Positioning in uniform BA full fare business class use of lounge denied

[Stampe]

Yesterday whilst positioning in uniform on a full fare business class fare MAN-LGW I was told very nicely that crew in uniform were no longer allowed to use the business lounge even when their ticket entitled it.Apparently some crew from another carrier (not mine) had created some sort of rumpus resulting in this ruling.On Uk. internal flights the lounge is the only benefit of the ticket.So no pleasant couple of hours spent reading the papers for me!!.Why not deal with the offending individuals rather than punish the whole aircrew community!!.Additionally we sometimes get the choice of a taxi to LGW ,I,ve done it in 3 hours recently off peak so this may affect my willingness to use BA over short distances given the choice.A pity because I regard them as a great airline to travel with.Anyone else had this problem?.

[scroggs]

If you paid for the ticket, you're entitled to the perks that go along with it. If the perks are denied, surely you're entitled to a refund?

[A and C]

I had the same problem in paris some years back so i insisted on seeing the duty manager and demanded that he refunded the diferance in fare as we had payed the club fare and expected the club product.

He relented and let us into the club lounge.

[A Very Civil Pilot]

You could always have taken your uniform off and gone in wearing your jocks!

[Percy De Havilland]

You guys are lucky over there - in the US a first class ticket doesn't get you into the lounge. Elite holders and 'club fee' subscription holders only.

[knows]

This is outrageous!. .Crew penalised again - and pilot status takes a nosedive.. .Write and demand a refund!

[partagas]

Stampe, very important post.. . Firstly let me tell you that another reason proferred for denying crews access to lounges is that some passengers have allegedly complained about staff enjoying benefits paid for by the passengers.. . Secondly, vehemently resist any argument advanced on the grounds you describe, ie. previous individuals' misconduct leading to a loss of benefits for all.I was once told in a marvellous hotel in Dubai that due to some crew members taking drinks from the minibar without paying that minibar facilities had been withdrawn. I immediately informed the receptionist that such matters were to be settled between the individual occupant and the hotel. Having endured "group punishments" for five years at an English Public school(eg. one boy talks after lights out ,whole dormitory goes for early morning run), I will not accept the same nonesense as an adult professional pilot.!!. . Most of the time a conciliatory,"softly,softly", approach produces the best results, but when you meet the "awkward squad" a ferocious stance is required.

[ 01 March 2002: Message edited by: partagas ]</p>

[Hand Solo]

Could you possibly have been construed as being a BA or franchise crew, because they are allowed access to the lounge when positioning but not if in uniform. Either way, I think the error of their ways should have been pointed out and the Duty Manager summoned to explain himself, and also to say whether you'd be expected to position on the jumpseat just in case they'd had trouble with positioning crews in the past.

[flapsforty]

We're not allowed into our own lounges either, neither in or out of uniform. "Doesn't project the right image to the SLF" according to the comp. . . <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

Spent 4 hours in uniform hanging around the terminal at LHR recently due some slot problem at home base. Besieged by upset pax wherever we went. Still had to work 3 stretches that day, not exactly a restful start.

Same happened at FRA, only there we were led by a Captain who gave the lounge receptionist a dazzling smile, interrupted her spiel about how we were not allowed in, handed her his business card, told her to take up the issue with the company and shepherded the rest of the crew into the lounge.. .Bless him! http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/sloppy.gif

[Flintstone]

Air France tried this one on us at CDG so we removed our jackets, wings and epaulettes and swished past the counter.

Then we ate all their peanuts. :)

[Stampe]

No my friends they definitely knew I wasn,t a BA pilot the check in agent was most apologetic about denying me the lounge in spite of the ticket entitlement and rang the lounge to confirm.I,ve sat in business lounges many times before in uniform with no problem.I position on average twice a week with BA and my employer must be an extremely large source of revenue for BA.I was feeling pretty whacked and not in the mood for an argument so I guess I,ll just have to slip a lightweight jacket in my flightbag for future use.You,ve all been warned!!.

[Smudge's Lot]

STAMPE-how did you get a business class ticket to posn from MAN-I only ever ger ID50 tickets? Was it at short notice?

[ 01 March 2002: Message edited by: Smudge's Lot ]</p>

[CR2]

Same happened in MUC to me. LH told me it didn't look good for crew members to be sitting around in uniform. I'd just come in from JNB, around 0600 in the morning. I just stared at her, before she said "well its 6am and not too many people around, so ok for this time".. .What next?

[Stampe]

Very short notice call out from standby to do a sub for another carrier!!.We normally travel on a firm ID50 but only if ots booked well in advance.

[Stall Inducer]

I had a simular occurance with bmi - called off stby at short notice to postion on the last seat available - a full fare business tkt which my employer paid for. Went into the business lounge and was subsenquently told where to go - despite offering to remove my uniform :) . Not very impressed.I don't see why their company policy should affect employees of a different company when the full business fare had been paid for. Fact of the matter remains my company paid for a service I did not recieve.