To the poster above, I found the lounge passes extremely hard to use. Just had one expire worthless.
Although my problem isn't the same as yours, I agree with the sentiment that this "benefit" really is more flash than substance. As a DM, my experience:
*Rarely travel with more than 2 other people. Even more than one companion is rare. Aka, I don't need the benefit when I'm traveling.
*Can only be used for redemption group. Well, I have all my slots filled up with family and a business associate. There were a few times I serendipitously wanted to use it for some friends randomly coming through HK on CX, but the cost would be stupid. Because I have to change my redemption group round trip, at $50 USD each. I just cannot justify spending $200 to get two long lost friends access to the F lounge. This hardly feels like a benefit!!
As a side note, I was able to use it for a family member....once in the year on CX. But that was it. And she already had J lounge access but my pass was expiring so i offered it to her. Again, didn't really feel like a big to-do. Not much of a benefit. (It would be much more of a benefit if I could give it to a few folks who NEVER get access to airline lounges, they would be in heaven. And the point I'm making is I can really never help those people out. My redemption group generally flies J and F anyway).
*Can only be used for OW flights. So useless when folks fly SQ and other airlines. Too bad, because recently two folks I would've 100pct used them on were departing on SQ F. Definitely these two are rather good folks to "wow" with the CX lounges, because they have a virtually unlimited travel budget but admittedly don't venture to Asia THAT often. But since they're flying on SQ metal, not allowed. So useless again. And in those case, a genuine missed opportunity by CX.
All in, I had one expire. And I imagine my passes this year might expire as well. I guess CX is worried about us selling them off to random folks like here on FT
, and it's a valid concern. But the way they're structured now they're a false benefit, at least to me.
Where I get value is the 1600 point upgrades and 1800 point Gold membership.