I knew it's going to happen, but still I almost hyperventilated when I saw the list of lounges available for PC members... PC card is worth something these days! Great news! One question only - what took you so long, CO?
Programs: CO Gold, Delta Gold, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, CO Presidents Club, National Emerald Exec.
Posts: 148
Do I have this right?
As I understand it from the CO website, my PC membership gains me access to all PC's with 2 guests, even if I am NOT flying on a *A airline.
But, to access UA or US clubs with my PC card, I need to be flying on a *A airline. I fly out of San Diego airport and there is no PC, (we used the DL club)
but there is a UA RC lounge. If I am not flying out on a *A airline, is it true that I am out of luck for lounge access that day?
The CO website also states the following: "Presidents Club members, Red Carpet Club members and US Airways Club members may access any of the three carrier’s lounges with a valid membership card and a current photo ID." Yet it also says: "Presidents Club members and two guests or family members (spouse and children under 21) may visit United Red Carpet Clubs and US Airways Clubs on a same-day international or domestic flight on a Star Alliance member airline. Members and one guest are also welcome to visit designated Star Alliance Gold Lounges when departing on a Star Alliance member airline."
So, which is it. Do I have to be on the *A airline that day to get in UA or US lounges with my PC card or not?
FWIW, I am also *A gold, but I believe I need to be flying on *A for any lounge privileges using the gold card.
Last edited by cielak; Oct 27, 09 at 2:54 pm.
Reason: added webpage quote
Moderator: Travel Technology, Travel Photography and JetBlue
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 29,590
Quote:
Originally Posted by seminole_kev
This is what it shows for Orlando and Club locations:
Orlando, FL (MCO) - Contract lounge. At the airport, please see the Star Alliance member airline operating your flight for details.
Any idea what that actually means for travelers?
It will depend on the carrier you are on. I believe that VS has a lounge that they use for their premium passengers, for example. LH, too. AC has international service as well but no lounge that I'm aware of.
If you are on CO metal then you almost certainly will continue to have no lounge access.
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I received a new Presidents Club membership card today, and the scope of access when not traveling on CO or another Star Alliance carrier is confusing.
CO Insider wrote...
Quote:
Expanded lounge access for Presidents Club members. Presidents Club members and up to two guests will now have access to United Airlines Red Carpet Clubs and US Airways Clubs without any same-day ticket requirement.
But as cielak noted, continental.com says that a Star Alliance ticket is required to access the UA and US lounges:
Quote:
Presidents Club members and two guests or family members (spouse and children under 21) may visit United Red Carpet Clubs and US Airways Clubs on a same-day international or domestic flight on a Star Alliance member airline.
The website then seems to contradict this:
Quote:
Presidents Club members, Red Carpet Club members and US Airways Club members may access any of the three carrier’s lounges with a valid membership card and a current photo ID
It will depend on the carrier you are on. I believe that VS has a lounge that they use for their premium passengers, for example. LH, too. AC has international service as well but no lounge that I'm aware of.
If you are on CO metal then you almost certainly will continue to have no lounge access.
As most of my travel is domestic US, that was not great news. I'm blanking on which gates/sections UA flies out of versus Continental, but is the UA RCC club not reachable from the Continental area without leaving security?
Programs: CO Gold, Delta Gold, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, CO Presidents Club, National Emerald Exec.
Posts: 148
Quote:
Originally Posted by mia
I received a new Presidents Club membership card today, and the scope of access when not traveling on CO or another Star Alliance carrier is confusing.
CO Insider wrote...
But as cielak noted, continental.com says that a Star Alliance ticket is required to access the UA and US lounges:
The website then seems to contradict this:
...no mention of ticket.
After a long wait on hold for a PC rep, she told me that I CAN access the UA or US clubs with just my PC membership card & photo ID. I do NOT have to be flying on a *A flight. She agreed that the info in the website is confusing.
Airport Lounge Access - available worldwide for you and a friend†† when you travel with any Star Alliance member airline, regardless of your class of travel.
This statement rules out neither domestic nor Continental. So what will happen on Thursday when I bring this page printed out to the EWR President's Club before my flight to SFO? Will I get in?
I plan to produce an Amex Platinum card as backup if necessary, but it seems to me that CO should either literally follow what the web page states, or change the web page.
I hope that my reading isn't correct, by the way; the clubs will become unusable.
Moderator: Travel Technology, Travel Photography and JetBlue
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 29,590
Quote:
Originally Posted by Syzygies
This statement rules out neither domestic nor Continental. So what will happen on Thursday when I bring this page printed out to the EWR President's Club before my flight to SFO? Will I get in?
No, you won't. You have to read the ENTIRE page, not just the parts that you want to have applied to you. That very same page includes this text in he intro paragraph:
Quote:
Continental, United and US Airways Star Alliance Gold Elite members may access any Presidents Club, Red Carpet Club and US Airways Club on the day of international travel.
It is VERY clear that you have to be on an international itinerary to get in as *G.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Syzygies
I plan to produce an Amex Platinum card as backup if necessary, but it seems to me that CO should either literally follow what the web page states, or change the web page.
They are following their web page literally. You just need to read it.
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I just want to say finally some love for this Austin elite flyer who has had to see CO and AA FF's skip thier way to thier lounges and I had to elbow my way to the bar accross from gate 21.
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Posts: 16,586
Quote:
Originally Posted by channa
While the number of lounges has increased dramatically, we can only guest in 2 people at CO PCs. Most everything else is PC member + 1.
In the past, we used to be able to guest in 2 people at the DL CRCs, NW WCs, and AS BRs.
I guess everything comes at a price.
Hmm, now I found this that contradicts the +1 guest notations shown on the club list.
Quote:
Presidents Club members may visit any Presidents Clubs along with two guests or family members (spouse and children under 21). Presidents Club members and two guests or family members (spouse and children under 21) may visit United Red Carpet Clubs and US Airways Clubs on a same-day international or domestic flight on a Star Alliance member airline. Members and one guest are also welcome to visit designated Star Alliance Gold Lounges when departing on a Star Alliance member airline.
Sounds like the chart may be wrong with all the +1's listed by the US/UA clubs. Hopefully it should be +2.
