Originally Posted by
work2fly
That was exactly my point, which I didn't state as clearly as I could. I would ordinarily never dream of getting a card for my 13 year old, but since it doesn't cost anything additional, I will do it just to avoid the guest fee.
And for the couple who travels 5 or 6 times per year, getting an AU for the spouse now makes economic sense. No change to the current overcrowding, and Amex collects more fee revenue. Moreover, if you're now paying for up to three AUs, why not give the remaining 2 to siblings or parents, a net increase to eligible lounge visitors!
Yes. And also AmEx gives you either 5,000 or 20,000 MR just to add those free AUs.
Since I have multiple Platinum cards all under my name, this head-start is going to motivate me to unload one or two to family member(s) to collect new card bonus.
Ultimately nothing is going to change the lounge over-crowding situation. For the couples or young families who can't justify the $50 for occasional travel, they will quit and save on all the hassles of AmEx "lifestyles" as I mentioned before. Only the "road warriors" or the "AmEx loyalists" remain and drain AmEx revenues.
To the end, AmEx may just wake up and see that they can't afford the "unlimited " lounge access. They may adopt a "per diem" system to allocate lounge resources. Then each cardholder will be allocated something like up to 20 or 30 lounge visit passes....
I'm sure AmEx is monitoring FT forum and they will know the feedback from this reported change.