US Airways Dividend Miles - Minimum Age For US Airways Club?

I have a question about the US Airways Clubs and figured since but you are all the US experts (I fly mostly with DL) this would be the place to get the answer.

My 16 year old son will be in PIT this summer but will be flying in and out a few times (all on US). I use my Amex Plat when I want to enter the US Airways Clubs. When I am there obviously bringing in family who are accompanying me is no problem.

To make my son's travel easier I was thinking of getting him a Plat card on my Amex account (no problem according to Amex). However, I was concerned about a minimum age to enter the US club since he is a minor not being accompanied by a parent or guardian (this is not an unaccompanied minor situation). I looked online and couldn't any type of restrictions to prevent his entry. He does have his DL for photo ID so no problems there.

Does anyone have any experience? Thoughts and suggestions welcome! Thanks.

I have a question about the US Airways Clubs and figured since but you are all the US experts (I fly mostly with DL) this would be the place to get the answer.

My 16 year old son will be in PIT this summer but will be flying in and out a few times (all on US). I use my Amex Plat when I want to enter the US Airways Clubs. When I am there obviously bringing in family who are accompanying me is no problem.

To make my son's travel easier I was thinking of getting him a Plat card on my Amex account (no problem according to Amex). However, I was concerned about a minimum age to enter the US club since he is a minor not being accompanied by a parent or guardian (this is not an unaccompanied minor situation). I looked online and couldn't any type of restrictions to prevent his entry. He does have his DL for photo ID so no problems there.

Does anyone have any experience? Thoughts and suggestions welcome! Thanks.

I know you have to be 18+ to actually buy a US Club membership ...

For AA/DL/UA its 21+, and they make it clear anybody under that age must be with an adult even if they have access via other means (Intl. J ticket, alliance status, Amex Platinum card, etc...) I'm not sure if US has a similar rule, maybe call club services and ask?

AmEx Plat card customer service might also be able to help with tracking down the answer to your question. Ask specifically about the PIT lounge too, as Pennsylvania tends to have especially strict alcohol rules.

You might also want to ask about other benefits that he would get from having a Plat card on your account, versus Gold or whatever AmEx. IIRC you can get either a Gold or Plat card on your account and if there are fees, the Gold card would be cheaper. It sounds like he should have a credit card for his summer plans anyway, but he might want a Visa (and MasterCard) too for places that don't take AmEx.

I know you have to be 18+ to actually buy a US Club membership ...

For AA/DL/UA its 21+, and they make it clear anybody under that age must be with an adult even if they have access via other means (Intl. J ticket, alliance status, Amex Platinum card, etc...) I'm not sure if US has a similar rule, maybe call club services and ask?

This isn't accurate for UA anyways. UA doesn't have a minimum age to enter - just to buy a membership or day pass. My 13 year old son who is *G uses the BOS and IAD United Clubs by himself and has never had any problem with entry. There's a thread on the UA forum that discusses this topic further.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileageplus-consolidated/1209286-age-enter-red-carpet-club-presidents-club.html

This isn't accurate for UA anyways. UA doesn't have a minimum age to enter - just to buy a membership or day pass. My 13 year old son who is *G uses the BOS and IAD United Clubs by himself and has never had any problem with entry. There's a thread on the UA forum that discusses this topic further.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileageplus-consolidated/1209286-age-enter-red-carpet-club-presidents-club.html

I know that was true when it was still the RCC, but PMCO was notorious for turning away under 21's in BusinessFirst or with *G status and my understanding was that the old PC access rules were what went to the new United Club.

I did not know this was a benefit of Amex plat. Is there a link saying so?

I'm 19 and had zero problems at the PIT club.

I did not know this was a benefit of Amex plat. Is there a link saying so?

The Platinum American Express Charge Card allows for admittance into American Admirals Clubs, Delta Sky Clubs, and US Airways Clubs. AA and DL require a flight the same day. No need to be traveling on US to use its clubs. CO Presidents Clubs used to be include pre-merger with UA.

You also get a free membership with Priority Pass which used to include UA Red Carpet Clubs pre-CO merger. It's good for mostly international now.

http://exploreplatinum.americanexpress.com

Airline Club access alone can cover the annual fee and then some. If you travel a lot then it is well worth the cost.

The Platinum American Express Charge Card allows for admittance into American Admirals Clubs, Delta Sky Clubs, and US Airways Clubs. AA and DL require a flight the same day. No need to be traveling on US to use its clubs. CO Presidents Clubs used to be include pre-merger with UA.

