Chase CO Presidential vs. AMEX Plat for Lounge Access
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Tampa, FL
Programs: CO Plat, HH-Gold, Star-Gold
Posts: 27
Chase CO Presidential vs. AMEX Plat for Lounge Access
My AMEX Plat is up for renewal next month ($499 yr.) and I am considering swithching to the Chase premium card with louge acess ($375-$75) as access to Delta and NWA is of little benefit.
Does anyone have knowledge of what the changes will be with * Alliance? 75% of my travel is with CO, 25% US Air so a card accepted at * lounges would be ideal.
Does anyone have knowledge of what the changes will be with * Alliance? 75% of my travel is with CO, 25% US Air so a card accepted at * lounges would be ideal.
#2
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Clinging to the edifices of a decadent past from the biggest city in America nobody really cares about.
Programs: (ಠ_ಠ)
Posts: 9,077
There's been no information on US lounges for President Club members.
FWIW, it is widely assumed there will be strong reciprocity between PCs and RCCs but this is no guarantee that US clubs will be included too.
Beyond that the Chase card grants you a full PC membership (you can enter whenever you want) and the AMEX requires you must be traveling on the airline -- something you may want to consider.
FWIW, it is widely assumed there will be strong reciprocity between PCs and RCCs but this is no guarantee that US clubs will be included too.
Beyond that the Chase card grants you a full PC membership (you can enter whenever you want) and the AMEX requires you must be traveling on the airline -- something you may want to consider.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Grazie Gold Lounge
Programs: UA-2MM; GalacticXpress-Irridium
Posts: 10,332
My AMEX Plat is up for renewal next month ($499 yr.) and I am considering swithching to the Chase premium card with louge acess ($375-$75) as access to Delta and NWA is of little benefit.
Does anyone have knowledge of what the changes will be with * Alliance? 75% of my travel is with CO, 25% US Air so a card accepted at * lounges would be ideal.
Does anyone have knowledge of what the changes will be with * Alliance? 75% of my travel is with CO, 25% US Air so a card accepted at * lounges would be ideal.
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
So even with Term A @ EWR if Im not flying out of the same Concourse as CO uses at Term A , no way would I want to go thru TSA twice, once to get to the PC the 2nd to get to my flight
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
But then all 1 can earn is CO miles, while with the Amex theres numerous Carriers the Miles can be moved to. Either to top off or say CO has no availability to XYZ and thusly a person can them move their MR pts to XX and get a tkt that way. etc etc
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: A menace to everything in the sky. Yes. Even birds.
Programs: Eh+ Rapid Rolleyes
Posts: 14,519
UA makes US Club holders () pay a higher annual fee to access RCC's. Why should we assume the CO / UA relationship will be any different. Money [in the US] is still green last time I checked.
#7
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Clinging to the edifices of a decadent past from the biggest city in America nobody really cares about.
Programs: (ಠ_ಠ)
Posts: 9,077
By Alex, of course!
Also of note, you need a same day BP to access the RCC with a RCC membership, it's not like the PC where you can just show up (not that getting a same day boarding pass is all that hard, but food for thought.)
Will I be able to use my Presidents Club card to access the Star Alliance partner Lounges?
Continental is expected to join Star Alliance during the fourth quarter of 2009, and Presidents Club members will then have access to United's Red Carpet Club lounges as well as other select Star Alliance partner lounges. Specific Star Alliance partner lounge access for Presidents Club card holders is still being finalized.
But that said, who knows with US as they upcharge for RCC/*G access. Continental is expected to join Star Alliance during the fourth quarter of 2009, and Presidents Club members will then have access to United's Red Carpet Club lounges as well as other select Star Alliance partner lounges. Specific Star Alliance partner lounge access for Presidents Club card holders is still being finalized.
Also of note, you need a same day BP to access the RCC with a RCC membership, it's not like the PC where you can just show up (not that getting a same day boarding pass is all that hard, but food for thought.)
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
What if I also fly AA on occasion? That isn't "fully" using the benefits but it is certainly cheaper to have the AmEx than a PC/PPlus and AC membership.
I don't use the vast majority of the benefits that the AmEx Platinum card offers. No FHR stays, no Cruise bonuses and no 2-4-1 international deals for me. I do use the louneg access, the SPG Gold (minimal though that benefit may be) and a few of the other benefits. And I definitely still feel that I get better value from my AmEx card than I would from the PPlus card.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Grazie Gold Lounge
Programs: UA-2MM; GalacticXpress-Irridium
Posts: 10,332
Really??
What if I also fly AA on occasion? That isn't "fully" using the benefits but it is certainly cheaper to have the AmEx than a PC/PPlus and AC membership.
I don't use the vast majority of the benefits that the AmEx Platinum card offers. No FHR stays, no Cruise bonuses and no 2-4-1 international deals for me. I do use the louneg access, the SPG Gold (minimal though that benefit may be) and a few of the other benefits. And I definitely still feel that I get better value from my AmEx card than I would from the PPlus card.
What if I also fly AA on occasion? That isn't "fully" using the benefits but it is certainly cheaper to have the AmEx than a PC/PPlus and AC membership.
I don't use the vast majority of the benefits that the AmEx Platinum card offers. No FHR stays, no Cruise bonuses and no 2-4-1 international deals for me. I do use the louneg access, the SPG Gold (minimal though that benefit may be) and a few of the other benefits. And I definitely still feel that I get better value from my AmEx card than I would from the PPlus card.
#10
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Clinging to the edifices of a decadent past from the biggest city in America nobody really cares about.
