Sorry Sir, Virgin Australia has nothing to do with Virgin Atlantic...

[moa999]

Am not sure whether I see as a good thing or a bad thing that a complaint enabled a published rule to be overridden.

 

[Airbumps]

Exactly the same happen to me and my family when I landed in HK. The staff at the club were so rude! The moment I landed in London I called virgin Atlantic and emailed virgin Australia. I stated that I will take my 8 flights a month to qantas along with the 8 International flights I take a year the USA unless I got a apology for the way I was treated!! I was called by virgin Atlantic who ensured me that there would be no issues going home! Once back in HK the lady who was rude the first time let me straight in along with my three young children!

So just to clarify - You attended at the lounge and requested access with you and three guests? The lounge agent turned you away as the rules (despite what we may think of them) make it clear that you can only have 1 guest and anybody over the age of 2 is considered a guest. You then made a complaint to all and sundry and as a result the rules where broken for you next time.

We may not like the rules but they are the rules and should be for everybody. I don't see that because you had a cry and made a complaint the rules should be broken for you or anybody else.

Are there any other rules you don't like and simply complain about to get your own way?

 

[boomy]

Big mistake to fly VS with kids, specially when the OP holds QF gold as well.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I'm still so confused over the whole VA international partner thing. My previous assumption would have been the OP wouldn't be entitled to use the lounge anyway because they were on VS tix. Doesn't VA status only work if flying on VA tix or am I wrong (again)?

PS.....to the OP, welcome to AFF!

 

[markis10]

I'm still so confused over the whole VA international partner thing. My previous assumption would have been the OP wouldn't be entitled to use the lounge anyway because they were on VS tix. Doesn't VA status only work if flying on VA tix or am I wrong (again)?

PS.....to the OP, welcome to AFF!

Benefits apply on operated services, not marketed services, so the ticket is not that important except for earn differences.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Benefits apply on operated services, not marketed services, so the ticket is not that important except for earn differences.

But there's no partnership onward from Hong Kong. The OP wanted lounge access after the trip (I'm assuming the onward leg doesn't get VA status rights) and does arrivals access work on partner airlines? I'm still confused. I'm half dreading the day we move from dom flying to more int flying.

 

[markis10]

But there's no partnership onward from Hong Kong. The OP wanted lounge access after the trip (I'm assuming the onward leg doesn't get VA status rights) and does arrivals access work on partner airlines? I'm still confused. I'm half dreading the day we move from dom flying to more int flying.

There are no codeshares from Hong Kong on which is the reference to "partnership', access to lounges etc is still applicable so long as you have a same day onward departure with VS

Lounge Access with Velocity Membership | Velocity Frequent Flyer

 

[MK1974]

Hello Kaelo, I forgot to mention my wife who was travelling was Gold . I believe that rules are good to have in place.. but when a family who turms up espacially with a young baby in arms and a member of the family travels alot they should be allowed in. What strain would a 2 year old have put on the lounge in HK at 11pm at night.?? I would have given up my extra person for a family who had a baby so they could freshen up! It is not about breaking the rules but more about the Moral.

 

[DaveB]

This to me is just another example of don't expect to get treated the same on partner airlines. I would expect my own airline to use common sense and some latitude based on circumstances of the day but not from partners who after all have little to gain breaking the rules. Unless you are a Rhodes Scholar in airline FFer's, you will always get done on the fine print.
My wife and eldest daughter are presently in Melbourne for the day doing a status run as whilst her J bookings on DL and EY gave her enough status credits for gold, the tickets were issued on DL & EY tickets and didn't count as eligible sectors flown, even though some of the legs were in VA metal. Won't make that mistake again, unless of course they are a lot cheaper in points.

 

[ecg]

Hello Kaelo, I forgot to mention my wife who was travelling was Gold . I believe that rules are good to have in place.. but when a family who turms up espacially with a young baby in arms and a member of the family travels alot they should be allowed in. What strain would a 2 year old have put on the lounge in HK at 11pm at night.?? I would have given up my extra person for a family who had a baby so they could freshen up! It is not about breaking the rules but more about the Moral.

Yep, the classic rules are good to have in place except when they don't suit my particular circumstances. Then, and only then, is it acceptable to break them so i get what I want, even if it means threatening to take my business elsewhere. Now that the rule was broken in this situation, you expect it to be broken in all subsequent situations, everyone who hears about it expects the rule to be broken for them "because it happened for someone else" and suddently it becomes a free for all.

By the way, what is "the Moral"?

 

[williamsf1]

Hello Kaelo, I forgot to mention my wife who was travelling was Gold . I believe that rules are good to have in place.. but when a family who turms up espacially with a young baby in arms and a member of the family travels alot they should be allowed in. What strain would a 2 year old have put on the lounge in HK at 11pm at night.?? I would have given up my extra person for a family who had a baby so they could freshen up! It is not about breaking the rules but more about the Moral.

11pm at night is actually peak time for that lounge .....

 

[Airbumps]

Hello Kaelo, I forgot to mention my wife who was travelling was Gold . I believe that rules are good to have in place.. but when a family who turms up espacially with a young baby in arms and a member of the family travels alot they should be allowed in.