You also get a free membership with Priority Pass which used to include UA Red Carpet Clubs pre-CO merger. It's good for mostly international now.

http://exploreplatinum.americanexpress.com

Airline Club access alone can cover the annual fee and then some. If you travel a lot then it is well worth the cost.

Thanks! So you just show your Amex card at the lounge? I had thought that Amex and priority pass parted ways. I had them with my card in the past.

Yes, but it must be a regular AmEx Plat charge card, not an airline Plat credit card, SPG AmEx, etc. There might also be restrictions depending on the country where it's been issued.

To access DL and AA lounges respectively, you show your card and a same day boarding pass on DL or AA respectively, not including codeshares; flight must be DL or AA operated, although DL Connection RJ flights seem OK. To get into a US club, show your card and a same day boarding pass for some airline to the dragon; as mentioned above, you need not be flying US.

Thanks! So you just show your Amex card at the lounge? I had thought that Amex and priority pass parted ways. I had them with my card in the past.

Apologies. I was thinking about tripit not pp in regards to parting ways with Amex. I already have priority pass but I'm charged 27 bucks for each visit.

Next time I guess I should just show my Amex plat card instead of my pp card at us lounges. Right?

The only issue I can forsee is a self serve bar. For Example-some delta clubs have self serve bars and under 21 are not allowed without a parent/guardian. But other than that you are probably good.

I do not care what amex says, what US Air says, but what the women says at the counter is what counts. That is why they are called dragon ladies at some airlines.

Oh and most staff have no idea about the local liquor laws that vary from state to state that must be followed but are not followed.

I had a TWA ambassador card for a couple years before a women in denver snatched it from me and told me I was two young. At that time I think I was 13 years old.

To get into a US club, show your card and a same day boarding pass for some airline to the dragon; as mentioned above, you need not be flying US.

It's Amex plat card plus photo ID for USAirways clubs - no boarding pass is needed. (Although the dragon usually asks what carrier you're flying)

I know you have to be 18+ to actually buy a US Club membership ...

For AA/DL/UA its 21+, and they make it clear anybody under that age must be with an adult even if they have access via other means (Intl. J ticket, alliance status, Amex Platinum card, etc...) I'm not sure if US has a similar rule, maybe call club services and ask?

That's also inaccurate for DL. I had a SC membership prior to 21 (but after 18). There are some DL lounges with self-serve bars, and those are marked online and at the front desk. I was turned away on one occasion because I didn't have anyone older than 21 with me (not my fault, the website was wrong!).

No US Clubs spring to mind as having self-serve bars, just regular bars, which might help matters, but I certainly wouldn't leave it below a state like Pennsylvania with antiquated liquor laws to mean that under 21s need an adult.

I do not care what amex says, what US Air says, but what the women says at the counter is what counts. That is why they are called dragon ladies at some airlines.

This is really what I'm concerned about - what happens in the real world.

Amex told me no problem whatsoever, but what they say at the end of the day means nothing. US told me no problem, but could not point me to anything in writing to show the "dragon."

The worst that will happen is that they won't let him in. It won't cost me anything out of pocket because the additional Plat card costs me nothing because you get 3 additional cards for the same fee and my wife already has one.

This is really what I'm concerned about - what happens in the real world.

Amex told me no problem whatsoever, but what they say at the end of the day means nothing. US told me no problem, but could not point me to anything in writing to show the "dragon."

The worst that will happen is that they won't let him in. It won't cost me anything out of pocket because the additional Plat card costs me nothing because you get 3 additional cards for the same fee and my wife already has one.

Yep, in this case the worst that happens is a bit of embarrassment for your son. Happened to me one time at a CO President's club when I was a teenager. Sucked for a minute but no big deal really.

I'm 15 and in my experience i'v always been able to gain lounge access to all * gold lounges in Europe (which usually have open bars) while its very variable in the US, if i'm trying to gain access with my amex card it all seems to depend on whether the lounge "dragon" is in the mood to let me in or not.

I'm 15 and in my experience i'v always been able to gain lounge access to all * gold lounges in Europe (which usually have open bars) while its very variable in the US, if i'm trying to gain access with my amex card it all seems to depend on whether the lounge "dragon" is in the mood to let me in or not.

From the lounges' point of view, it's more of a liability issue than a legal one. While it's true that it's against the law for a person under 21 to enter a bar or a liquor pouring establishment this rule doesn't apply to business with a liquor license that have extensive operations besides their bar (for example sit down restaurants and private clubs.) From a legal standpoint, it appears that airline lounges would fall into this category, as the bar is simply one part of the whole.

Europe's alcohol laws are much more liberal (and the drinking age is lower).