Originally Posted by
col4evr
Thank you for trying to be helpful. I am just really angry because I feel as though I wasted 4 grand on nothing. I was under the impression, having never been one until last years purchase, that elite flyers got upgraded all the time and always had lounge access....after all, they call them frequent flyer lounges. I feel that I should call US again anyway and ask.....
Crummy situation, but as cedric notes, it's probably best in the future to simply purchase first class tickets for the couple of flights that you take a year. If purchased online, a club day pass can be had for $29 (or $50 on the day of travel in the airport). With a paid first class ticket, you'd get priority check-in, security screening, boarding, and baggage handling, which all seem to be the things you were looking for. These days, non-refundable F class fares can be had on some transcons for $800 or less. I've seen short haul F class fares for as low as $400 to various cities up and down the east coast (Shuttle tends to have very affordable F class lately).