Originally Posted by
AlwaysFlyStar
What I mean, is that the lounge benefit is modified for US members. I consider the lounge one of the better of the gold benefits for other carriers, and I can fly on a domestic itinerary in any country and get lounge access, whereas you are required to have an itinerary that touches outside of the US for your benefit.
You have to understand that there are a lot more *G people 'here' than 'there' because *G is much easier to obtain in the US (distances are greater). So, if any lounge 'here' opened to everyone with *G status, it would be a total zoo. Lounges are already pretty busy with people having a paid membership or PP either purchased or provided by amex plat. And a lot of us are glad to have additional barriers to lounge access in place.