V-Flyer

Greetings from the Delta Sky Lounge in LAX.

To say i'm disappointed is an understatement. Apologies if this turns into a mini TR but there are some real flaws here and i'm unsure if they have been covered elsewhere before. If they have, apologies!

So, we flew in for a few days last Sat on VS LHR-LAX UC and everything was excellent (probably helped by the fact I had Kelly Brook sitting next to me for 11hrs!) The way the crew reacted to her was bizarre! That's another story which i'll post as a separate thread.

We have today booked a Delta First Class to LAS. Checked in at Sky Priority with no problem but had to go back as i realised nobody had advised me where the lounge was. Either way, we are here and in we go. Despite flying G, i get immediately asked for my "Velocity card" which I correct the lady and pass over my FC card (first time I think i've actually carried and used it in years!) She asks if i have recently flew in from LHR, MAN, or GLA? Which I reply no. Apparently I have no access even as FC AU unless I have just flown in internationally. So, G does not grant you access, neither does FC AU if flying domestically with DL. I then spot that they allow AMEX PLAT, which i offer. Then.... i'm accepted.... but wait for it... not Mrs C. I had to pay $29 to get her in and she doesn't even drink!

The food offering is poor, 2 Soup Choices - No bread, cookies, savoury nibbles and some cold salad items. Definitely not worth it really. Guess we are spoiled with the CH. But the fact they don't allow G customers (which is possibly understandable as G's are sometimes only $40 more than economy, but to not allow FC AU is pretty poor). Time to ensure not a single Delta Gold, Plat Or Dia don't get into the Aer Lingus lounge in T2 if flying Little Red.

Hmmmmmm

S

I found that lounge quite the disappointment too.

But if it makes you feel a tad better about equity, Delta Golds wouldn't have had access either as I understand it.

Well welcome to the world of US airline lounges where no, status nor First class ever alone grant you access, then when you do, you see exactly how crappy they are.. Delta's are no worse than any other. There are many airports in the US that I frequent where I know the difference between the lounge offering and a decent bar / restaurant, and I know which I head to.

Mind you, of course you can see why the LHR clubhouse is now ruined .

slinky09 wrote:Well welcome to the world of US airline lounges where no, status nor First class ever alone grant you access, then when you do, you see exactly how crappy they are.. Delta's are no worse than any other. There are many airports in the US that I frequent where I know the difference between the lounge offering and a decent bar / restaurant, and I know which I head to.

Mind you, of course you can see why the LHR clubhouse is now ruined .

I don't think I'll ever understand why my colleague pays $500 or so a year to have access to the United club.

The three main US airlines are, essentially, all as bad as each other (although AA & DL have improved their on board product of late).

They get away with mediocre service, old planes and dreadful lounges because they can. Their customers, in the main, don't know any better and have no reason to go elsewhere. Why would they try another airline when their elite status guarantees them a free upgrade whenever they fly, including long haul?

Complacency rules and there's little incentive for the big three to improve their service. BA, VS and other EU carriers are increasingly being shown up by the Far & Middle Eastern airlines which are making huge inroads in Europe. That's not such an issue in the US where the domestic carriers have things pretty much sewn up.

gumshoe wrote:The three main US airlines are, essentially, all as bad as each other (although AA & DL have improved their on board product of late).

They get away with mediocre service, old planes and dreadful lounges because they can. Their customers, in the main, don't know any better and have no reason to go elsewhere. Why would they try another airline when their elite status guarantees them a free upgrade whenever they fly, including long haul?

Complacency rules and there's little incentive for the big three to improve their service. BA, VS and other EU carriers are increasingly being shown up by the Far & Middle Eastern airlines which are making huge inroads in Europe. That's not such an issue in the US where the domestic carriers have things pretty much sewn up.

One minor correction, elites are far from guaranteed upgrades, even on domestic flights - for instance, on a recent flight, despite being 1K with United I was 14th in line for an upgrade out of 50, for 1 seat - as for international, only global services get complimentary upgrades to J, but then they have to have purchased a qualifying fair (you can only earn GS through the million mile route, of which you need to have flown 4 million, otherwise it's invitation only) -. 1Ks are given 4 Global Premier Upgrades upon flying 100,000 miles each year, but again, these can only be redeemed if a) there's reward space and b) you purchased a w fare class or above. So I can assure you that this notion that elites are handed free upgrades willy nilly on international routes is pure nonsense.

slinky09 wrote:Mind you, of course you can see why the LHR clubhouse is now ruined .

That bad?

gumshoe wrote:The three main US airlines are, essentially, all as bad as each other (although AA & DL have improved their on board product of late).

They get away with mediocre service, old planes and dreadful lounges because they can. Their customers, in the main, don't know any better and have no reason to go elsewhere. Why would they try another airline when their elite status guarantees them a free upgrade whenever they fly, including long haul?

Complacency rules and there's little incentive for the big three to improve their service. BA, VS and other EU carriers are increasingly being shown up by the Far & Middle Eastern airlines which are making huge inroads in Europe. That's not such an issue in the US where the domestic carriers have things pretty much sewn up.

I usually use Southwest and Jetbue when flying domestically in the US for a reason.

Scruickshank

Thanks for confirming what I thought about my upcoming DL internal flight

However, the tiny glimmer of hope is the Amex Plat, so will give it a try at JFK next week and let V Flyers know the outcome.

I have to agree with Slinky that it does appear the "lowest common denominator" rule is coming into play in the DL/VS alliance

buns

clarkeysntfc wrote:

slinky09 wrote:Mind you, of course you can see why the LHR clubhouse is now ruined .

That bad?

Well, to be honest, it does depend on the time of day, but with five additional DL flights and all their elite status fliers it has made a detrimental difference to the ambience of the place, especially in the morning. It'll be awful when the remaining six Delta flights at T4 move over ... perhaps an expansion is necessary. Really, you can see why Delta wants to cream the best out of VS.

There must be a fair bit of spare lounge space in T3 now all the Star Alliance airlines have vacated?

I would be extremely disappointed if DL/VS didn't try and take up some of this space.

The obvious answer is for AA to move to one of the now vacant lounges and VS to take over the space immediately below the Clubhouse, creating a three level lounge. That could be spectacular.

Will AA play ball though, and if so would VS & DL be willing to make the investment.

buns wrote:
However, the tiny glimmer of hope is the Amex Plat, so will give it a try at JFK next week and let V Flyers know the outcome.

buns

Buns, on our last trip across the ponds in May. We flew internally upto JFK with Delta in "First" and used our Amex Plat to get into the Delta lounge at MCO.

The school boy error being, ..... it's the same lounge you use when flying home to the Uk with virgin so once in, we knew what to expect

David

gumshoe wrote:The obvious answer is for AA to move to one of the now vacant lounges and VS to take over the space immediately below the Clubhouse, creating a three level lounge. That could be spectacular.

Will AA play ball though, and if so would VS & DL be willing to make the investment.

AA refurbed that lounge not so long ago although it really would make sense for BA, CX, AA and other OneWorld carriers to have one lounge, as they have at LAX for example. That would then free up space below the clubhouse, otherwise there's no other comparably sized space I can see.

Strange they haven't copied AA rules.

AA will allow you lounge access for domestic flights with BA status, or any other OneWorld status (Sapphire and Emerald), just not their own.

Also, if your wife has your free Supplementary Platinum, that would of let her in for free too.