Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan - Board Room Renewal vs Priority Pass

My Alaska Airlines Board Room membership is up for renewal. Since I generally travel alone and often travel internationally I'm considering getting a Priority Pass membership which allows access to lounges throughout the irrespective of the airline I fly. Have others chosen this option? Is there a downside to this choice? Priority Pass is offered in conjunction with some credit cards, but the standalone membership is a little cheaper and I believe provides access to UA lounges.

My Alaska Airlines Board Room membership is up for renewal. Since I generally travel alone and often travel internationally I'm considering getting a Priority Pass membership which allows access to lounges throughout the irrespective of the airline I fly. Have others chosen this option? Is there a downside to this choice? Priority Pass is offered in conjunction with some credit cards, but the standalone membership is a little cheaper and I believe provides access to UA lounges.

It has served me well for several years. It is also handy @ SEA for those N gate departures and delays, where you can simply wait right downstairs @ UA instead of trekking back to D1

I like PP because it gets me BR access and UA Club access. However, if you're traveling with companions you'll need to pay an access fee of $27 per guest.

Personally, I don't use it internationally because of Star Alliance Gold and OW Emerald status/premium cabin travel, but I can see how it would be useful.

BR Membership: Good if you travel with family/companions who wouldn't otherwise have lounge access due to status or ticket type. Before AS changed policies, it was also nice to have a guaranteed way to get a gate pass to meet arriving passengers. That perk is gone now.

PP: Excellent for single travelers on AS' network. Gets you all BR's as well as United clubs. I've been through a handful of international PP lounges in Europe and Asia and found them to be of middling quality - they are often contract lounges operated by third parties. Better than nothing, but not really anything to get excited about. As above, guests are $27 a pop, so rarely worth it.

I've found as a 75K that the combination of PP and complimentary AS BR passes suits my travel patterns quite well - I pay for the membership that gets me in, and I just burn a pass when I have a guest. DL also puts SkyClub day passes on sale occasionally and I like to keep a couple of those in my bag as a backup.

I've only taken advantage of my PP (through AMEX Plat) a few times in Europe, needless to say the lounges were a bit lacking to say the least. But it does offer a lot in terms of number of lounges. Very nice Amex Pl benefit if I do say...

I have PP and I really like it because it has a lot of lounges in major cities, including United and BR. I usually don't travel with business company but if I do I rather pay $27, than $45 for a BR day pass. I guess it depends on where you travel to and what airline you use the most. For me PP is a better option.

If you get the Priority Pass "Select" which comes with the American Express Platinum card, you will not have access to UA lounges, as UA's relationship is with Chase, not AmEx. I take it Eastbay1K has the regular Priority Pass.

I take it Eastbay1K has the regular Priority Pass.

Sipo

If you get the Priority Pass "Select" which comes with the American Express Platinum card, you will not have access to UA lounges, as UA's relationship is with Chase, not AmEx. I take it Eastbay1K has the regular Priority Pass.

The Priority Pass Select card actually comes as a benefit with a number of different credit cards. Mine is with the AMEX Hilton Honors Gold card. And yes, you cannot get into the UA Club with it. However, I have used it at a number of 3rd party lounges and at $27.00 per admittance, thought it was good value. Some of those lounges, like the one in Vancouver, have a fairly decent food and beverage layout. Then of course, it also gains entry into the Board Room.

I do like Delta's lounges and I would lose that access if I switched to Priority Pass..decisions, decisions.

I do like Delta's lounges and I would lose that access if I switched to Priority Pass..decisions, decisions.

I dumped my BR membership after they got rid of the gate pass benefit. I now use PP Select (through my Amex Plat) to access the BR. While they do charge for guests, any authorized users on your Amex card are also eligible for their own PP Select memberships.

The Amex Plat card itself also allows access to DL and AA lounges, but only with a same day ticket on that carrier who owns the lounge. I've never set foot in a US lounge, but supposedly you can access them without a same-day ticket.

Thank you for usefull info

My Alaska Airlines Board Room membership is up for renewal. Since I generally travel alone and often travel internationally I'm considering getting a Priority Pass membership which allows access to lounges throughout the irrespective of the airline I fly. Have others chosen this option? Is there a downside to this choice? Priority Pass is offered in conjunction with some credit cards, but the standalone membership is a little cheaper and I believe provides access to UA lounges.

Go for an Amex Platinum card. You get Priority Pass Select and access to AA (Amex perk when flying AA), DL (Amex perk when flying DL), US (Amex per when flying DL), or AS lounges (Priority Pass Select Perk). I've been very happy with this arrangement

Go for an Amex Platinum card. You get Priority Pass Select and access to AA (Amex perk when flying AA), DL (Amex perk when flying DL), US (Amex per when flying DL), or AS lounges (Priority Pass Select Perk). I've been very happy with this arrangement

I have been thinking of doing the same. Does the ticket have to be paid for with the Amex card to get the access? Also hgdf mentioned a second card holder. So if my wife and I have two cards on same account do we both get access without paying ?

