If lounge access is all you are after...the price difference you mentioned on the ticket is more than the annual membership fee for Priority Pass (+- $100 to $300 or so last I checked) or the annual fee for most decent credit cards with lounge access benefits...

Lounge access is nice, but I don't think it is worth paying 40% extra on a ticket a couple of times a year (if thats all you want and the bonus miles etc. aren't taken into account).