I'm concerned that the EZE Centurion lounge isn't mentioned in the proposed rules. IME it's the worst in terms of having lots of unruly kids, including (of course) unsupervised visits to the buffet where you regularly see kids touching unwrapped food with their hands and then putting the items back for others to eat and (no kidding) a kid with muddy shoes standing on the top of the back of a light-colored fabric upholstered sofa and screaming while the parents were oblivious. There's a large and well equipped kids room, but I've never seem anyone using it. My impression is that a big part of the problem is that *any* local AmEx card (and maybe other bank cards too) permits access to the entire family and in fact included extended families.
I'm also concerned about how the guest pass/ guest fees will work. I usually travel by myself, but when I see people I know from business at the airport (a few times per year), I'd like to invite them into the lounge (one or at most two at a time, not big groups), but it would be awkward for them to observe me paying if I want it to be my treat and moreover, depending on the nature of the business relationship, there can be issues with them accepting a "gift" from me. If I have free guest privileges, the problem doesn't obviously arise, but even being observed to apply a limited number of guest passes, valued at $50 each, could cause ethical issues.
Originally Posted by
jamesteroh
But if someone is bringing their kids in for free it is takking up seats. I remember back when Delta allowede either 2 guests or a spouse/partner and yunlimited nyumber of children in under either 18 or 21 with a individual membership or am ex swipe how that would be abused. I remember one time this boy scout troup must have been flying for a jamboree or some event and the scoutmaster was able to guest himself and another adult and five or six teen boys in. Another time a guy guested in his wife and four college age kids, two guys and two girls got guested in with him and the kids were obviously two couples and were drinking upstairs so either the skyclub attendant didn't do an age check and they were over 21 or they were drinking illegally.
I don't have an issue with kids getting guested in but they should have to pay if they are taking up a seat.
The problem with the "taking up a seat" criterion is that parents will insist that a four year old, for instance, will sit in a lap of play on the floor but of course this doesn't actually happen. In fact, I've seen families move furniture to create their own large private living room, taking far more seats in the process than the total number of people (including even infants) in their group.
Seeing Platinum cardholders get in the skyclub I think it's only fair reserve card holders get the same benefit and I don't see it being that big of an issue except at clubs like LAS and CLT where there is no skyclub and an Am Ex located conveniently next to the Delta gates.
Problem with limiting the club to an hour or two is the times I am in a club for over an hour is one of the reasons I like having access to a skyclub or other lounge. There's been times I wanted to get on an earlier flight and only standby was available and I would get to the airport early if I was on the standby list not to clear and will go to the club and wait for my flight. I've had flights delayed five or six hours before in airports where there is really no place to go and they also don't want you toeave the airport if it's a MX issue they may be able to get fixed earlier or able to do an equipement or crew swap on. Hasn't applied to the Am Ex lounge but has to priority pass and Sky clubs for me is a long layover. Last time I came back from Lima there was an equipment issue that was easy to fix after boarding but once it was fixed it was past the curfew time to leave LIM and they wouldn't clear the plane and we were stuck on the ground all night and missed my connection home and the first flight they could get me home on out of ATL was eight hours later. Don't think it would have been fair if I had to pay for club use since that wasn't my fault and I thought about leaving the airport but carried on and didn't want to deal with having all my stuff with me and I also bought some Pisco at Duty Free and wouldn't have been allowed to reclear security without checking it.
My understanding is that the three hour rule applies only to originating (not connecting) flights and is based on the scheduled (not delayed) departure time. If your flight is late or if you have a long connection, you can use the lounge for the entire time.
It would be nice to have arrival lounge privileges for the main cardmember. DL permits use of their lounges upon arrival, assuming that immigration/customs/TSA airport security permit you to get to the door of the louunge.