I have been thinking of doing the same. Does the ticket have to be paid for with the Amex card to get the access? Also hgdf mentioned a second card holder. So if my wife and I have two cards on same account do we both get access without paying ?

The ticket can be purchased using any card. Additional Platinum Cards provide almost all of the benefits of their basic counterpart, including lounge access and Priority Pass for the cardholder.

I have been thinking of doing the same. Does the ticket have to be paid for with the Amex card to get the access? Also hgdf mentioned a second card holder. So if my wife and I have two cards on same account do we both get access without paying ?

It doesn't matter how the ticket is purchased.

The Amex Plat actually includes two separate lounge access programs. You flash the actual credit card to gain access to AA/DL/US lounges, including two free guests. For AA/DL you need a same day ticket on that carrier.

Additionally, each card holder is eligible for Priority Pass Select, which gives you access to a bunch of other lounges including the BR. All you have to do is call Amex and ask them to enroll you and your additional cardholders. Keep in mind that PP will charge you extra for bringing guests (which the lounge dragon will probably neglect to mention) so it's important to make sure you and your wife check in to the lounge separately with your own PP cards.

I took the plunge. They have enough other valuable perks and flexible membership rewards program to make it very worthwhile.

What's the annual fee for the Amex Platinum card?

What's the annual fee for the Amex Platinum card?

$450.

Priority pass is my choice. Very convenient for my business travels.

My problem with PP is that it just isn't financially feasible for a family of 4. However I found that AS BR's don't provide sufficient coverage in the locations I require. And UA's RCC is too expensive also lacks coverage. Lounge access through elite status is a plus when flying on economy tix, but doesn't work in the USA.

I am still waiting for a better solution for family trips.

My problem with PP is that it just isn't financially feasible for a family of 4. However I found that AS BR's don't provide sufficient coverage in the locations I require. And UA's RCC is too expensive also lacks coverage. Lounge access through elite status is a plus when flying on economy tix, but doesn't work in the USA.

I am still waiting for a better solution for family trips.

For $625 per year ($450 for Basic card, $175 for up to three additional ones), you could get an AMEX Platinum Card for all of your family members. Each of you would receive PP and Admirals Club, Sky Club, and US Airways Club access. Since each of you would have a PP card, there would be no need to pay PP guest fees. You all would also have access to a host of other Platinum Card benefits.

Good idea, except I think it unlikely that Amex will issue cards to a 6-year old and a 3-year old.

Really what PP needs is a family plan, like Clear or AS.

Good idea, except I think it unlikely that Amex will issue cards to a 6-year old and a 3-year old.

Since the basic account holder is fully responsible for the charges incurred on the additional cards, AMEX may be willing to issue the cards to your children. I have seen posts discussing cards being issued to minors, but not necessarily minors as young as your kids.

Since the basic account holder is fully responsible for the charges incurred on the additional cards, AMEX may be willing to issue the cards to your children. I have seen posts discussing cards being issued to minors, but not necessarily minors as young as your kids.

Yes I know some banks will permit you to designate teenagers as additional cardholders. I suppose I could always try it with my toddler, but unfortunately I don't do Amex.

Since the basic account holder is fully responsible for the charges incurred on the additional cards, AMEX may be willing to issue the cards to your children. I have seen posts discussing cards being issued to minors, but not necessarily minors as young as your kids.

When I calling to sign up additional card members, the AMEX rep informed me that should I default on the account, they can and will pursue the additional card holders for charges made on their cards. For this reason, they might be reluctant to issue an AMEX Plat with a high limit to a minor.

Good idea, except I think it unlikely that Amex will issue cards to a 6-year old and a 3-year old.

Really what PP needs is a family plan, like Clear or AS.

When I calling to sign up additional card members, the AMEX rep informed me that should I default on the account, they can and will pursue the additional card holders for charges made on their cards. For this reason, they might be reluctant to issue an AMEX Plat with a high limit to a minor.

For my Plat account, the additional users page says "All Additional Cardmembers must be 15 years of age or older and must never have had a defaulted account with American Express." It does ask for a DOB now, which is relatively recent--I have additional users on my Blue and never gave DOBs. I'm pretty sure they still don't pull credit reports on AUs.

The days when you could add your newborn and have your Amex account reported to the credit bureaus under his name as well are over, sadly. It makes for some amusing credit reports, though--I know a couple people now in their late 20s whose Amex "member since" dates are 1985 thanks to their parents having gotten additional cards for little kids. Their credit reports do show all Amex accounts as dating back to 1985. Great for average age of accounts!