Thank you for your patience and explanations, Kiwi Flyer and wanaflyforless. You both obviously fly a lot more airlines than we and have thought a lot about these access issues, which have simply never concerned us.

OK, here is our personal situation, and a very specific question.

Please understand that Hunki and I, who are both 1ks and RCC members, only fly internationally in biz or first and frequently use the international RCCs (as well as other *Alliance lounges). So, we have simply never had occasion think about the basis of lounge access for coach passengers. We just assumed that we gained access to the RCC based on our RCC membership and our class of service, not our status.

Are you saying that if we were not RCC members and were flying internationally in coach (perish the thought) that we would still have access to the international RCCs?

OBTW, Kiwi Flyer, thanks again for passing "Night Over Water" along. It has pretty much hooked me on Ken Follett. I picked up one of his books last week and two more of his books at the book exchange at my gym this morning. I always think happy thought of you when I read his books. ^