When things go sideways overseas, I want to be able to get hold of somebody on the phone ASAP. When you have OW status, I've experienced a better level of service. On award I can call AS direct and get a quicker response. When I have to speak with the partner, if there's an agent in the lounge they're far more helpful that getting in line at the customer service desk in the terminal. The non-irrops benefit we like most is probably access to the "FASTRACK" or priority security line. We have two kids with airport security line anxiety, which I also have. I'm always fearful I'll be stuck for hours, even though it's never happened. The kids are fearful they'll be pulled out of line and thrown into the gulag. So, making the experience less stressful is important. Unfortunately, as is sometimes the case, having to "educate" lounge staff on the status-based access rules becomes too stressful for one of the kids so we sometimes end up not using our lounge benefits.