Having unpublished benefits give the lounge dragons a bit of flexibility in their interactions with their customers without announcing it the the world

 

[davidj]

Having unpublished benefits give the lounge dragons a bit of flexibility in their interactions with their customers without announcing it the the world

Thats the problem. One dragon will provide a benefit, another may not, resulting in such threads as this about "low points". Better to have published and provide benefit to all.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Once again you are changing my words in a peurile attempt to discredit my argument. I never said all frequent flyers were dishonest. I don't really think I need to give any more exmaples, there are plenty around....

I have changed nothing of what you wrote. If you did not mean what you wrote, fine, but I have not changed a thing.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

you also went online claiming that VA & Velocity had reached a new low, cut off it's nose, and then you booked a bunch of QF fares.

All of which is true, however you seem to imply it was in that order. It wasn't. I've been transitioning to a more broad based flying model for some time, including booking a swag of QF J whilst at the same time rejecting VA J. What I actually stated was that this latest effort did nothing but help cement my loathing for VA, which is also true. This single event however, was neither here nor there in the big scheme of things and apart from being surprised at the mentality of it, I wasn't too bothered, but did think it note worthy for AFF. If you don't like it, don't read it. Pretty easy really. If you don't like my posts, ignore them. In fact I even believe there is a feature where you can add my addy to be invisible to you so you won't be bothered at all by them, but in the meantime if I decide VA has made a stupid rash decision, I'll post it!