Originally Posted by
dilanesp
A separate check-in line is a small benefit. Boarding first is a big benefit for GS's in coach, but not as much as a benefit for F/J passengers who have their own overhead bins.
But the Polaris Lounge is a GIGANTIC benefit. They charge $59 for a UC day pass- if they were to sell a day pass for a Polaris Lounge, it might be $300 or more.
So the basic idea is that when the benefit is that big, you make sure you give it to people who paid a ton for their ticket. I just read a review on one of the travel blogs of Emirates First Class- an amazing experience. They will send a Town Car to take you to the airport, but only if you paid cash ($9000 one way) for your ticket. If you bought it with FF miles, you don't get the Limo. Is that devaluing Frequent Flyers? No, it's reserving a very exclusive benefit that is extremely valuable to people who paid a lot of money for their ticket.
firstly paying 59 dollars for United club access is never a good deal. Secondly many other airlines around the world give their top tier frequent flyers access to their best lounges. Actually I don’t know a single airline in the world that is not a budget airline, that doesn’t give their top tier flyers access to a lounge on all of their flights. I mean even delta and American give their top tier flyers access to their best lounges. If anyone here thinks it’s “ not possible “ to give 1ks a united club membership and give GS at least some passes to enter the Polaris lounge, then you have been brains-washed by United.