Originally Posted by
Parachute07
I mean, I hear ya on what I'd rather speculate. The problem here is that Chase left it open to speculation. The letter doesn't even state that access is to the lounge is complimentary for me, forget about my guests -- it just says I can use the lounges as often as I wish. I can also access EK first class as often as I wish with my Ritz card. All I need to do is buy a ticket. As the person you quoted said, the membership from my Hilton HHonors Surpass card is a "complimentary membership", but it doesn't even let me access the lounge for free. I can't think of a reason why neither Chase nor Priority Pass can tell me the terms of the membership except so that they can fall back on that ambiguity with a surprise charge down the road and everyone can point to someone else. And my feeling on that is, "Why would you add a benefit to a $400 AF card that induces ambiguity and therefore frustration?" I guess the answer is that they'd rather I just use my Citi Prestige membership and somehow still feel like Chase is providing a benefit.
Don't get me wrong....I'm thrilled with the new airfare benefit. I'm happy with the card overall. Just horrible execution on this benefit.
I would agree that the lack of definition of the new benefit on the website is not ideal. I wonder what the printed materials that come with a completely new card would say. Looking back at archived pages the old application pages did say "complimentary access", as so did the printed materials with the card.
Saying that, in a regulated environment, Chase would know better than to eliminate a benefit without disclosing it. That would be just plain stupid. (Because in the end they will be paying for the unauthorized charges and will need to clarify the language if that is indeed the case).
Though if it materialized as true devaluation (which I personally doubt), it would not be the first time banks have done something stupid.