OK, I think I copied this down right:

Effective April 2nd, CP customers will have access to all UA Red Carpet Club's.

Effective April 2nd - June 1, CP customers will have access to Star Alliance lounges wherever AC flies.

Effective June 1st, CP customers will have access to ALL Star Alliance lounges (in line with CP joining Star).

Emp

Employee:

Will DIners Club Maple Leaf Club card holders have official access to business class check-in and Empress lounge access at CP?

I'm not sure, but I would assume so. I don't know whether its Diners Club that has to negotiate the agreement with CP, or whether it'll be looked at as a given.

I'll try to see what I can find out. Its a good question, and probably one that I'll be asked alot.

Enjoy the day,

Emp

Yesterday I flew to RDU on CP. I thought I could use a CP lounge in the Transborder area of T3 and was told that CP doesn't have a lounge - only AA's Admirial club and they only allow CP members (not AC Elite) to use the lounge.

I was told that CP doesn't have a lounge in the transborder area - is this correct?

That's correct for the time being. CP transborder flights have always used AA lounge at T3. When CP moves those flights to T2, the AC MLL will be used.

Diners Club has now confirmed that it's Maple Leaf Club card holders now have access to Empress lounges.

From the April (and the last) edition of the Canadian Inflight magazine:

Diners ML holders now have access to Empress lounges but not to business class check-in.

Hopefuly this is coming soon.

Employee:

With reference to your original post, doesn't this make Empress Lounge membership a very very good buy for United FFs at ~$US130 ($C200)?

Maybe we should make the United Forum aware of this......or maybe not.

I really wonder how much longer they will continue to sell Empress Lounge memberships at these rates to non-elites?

You're right. That is a good deal, but perhaps membership is restricted to Canadian residents? If it isn't, then by all means, jump on the bandwagon!

On our end, purchases of MLL memberships are kept within' the realms of the sales offices. There is very little written up in the computer, and most memberships are sold to corporate accounts.

I can only speculate that CDN's program will change, or even cease over the course of time.

Its unfortunate that AC doesn't offer a purchase program like CP's. I've even contemplated purchasing a lifetime UA RCC membership. The ammount of time I sometimes spend at the airport trying to get on flights is unbelievable. My record so far: 2 1/2 days in Hawaii trying to get back to the mainland. Granted, it was Hawaii, but I did spend those waking hours at the airport.

Have a great week!

Emp

Employee:

Just curious about the rules using the MLL lounge when traveling as a con? I have access to passes (hardly use them as I prefer positive space), but have never tried to use the lounge when using my wife's passes.

Thanks

No go. Has to be a confirmed ticket.

Senior executive staff and certain high priority card holders are the only employees allowed in the lounge.

As soon as they see that yellow ticket, or pull up your record in the computer, they'll refuse you entry. Regardless if you're holding passes or a MLL card.

Too bad, eh?

Emp

That's what I thought . . . and I certainly don't want to push the envelope with the passes.

Thanks for the answer

Employee,

Just FYI (you probably know this anyway!) quite a number of credit cards seem to give lounge access.

E.g. I have a Citibank (HKG) Gold Visa card that gives unlimited access to all NW lounges Asia/N America - whether or not flying with NW. This is very country-specific however; last time at MSP they had to get the rule sheet out - I noticed they take the HKG card, but not the Taiwan card...

Anyway, just FYI. Also works with supplementary cards...

Angus