zappy312

The change doesn't go into effect until June 2023, so if you have a bunch of travel in early 2023, it might be worthwhile.

Really? I could care less about priority bags, the execution is a grab bag anyways. It's hard to find a priority flag when using the kiosks (although it's coded into the tag as well). And when it comes out, Priority can either be first, last, or somewhere in the middle. Basically meaningless, and last bag doesn't always take that long to come out.

vancouver25k

YUL-GRU-EZE in PY is just over 15k

allbrosca

That was me. I did some research after the fact and found language on the VA site to suggest I could get in but nothing to confirm I could guest in Mrs. Allbrosca. This confirms it.

Changeup2000

I am not sure about others’ experience but for me, my bag is always among the first several to come out at the baggage claim. I’d say it is pretty handy.

Of course, having priority tag with fragile label did not prevent some of my travel items from getting damaged so maybe the priority tag does have its limit.

trek604

I guess but my thinking was for an E35K you can't buy priority baggage unless you upfare. There are numerous other ways to gain entry into a domestic MLL.

wjw

Agreed. I’m not sure who this FOTSG is that has a $599 annual fee credit card with an airline… Like why would you choose an expensive rewards card with benefits you would barely use? Even if this person did exist, they would make use of the lounge twice each year which probably doesn’t exactly equate to crowding issues. Especially versus those that are flying often enough to earn 35k status.

Changeup2000

Maybe they is a frequent basic economy flyer. $599 is way less than what they can save by flying BE, but they gets all the other benefits and award points from the card regardless.

Adam Smith

Travel is aspirational. A lot of people who don't fly a ton have airline rewards credit cards because it lets them build up frequent flyer points for that dream vacation, even if they don't fly very often. And some of these people make quite a bit of money, so don't care that much about the fee, and they may even get fees waived or reduced as part of their packages with the bank - multi-product discounts, private banking, things like that. And there are lots of people out there who travel a bit and don't spend a lot of time analysing the value of these things. The marketing materials for the premium cards sound good, and they don't think about what it would cost them to buy lounge access or just spend money in an airport restaurant on their handful of trips a year, they just like the simplicity of having the premium card and getting the benefits.

atsak

You're right of course, but my travel is drastically curtailed this year and likely for the foreseeable future anyway (dropped from about 75 flights a year pre COVID to maybe 10 or 20). It likely wasn't worth it regardless but I thought that maybe I'd stretch just in case it picked up again next year unexpectedly. Definitely doesn't make sense now. Still might make it by accident but certainly won't be putting in a mileage run if I don't, for example. Also I bought business class on a trip to Boston I wouldn't have if I knew this sooner, so that's a little irritating, but it's not like I don't work the system to my advantage at every opportunity so no reason I should expect anything else of AC.

lcohen999

Happy to see the VA lounge access....although really just means that I don't have to pull out my Amex card.

All we need is priority boarding there and we are set in Australia !

Kishiwada

Sorry, someone paged me? My card also gives me a Companion pass yearly with a min spend, and I use that to make TWO trips a year, thankyouverymuch. Usually at least 1 to Asia, and then one to visit family in Canada. 35k + CC Benefits mean most of my trips have been in relative luxury compared to flying Y to Asia and the East Coast previously. I'd love to travel more, but I don't have the time off for it so my card suits my travel style just fine.

YOWgary

Same reason a person with SE benefits might choose an expensive rewards card whose benefits they already get from their FF status: because it has enough benefits that DO apply, to make it worthwhile.

I don't need free checked bags or priority boarding, but rolling over eUps is a huge benefit, as are bonus SQM.

A FOTSG who spends a lot on their credit card might find sufficiently compelling value to justify a top-tier CC just from the Aeroplan earning bonuses alone.

Solar56

Missed it completely. Thanks!

CanadaDH

This would be me. I probably only take 3 or 4 round trips per year by air, but I sign up for the cards to collect the miles; both from spend and sign up bonuses.

I would never use the travel benefits of my card or status, because you would never see me fly economy. I've never once used an eupgrade and all I've ever had have expired. I would either redeem miles for J or F, or sometimes just pay cash for J or F. Buying economy or PE is just not something I would do.

The only other perk I benefit from with the card, is a slight discount on redemptions.

My credit card doesn't contribute to any crowding in the lounge or priority boarding line, because I would be there with or without it, on account of the tickets I buy.

Solar56

Counter argument here - as a domestic business traveler, the new 35k perks add a lot of value. Being able to redeem priority rewards in PE and for sun destinations, as well as extra eupgrade credits makes a difference over 25k. It also means that a premium credit card is not duplicative.