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Northwest’s ‘adults only’ lounges

May 4, 2007

Are Northwest’s airport lounges for adults only? Apparently some U.S. lounges bar passengers under 21, even if they are elite-level frequent fliers in good standing.

No kidding. A recent e-mail from a WorldPerks member who lives in Europe and tried to visit the Northwest lounge in Detroit alerted me to this peculiarity.

“Just after sitting down, the gentleman who welcomed me and checked me in, ran up to me and whispered, ‘Sorry sir, but are you 21?’” said the passenger, Schuyler Deerman. He wasn’t. “Long story short — I was barred from all four NWA lounges at the airport.”

I suggested that Deerman ask Northwest if indeed its lounges had gone “adults-only.” According to the airline’s Web site, membership is open to anyone over 21. But it isn’t clear if minors will be shown the door. (If that’s true, it would be an odd departure — I’ve seen children in many first-class lounges in my travels.)

Deerman sent an e-mail to Andy Roberts and Kristen Shovlin, the top two people in charge of customer service at Northwest.

Here’s the fascinating reply:

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Northwest Airlines
Date: 04-May-2007 19:10
Subject: WorldClubs
To: Schuyler Deerman

Dear Mr. Deerman,

Thank you for sending your concerns to Andy Roberts and Kristen Shovlin. They have asked that I extend their personal apology for your disappointment with our rules for membership to the WorldClubs.

I regret that you were unable to enjoy your wait time in Detroit. Unfortunately, due to the fact that we are considered a “bar” in the eyes of the legal system we must comply with state liquor laws. We have had local law enforcement perform “sting” operations in a couple of our
clubs to try and catch us “serving” minors because we are a bar, that also has a passenger service counter. All of our literature states “21″ as the threshold for membership. So as not to put our liquor license at risk we try to be consistently diligent.

We certainly appreciate your business and hope you understand the position we are in for denying entrance in certain situations such as this. We wish that there was a way around these laws but unfortunately we have no control in the matter.

Your understanding is appreciated.

———————–A closer reading of the WorldClubs membership rules suggests that there’s something of a double standard when it comes to lounges. Children are welcome, as long as they’re accompanied by an adult. But not children, or minors, traveling alone.

I mean, what if they ordered a drink?

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4 comments

  • Susan Goldberg

    I went through the same type of thing at Continental’s President’s Club with my 18 y/o son, who possessed his own Amex Platinum card that enables one to use that lounge when flying Continental. He was traveling alone, and although I know and trust him, and it was very annoying at the time, I have to admit they do have a point. They are giving away free liquor and they had no provision for proofing him, nor did he at that time have adult “supervision”. True, one drink isn’t that big a deal, but what he drank more, got drunk, caused a commotion where law enforcement were necessary? They stand to lose to much, especially for the number of times I suspect this becomes an issue.

  • Jerry Barfield

    Yes, I think we have to blame our foolishly high “national” drinking age (highest in the world) and the puritanically strict enforcement policy for this, not Northwest.

    The very idea that Michigan authorities have nothing better to do than perform sting operations in the clubs gives me shudders. It’s reminiscent of the sting performed against airlines flying into ABQ, which has halted liquor availability on those flights, at leas temporarily.

    What’s next, forcing airlines to chose between allowing unaccompanied minors or wine with meals on the planes themselves? I wouldn’t be surprised.

  • Rick

    I’ve been in Northwest, Continental and Delta clubs. At Northwest clubs, the liquor and beer is self-serve, so there is no one to monitor or check ID. Both Delta and Continental used a bartender. I do not know if this holds for all Delta and Continental clubs.

  • Sonia Vining

    As a Metro-Detroit resident who holds a lifetime membership to Northwest’s WorldClubs, I can only shake my head and sigh. I feel badly for NWA, because they choose to make the alcohol self-serve, avoiding an additional salary by keeping the drinks behind a bar and serving them, or irritating customers who would like a drink and the “bartender” is nowhere to be found (something that I’ve seen all too commonly at clubs that offer reciprocity with NWA). They’re caught in a no-win situation, although I find it very hard to believe that Michigan’s law enforcement has the time to bother with airport clubs at all. (Our state’s unemployment is the highest in the nation, and state troopers or even local officers who would set up and perform sting operations are losing their jobs left and right.)

    As to the double standard of permitting children with adult supervision but not “young adults” unsupervised…well, I’d be thrilled to ban children under the drinking age altogether. These clubs were originally designed for the business traveler as a place to relax and get work done, if so desired. These days entire families camp out in the clubs, and not everyone supervises their children closely. Either that, or running around and yelling at the tops of their lungs in a crowded, public place is apparently considered “appropriate behavior” by their parents.

    Of course, families with unsupervised young children aren’t the only ones being inconsiderate in these clubs. The business traveler who hosts his pals in a loud, free alcohol layover party; the traveler who doesn’t understand that the sign reading “cellphone free zone” means he’s not supposed to make cellphone calls in that area; and the traveler who spreads out his computer, briefcase and luggage on three chairs in a small club where seating is at a premier are just a few offenders who spring readily to mind.

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