Originally Posted by waikikiTed
Mr Banking Scot!
Thanks for the extremely comprehensive listings!
It looks like twith the abundance of options available at the major Western US airports, and the large amount supporting UA/RCC that my best bet would be to spnd the $$ on the Priority Pass (at least I still can use RCC in PDX) and then after a year, see if PriorityPass was worthwhile.
You guys are so helpful.
I'm using both an RCC membership and Priority Pass. Based on your travel patterns I would recommend against the PriorityPass membership.
At LAX if you are flying on United, which is a logical choice, then you won't have easy access to a lounge by the United gates. You can hike to the Continental Club in T6, but if you are leaving out of T8 then you'll need to allocate about 20 minutes to get to your gate. In addition, if there are operational issues, you get to wait in line with all of the other passengers at the customer service counter since you won't have access to the RCC.
At SFO if you are flying on United, which is a logical choice, you won't have access to anything since the UA domestic gates are all located in a terminal which has no PP lounge.
At PHX you'll have access to a bunch of lounges and will likely be on HP/US or AS from PDX. In this case you'll have lounge access, but an RCC membership would get you the same access. (AS is in T2 with the RCC and the RCC membership will get you into the HP/US club when flying on HP/US).
At LAS the club is outside security (as noted) and is nothing special. If you are flying HP/US (likely) then an RCC card will get you in there.
If I were you, and was focused on the Western US, then I would seriously consider flying Alaska since you'll have non-stop flights to most of the destinations you listed. At some point in the future you'll be able to get UA credit for the old America West routes, but the timing on that change has yet to be announced.
For the record, the only lounge where I see myself using the Priority Pass card anymore is the DL Crown Room at SAN. If DL closes that club then I doubt that the PP card will ever leave my wallet.