OW Platinum flying QF denied access to BA Galleries Lounge YVR

[AVM]

Returning Qantas YVR to SYD. On New Years Eve, Boarding 7.10pm for a 8pm flight. OW emerald and OW sapphire members were denied access to BA Galleries at YVR on the explanation from reception that club was “full”. It did not look full.

A guest just left the lounge as we walked away. I asked her was the lounge busy, she said it was empty and even commented she couldn’t understand why there would be a sign to say it was full. We returned and challenged the girl on reception who then backtracked stating the club was not full but the 9.10 pm YVR to LHR was as good as fully booked she expected the lounge would get full later, we explained we would be leaving at 7.05 to make the gate but she would not budge. We arrived at the lounge after 6pm just about the same time checkin for the BA flight would be opening

I asked if I could take photos, she let me photograph the business lounge (Empty bar 4 people and a few staff) and when I went to photograph the first class side was told photos were not allowed in that area. Has anyone had similar experiences in an empty “full” lounge”

 

[serfty]

Plenty of reports over on FT of such. The lounge agents are told to deny access as lounge "full".

The problem seems to be all those pesky AAdvantage elites as they would swamp the facility.

Is it right? IMHO, No.

(Did you try the CX lounge? Timing may not have been good.)

Lounge access - over 600 lounges , multi destination flights

 

[moa999]

As above, most of the BA US lounges are pretty small and access is often restricted on the basis of expected demand.

You generally aren't missing much

 

[Himeno]

Outside of LHR and SIN, I don't think I've been to BA lounge when flying a non BA oneworld airline where they haven't at least tried to claim the lounge is full.

One time I was flying QR out of ORD and went to the BA lounge, which had only just opened and I was the first person to get there.
Agent claimed it was full. They only let me in once I pointed out my OW emerald status, J class flight and that the flight time meant I'd be leaving the lounge before the bulk of the BA pax arrived.

 

[maureeng]

Had a similar problem at the China Eastern lounge in Shanghai where the girl on the desk was so rude to us and started yelling” you are not getting into my lounge” you are only economy,!!!. We were economy as no business class seats were available but thought as we were flying China Eastern on a Qantas ticket ( they have a Qantas Airlines sign on the wall at the door) and being WP thought we could go in. We were very nice to her but she was the rudest person I have ever come accross screaming abusivley at my husband and I in front of other customers who looked dumbfounded. We asked for her supervisor who was equally as rude to the point my husbsnd to het to stop speaking to us like that as we are the customers to which she smirked and spoke in Chinese to the supervisor. We turned to leave totally embarrassed and she laughed at us when we left
Nit only that when we checked in our tickets showed 2 x 23 kegs each but they refused to honour that and only allowed 30 kgs each. Even though I showed him the ticket.
Needless to say China Eastern will not get our patronage again.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

Sorry to go OT but there have been so many negative reports after this tie-up with China Eastern. Qantas either seriously need to look at quality controls, have printouts in Chinese which can be given to lounge agents explaining access or reconsider any association with this airline as it doing a lot of reputational damage.