VS19 to SFO

Hi all,

I have been a gold card holder for 4 years now and most of the time travel on business. A few years ago i took my wife and 11 yr old daughter away only to be challenged with the "we can only allow 1 guest in" after some time explaining my daughter was only a child they relented and allowed us in.

Now she is 13 (not that it matters) we are off on holiday again tomorrow and am wondering the best way to approach taking 1 extra in the lounge....

I know there are rules and nobody wants the place overrun etc... But its once every few years i do this and i sort of feel my loyalty to them does deserve a small bit of rule bending every now and again.

Thoughts and suggestions welcome

Thanks
Mark

[Nottingham Nick]

Welcome to V-Flyer.

If the Clubhouse isn't too busy, you should be able to pay for your daughter to get in.
I dis it several times when I was gold, and our son was with us. I can't remember how much it was, but it was a good deal less than the adult price,

Nick

Hi Nick

Thanks for the welcome and the approval. So should i assume there will be no bending of rules for an extra teenager ?

I will pay (if i have to) but it does grate....

Thanks again
Mark

[buns]

Hi Nick

Thanks for the welcome and the approval. So should i assume there will be no bending of rules for an extra teenager ?

I will pay (if i have to) but it does grate....

Thanks again
Mark

Hi and Welcome to V Flyer

If you work on the basis that a Gold Card offers you one guest as part of the Ts & Cs, then when you get to the entrance, offer to pay for your teenager and you never know it might work in your favour

buns

I will pay (if i have to) but it does grate....

Thanks again
Mark

Why does it grate ?| ? The T+Cs regarding CH entry for AUs are quite clear and to be quite frank, a paid extra guest ( if allowed at entry) is a bonus, not a divine right.

I will pay (if i have to) but it does grate....

Thanks again
Mark

Why does it grate ?| ? The T+Cs regarding CH entry for AUs are quite clear and to be quite frank, a paid extra guest ( if allowed at entry) is a bonus, not a divine right.

I ditto that, but at the same time hope that with a polite enquiry you are allowed to take your daughter in. The Au benefit is +1 and that always the case.

My 2 children are adults now but in the past when travelling with them on my own it has depended on how busy the CH was at the time. Sometimes I was lucky sometimes not, although it was a while back and there wasn't an option to pay so that may improve your chances. They were always very apologetic and polite if access was not possible. I had much less success with the Singapore Airlines lounges, they rarely bend the rules and I remember having to take them in one at a time to use the Loo when the queue was too long in the main terminal!

I will pay (if i have to) but it does grate....

Thanks again
Mark

Why does it grate ?| ? The T+Cs regarding CH entry for AUs are quite clear and to be quite frank, a paid extra guest ( if allowed at entry) is a bonus, not a divine right.

Agreed, got to be glad for any benefits that float the way of the FF these days.

In the past have gone to get that one extra guest in and have always offered to pay for it.. seems only fitting, AU benefit is you plus one, turn up with three and doing the maths in your head think, now can the three of us eat and drink enough to make this worth while. Usually the answer is yes.

I have only been able to sneak in myself plus 2 into the LHR CH for no extra cost once before. They were my parents, person on the front recognised me as I had been through the previous week and the lounge was not very busy. More importantly I offered to pay the £60, had the thanks for the offer sir but it won't be necessary on this ocassion response. It happens, but is very rare.

Offer to pay for it - don't let it grate... you are effectively getting a buy one get 2 free deal!! Result in my book y)

Hi all,

Thanks for the views and i can see the "grate" comment stirred up some reaction.

Not sure why people don't challenge T&c's if you don't you just end up paying over the odds on standard contracts (mobile phones, roaming data and bill shock is a classic example)

It was early and empty so i went up and said i would like to pay for an additional child to go in. Paid the £60 and done.

Suppose i just have to get those additional 20 tier point for the extra invites )

Thanks again
Mark

[Nottingham Nick]

Interesting concept - challenge T&Cs, because you think you are entitled to get your daughter into the CH free. B)

VS are a business who are trying hard to stay afloat in tough times, so why would they give something away that they can justifiably charge for?

Whilst I accept that you (or your company) have probably contributed quite significantly to the VS coffers in the four years you have been a gold card holder, it does seem strange to compare your situation to 'rip off' charges by mobile phone companies. ?|

However, you have put forward a debating point, and that is one of the main reasons V-Flyer exists, so I hope others put their viewpoint.

Nick

I'm very happy with the guest levels as is, I often pay for a friend or colleague to join me in revivals and am more than happy to do so. Virgin frustrate me in a few regards, namely not being part of an alliance, but the clubhouse issue is mighty fine and honestly, they're worth paying for.

[honey lamb]

I'm very happy with the guest levels as is, I often pay for a friend or colleague to join me in revivals and am more than happy to do so.

That surprises me as I understood that guests are not allowed in Revivals. I've been at the desk when they have turned people away stating that it is a service for UC passengers and Gold card members only ?|

I generally agree with challenging T&Cs wherever possible. If you go about it in the right manner and accept that many times you will be unsuccessful you can generally do very well out of it. If you just accept as it is... well you'll never know until you ask the worst they can do is say no.

It was early and empty so i went up and said i would like to pay for an additional child to go in. Paid the £60 and done.

Glad you got a result...!

Not sure why people don't challenge T&c's if you don't you just end up paying over the odds on standard contracts (mobile phones, roaming data and bill shock is a classic example)

I do think the reason for the t&cs related to CH and other Exec lounge access (including, e.g., Hilton) is different to that for other services. One of the reasons for the constraint and the high price of paid for access is, presumably, to keep a semblence of exclusivity and to control numbers - so it's not just about keeping your business, it's about keeping the business of others who are sharing the space.

I'm very happy with the guest levels as is, I often pay for a friend or colleague to join me in revivals and am more than happy to do so.

That surprises me as I understood that guests are not allowed in Revivals. I've been at the desk when they have turned people away stating that it is a service for UC passengers and Gold card members only ?|

Never had a problem paying for people to come into revivals.