Why don't airlines in the United States off lounge access to passengers who fly First/Business Class soley within North America (except passengers on routes such as "SFO-JFK vv., LAX-JFK vv." who get lounge access)? They insist you pay a fee in the hundreds of dollars per year to gain entry!!

Even Air Canada up in Canada offer access to their Business Class lounges for passengers travelling in Business Class on short routes such as YVR-YYC.

And in Europe, BA offers lounge access to their short-haul "Business Class" (which does not really feel like business class) passengers.

In Asia, CX and other airlines also let Business Class passengers flying short flights within asia (ie. HKG-TPE) access to their lounges.