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MISSED FLIGHT WHILE SITTING IN THE LOUNGE – SYMPATHY OR NO SYMPATHY? MARTYNSINCLAIR

POST

After 30 years of travel, I managed to miss two flights yesterday and I only have myself to blame. The cause: I bumped into a very good client in London Heathrow T5 lounge and before I knew it, had missed the departure time by a good 20 minutes. It was entirely my fault, however… could/should airlines do more to assist passengers running late or who have been distracted? With boarding passes being scanned at every conceivable point along the route to the aircraft, could airlines use this as a means of identifying where passengers are within the airport? I realise it’s totally impractical to have announcements in the lounge, but is there technology that would allow announcements through Bluetooth headphones on a voluntary basis?

➜ CHRISTOPHEL

Given more and more flights are departing late and lounges have less and less flight information screens I would appreciate announcements in lounges for any flight departing with some delay. The most efficient way I found not to miss my flight is to use the alarm of my mobile phone.

➜ STEVESCOOTS

I don’t think they can do any more apart from potentially calling someone’s phone. I know many apps can integrate with a phone’s calendar to notify of a change in boarding time, but often it’s just a single “ping”. Maybe airlines can integrate some form of alarm into their app that either connects to the phone’s alarm or automatically calls with a voice alert? I have been called from the lounge before, but only because they decided they wanted to leave early (CX out of SGN).

➜ SIMONS1

Could it be solved by technology? Yes. Will airlines spend the money? You probably know the answer.

➜ TOONFAN62

Delta (almost!) always sends a message via its app when boarding starts. Personally I always find it a bit rich that if a passenger makes a mistake or misses something they are charged out the wazoo, yet the airline can inconvenience the heck out of them with little if any recourse.

➜ GIVINGUPBA

It may sound unbelievable but many years ago I had a Qatar Airways flight with a departure time of 0000 from Hong Kong. I think that shouldn’t be allowed. I was flummoxed and had to ask Qatar Airways which day it was.

➜ JH_1234

The ever-useful AwardWallet app sends an alert one hour before (and also four hours before) departure for any trips it knows about – although I’m not sure whether that’s the scheduled departure or whether it can get live updates for delays, etc. Also seems pretty good at automatically identifying trips from your email (on iPhone at least).

I also use Malaysia Airlines’ app to keep track of all my OneWorld flights.

TERMINAL 3 LHR – WHICH BUSINESS LOUNGE TO USE? POST DEREK1948

Advice please. We are flying to Budapest on BA business class from Terminal 3. I understand that as Silver BA members we can access the BA lounge, but can we also visit the other Oneworld business lounges in the terminal? Are there any restrictions or problems getting into another Oneworld lounge if not flying with that airline?

➜ MARC_ACB

Why limit yourself to one? It is possible to go to the Cathay J lounge (there is a Business and First lounge) for noodles and dumplings, then Qantas for pepper squid and gin, or espresso martinis, pop into the American lounge if you need to download anything (super-fast broadband); these are all within around 50 metres of each other and very easy to lounge hop.

➜ MARKIVJ

As a Oneworld Emerald (or Sapphire), I love T3 for the choice, and often go “lounge hopping”. I start at the AA lounge for their fabulous veggie rolls (as appetisers), then move on to the BA lounge for their crisps… and finally settle down in the CX lounge for dinner, followed by a shower, followed by some excellent English trifle for dessert! I haven’t been to the new QF lounge so can’t comment.

➜ DEREK1948

Thank you all for your comments and advice. We spent this morning visiting all four Oneworld lounges with no hassle gaining entrance. Overall we both thought the Qantas lounge was our favourite. Certainly the BA and American lounges were nowhere near as good.

➜ GIVINGUPBA

Good report. I never thought of “lounge hopping” – I’ll try it next time!