quoted from my post yesterday on UA:

It is definitely worth it for me... as a segment flyer, I need to have the guaranteed telephone/fax/internet connection access during my business layovers so that I can take conference calls, get office faxes, and check my e-mail.

I bought my first lounge membership (AA's Admirals Club) after a disasterous five hour delay in ORD where I couldn't find a free dataport to save my life. When I started consolidating all my non-AA travel onto UA, I ponied up for an RCC membership too.

So... for $500-ish a year, I have two memberships that allow me lounge access in pretty much every major airport I would fly through. I have a guaranteed place to park myself, access through security without a boarding pass, and the ability to congretate with my friends.

No shortcuts that I'm aware of. If you are going through a challenge or comp, however, wait until you have completed it before you pay up (unless you NEED it immediately) as the rates drop. I also advise my colleagues to not purchase the membership until the first time they are actually going to use it so you can stretch that 12 months out as long as possible.