Denied Access To Oneworld Lounge In Amsterdam…

A learning moment, perhaps? For the lounge agent and maybe for me too? I was denied access…at least initially…to the oneworld lounge in Amsterdam despite holding a boarding pass for a oneworld carrier (Finnair) in business class.

I Was Denied Access To oneworld Lounge In Amsterdam For A Very Stupid Reason

After stepping off my Cathay Pacific flight, I went through a security checkpoint and walked over to the new-ish oneworld lounge. I was excited to try this lounge not only because I had never visited it, but because it had barista coffee…my favorite way to start my day.

I walked upstairs to the lounge (Amsterdam Schiphol oddly numbers lounges and this is Lounge 40) and approached the check-in desk, which is shared by both the oneworld Lounge and the next-door Apsire Lounge.

A friendly woman at the desk greeted me and scanned my boarding pass. A frown spread over her face.

“This is a non-Schengen only lounge. You must go to the Aspire Lounge 26.”

I was taken aback…the oneworld lounge entrance rules do not specify that entrance is only limited to non-Schengen flights. Yes, the lounge is on the non-Schengen side of the airport, but I was here now…with a valid boarding pass…and the oneworld access policy is clear: I had access.

And no, I did not fall under any of the exceptions either:

Rather than start arguing, I handed her my Cathay Pacific boarding pass and explained I was just arriving from Hong Kong. Maybe that would help?

She still shook her head and said I would not be allowed in.

I approached one of her colleagues at the shower desk (a separate desk on the other side of the lobby). He scanned my boarding pass, welcomed me to the lounge, reminded me that I would need to go through passport control before my Finnair flight, and handed me a shower key…

Ok, then. Problem solved.

The first lady was at least polite..but wrong. I had four hours and was not about to go to the Apsire Lounge 26, a horrid, crowded lounge (I would have rather stayed in the gate area or gone to the observation deck). The whole reason I connected in AMS over CDG was to visit this lounge.

Just be on the look out for lounge gatekeepers making up rules (not just at this lounge, but at any lounge)…or maybe she was just following orders. Either way, I was not willing to accept “no” for an answer. Thankfully, I found another way into this lounge without much drama.

Oh yes, and the lounge had the Finnair logo on the entrance…

> Read More: Delta Denies Me Sky Club Access On International Business Class Ticket