Programs: (ಠ_ಠ)
Posts: 9,077
If one is flying CO 75,000+ BIS miles per year then the PPlus is a no brainer. Lounge access + ~19,000 bonus miles + Avis + ability to earn points for purchases, especially if you would have already bought a membership to the PC anyways ($325 1 year Plat vs $375 1 year annual fee from Chase.) The downside is you're linked to CO and if you venture out, the card won't offer much value.
Now if one is not flying CO 75k+ (or is traveling heavily on other alliance too) than I think the AMEX option gains value. While you do loose some abilities to earn bonus onepass miles, one could easily argue MRs impressive list of partners justifies any potential loss. Likewise the ability to access multiple airline lounges across alliances is particularly useful for those who fly multiple carriers. The rather steep $500 annual fee can easily be justified if one could save buying a PC, AC and DL lounge membership - to say nothing of the ability to earn MR points.
Anyways, I think this is truly one of those YMMV but if you're just on AA once or twice a year (and CO for the rest) I'd think the PPlus card + a daypass or two to the AC when needed would be a better value...but that's just me.
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
I really think this is one of those YMMV situations.
If one is flying CO 75,000+ BIS miles per year then the PPlus is a no brainer. Lounge access + ~19,000 bonus miles + Avis + ability to earn points for purchases, especially if you would have already bought a membership to the PC anyways ($325 1 year Plat vs $375 1 year annual fee from Chase.) The downside is you're linked to CO and if you venture out, the card won't offer much value.
Now if one is not flying CO 75k+ (or is traveling heavily on other alliance too) than I think the AMEX option gains value. While you do loose some abilities to earn bonus onepass miles, one could easily argue MRs impressive list of partners justifies any potential loss. Likewise the ability to access multiple airline lounges across alliances is particularly useful for those who fly multiple carriers. The rather steep $500 annual fee can easily be justified if one could save buying a PC, AC and DL lounge membership - to say nothing of the ability to earn MR points.
Anyways, I think this is truly one of those YMMV but if you're just on AA once or twice a year (and CO for the rest) I'd think the PPlus card + a daypass or two to the AC when needed would be a better value...but that's just me.
If one is flying CO 75,000+ BIS miles per year then the PPlus is a no brainer. Lounge access + ~19,000 bonus miles + Avis + ability to earn points for purchases, especially if you would have already bought a membership to the PC anyways ($325 1 year Plat vs $375 1 year annual fee from Chase.) The downside is you're linked to CO and if you venture out, the card won't offer much value.
Now if one is not flying CO 75k+ (or is traveling heavily on other alliance too) than I think the AMEX option gains value. While you do loose some abilities to earn bonus onepass miles, one could easily argue MRs impressive list of partners justifies any potential loss. Likewise the ability to access multiple airline lounges across alliances is particularly useful for those who fly multiple carriers. The rather steep $500 annual fee can easily be justified if one could save buying a PC, AC and DL lounge membership - to say nothing of the ability to earn MR points.
Anyways, I think this is truly one of those YMMV but if you're just on AA once or twice a year (and CO for the rest) I'd think the PPlus card + a daypass or two to the AC when needed would be a better value...but that's just me.
As for the AA example, I've taken a trip or two on them each of the past couple years and my wife was with me. That's a lot of day passes. And the AX card is $450, not "nearly $500" for the annual fee. I also happen to get some other perks that are work-related from it (I have the Biz version, not the Personal) so there are other value considerations for me, too.
Believe me, I consider it very carefully every year. I might not renew next year and take a year off since I'll have BD *G that will get me into CO lounges throughout 2010. It is definitely YMMV and each person has their own values they assign to the various bits.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: A menace to everything in the sky. Yes. Even birds.
Programs: Eh+ Rapid Rolleyes
Posts: 14,519
#14
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Clinging to the edifices of a decadent past from the biggest city in America nobody really cares about.
Programs: (ಠ_ಠ)
Posts: 9,077
Might want to ask the OP about that.
And that's another angle -- if you're getting lounge access comped then the value of any lounge-access card changes.
Just out of curiosity, if you were to drop the AMEX plat in favor of BD *G for lounge access what would you replace it with, if anything?
Just out of curiosity, if you were to drop the AMEX plat in favor of BD *G for lounge access what would you replace it with, if anything?
#15
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP / UA Lifetime Gold / Marriott Lifetime Plat / SPG Plat / Hyatt Diamond / HH Diamond / Avis CC
Posts: 483
By Alex, of course!
Also of note, you need a same day BP to access the RCC with a RCC membership, it's not like the PC where you can just show up (not that getting a same day boarding pass is all that hard, but food for thought.)
Will I be able to use my Presidents Club card to access the Star Alliance partner Lounges?
Continental is expected to join Star Alliance during the fourth quarter of 2009, and Presidents Club members will then have access to United's Red Carpet Club lounges as well as other select Star Alliance partner lounges. Specific Star Alliance partner lounge access for Presidents Club card holders is still being finalized.
But that said, who knows with US as they upcharge for RCC/*G access. Continental is expected to join Star Alliance during the fourth quarter of 2009, and Presidents Club members will then have access to United's Red Carpet Club lounges as well as other select Star Alliance partner lounges. Specific Star Alliance partner lounge access for Presidents Club card holders is still being finalized.
Also of note, you need a same day BP to access the RCC with a RCC membership, it's not like the PC where you can just show up (not that getting a same day boarding pass is all that hard, but food for thought.)
Last edited by joediver; Jul 28, 2009 at 12:39 pm