I am interested in the Priority Pass Program, but I have two questions for which I cannot get definitive answers.

My wife and I fly American, Alaska, Delta, and now NW and Continental. We connect through all the usual hubs and frequent SFO, SJC, LAX, LAS, SNA, PHX, and SEA among others.

My first questions concerns access to the designated Priority Pass Lounge when you must leave one concourse and go through a security check onto another concourse. For example, at LAX, when using American Airlines, it is necessary to leave the American Airlines building and go through security in another airline’s terminal in order to access the designated Priority Pass Lounge. Will we be able to do this with ease even though we are ticketed on American and not this other airline?

The second question involves entering, exiting, and re-entering the same lounge. For example, if you leave the longune to get something to eat and then return 45 minutes later, will another Priority Pass entry fee be charged? Of course, this situation is applicable for the lower tier of memberships only.

I talked to Priority Pass about my concerns. For the first question, the only answer they were able to give me was that it depends on the airport and the level of security at any specific period of time. The lady I talked with at Priority Pass told me about a person she had talked with several days early. This individual had no problem entering a concourse of an airline for which she was not ticketed.

For the second question, I did not get an answer.

I was told that Priority Pass does not have any agreements with American Airlines for the use of their lounges. I was also told that Priority Pass uses a number of Delta, NW, and Continental lounges, but at SLC there is no Priority Pass Lounge available. The only Alaska lounge available is in Alaska, and there are some United Red Carpet Rooms used by Priority Pass.

Our home airports are SFO, SJC, and sometimes OAK. Nevertheless, we stopped using United years ago. I am a fairly big guy, and MRTC on American is extremely important. I avoid their 757 and Airbus airplanes. We use Alaska when we must for their service to the Pacific Northwest. I can survive their trips under two hours without MRTC. We are big time American Express and American Express Delta Skymile Card users and fly Delta, NW, and Continental for first class award travel.

We do not want to buy a membership in both the American and Delta Lounges. We cannot justify the cost of doing this.

Any answers, experiences, assistance, or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much.