Why? The rules clearly state that you can have 1 guest. Why should the rules be broken for you and then enforced for the next family traveling through? What is the point of having rules if they are broken because, well, you think they should be?

What strain would a 2 year old have put on the lounge in HK at 11pm at night.?? I would have given up my extra person for a family who had a baby so they could freshen up! It is not about breaking the rules but more about the Moral.

Thats a busy time for that lounge as previously mentioned. Besides that, it doesn't matter what time of day or night it is, you didn't like the rules so you winged and complained, threatening to take your business elsewhere until you got your own way. The height of selfishness IMHO.

How many times have people on this board complained about lounge dragons, gate agents or flight attendants not following procedures or rules? It happens everyday because WE KNOW the rules and EXPECT what we're entitled to and are then JUSTIFIABLY upset when staff don't adhere to them. In your case the staff where doing exactly what they should be expected to do, that is enforcing the rules. It didn't suit you so you had a whinge and made a song and dance about taking your business elsewhere.

As for this "The Moral" you speak of ; Might I suggest you find one.

 

[medhead]

I think it's a bit rich to attack someone over using the word "moral". Step forward those who've never made a spelling mistake.

As for the lounge access, why should 4 people who are entitled to enter the lounge be denied because of a 2 year old that they can't leave outside the lounge. Sure partner lounges are an entire different kettle of fish. But it really, really frustrate me that I don't use up to 220 guest spots during the year on both VA and QF (and maybe 5 to 10 F lounge spots with qantas) but when I travel with my family we not allowed to use the lounge for want of 2 extra guest spots. So I have plenty of sympathy when people find themselves in such a situation. Still for a partner lounge there is nothing VA can do.

 

[legroom]

I would have approached this matter differently.

Firstly, I would learn about the applicable rules as explained upthread - fully aware of my entitlements and/or lack of same.

Secondly, instead of "demanding" access on the basis of my status, I would approach the lounge keepers seeking an "understanding" i.e. a special-case consideration while pointing out that by rules / entitlements, I do not expect any and would be prepared to have an alternative solution e.g. wife & 2 kids inside while I am sitting outside, taking turns with wife to access showers / drinks if that suits you.

I am not suggesting that all / every rules should (or must) be broken whenever it suits me, but we - as professionals in our own fields - make exceptions on a daily basis, so can they.

Who amongst us had not held up a plane by running late - accidentally etc... - and remain so grateful as the plane waits for us instead of taking off 10 min earlier ?

This is exactly the approach taken by another member (WP) seeking access to the F lounge @ DXB for his elderly parents recently.

The lounge keepers are humans after all. Raising voices to demand entitlements when you have none is likely to be counter-productive IMHO.

 

[MK1974]

Now now... This forum is for me to share an opinon and all you can do is have a attack on a spelling mistake?? I dont care that I had a Winge and got my family including my 3 YEAR OLDinto the lounge on my return. I could have done rock paper scissors and worked out who was not getting in? I reckon my 3 year old would have lost. I fly on a Virgin plane 8-10 times a month so do I get frustrated that for that loyalty they can't let me and my three children in? ..Well yes! Would i do it again? YES. Just my opinon .So to clear this up I have reposted my "First Post" and change it around a bit. I agree the spelling mistake was totally out of line! I am sorry it wont happen again.


"What strain would a 2 year old have put on the lounge in HK at 11pm at night.?? I would have given up my extra person for a family who had a baby so they could freshen up!"

 

[legroom]

?....all you can do is have a attack on a spelling mistake?? I dont care that I had a Winge ....

It looks like you had not read, nor understood any substance of earlier posts. That is, few of us like to put up with DYKWIA types.

It should be "a whinge", sorry.

 

[MK1974]

I know ..

 

[BrentH]

Visited the HK lounge on a recent trip.

Had a series of odd interactions with staff there, culminating in a staff member talking with us and walking us out the door as we left for our flight. (SWMBO suggested later that he was angling for a tip...)

Odd folk. Odd lounge. So I'm kinda unsurprised that you had run-ins with them.

Nothing compared other (CX) lounges in HKG, or VS's Clubhouse at LHR.

P.S. - Remember to bring your card on VS. They don't print status on BPs.

 

[MH_fan]

That's a bit rough... a 2yo as an adult! QF have a family policy so I get into the lounges with my wife and 3 kids with no problems.

Qantas | Lounge Eligibility and Access

I wonder what would happen if the OP just placed their 3yo on the floor where the front desk was and just walked in with the OH and their 2 older children. Can you imagine the scene??? LOL

"Excuse me, sir, but you can't do that!"
"Why not? You just told me that my 3yo can't come in to the lounge because they're classed as an adult. An adult can fend for themselves at the airport surely."
"But sir...!"
"Look...I'm really tired and I need a shower. I'm going in now. I'm allowed to, aren't I? You just said so but just not with my additional 3yo."

 

[Mal]

I wonder what would happen if the OP just said placed their 2yo on the floor where the front desk was and just walked in with the OH. Can you imagine the scene??? LOL

Haha. Strangely enough I was thinking the same thing when reading the thread. However in an airport... Sense of humour seems often to disappear. I could imagine the police being called.