Priority Pass benefit rapidly deteriorating
Mar 30, 2019, 9:26 pm
#421
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: BOS
Programs: BA GLD for LIfe, AA PLT 2 MM miler, B6 Mosaic, Star GLD; HH Diamond; Marriott PLT, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,368
Thanks, mia. my flight was at 14:23 and was there for a call at 13:00, so wouldn't have worked in April. Good to know the schedule going forward.
Mar 30, 2019, 10:26 pm
#422
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,722
You can believe what you like, but PP is clearly designed and marketed as a pre-departure experience Stocking your frig with takeout on every arrival is no different than the CSR idiot who brought 25 guests into the lounge. Yes, it is technically permitted but it simply is not factored into the current pricing by the banks or PP. and now families >3 have to suffer (ie pay to bring in children who consume little) because of a few abusers.
So not to worry - if you keep it up PP will simply start requiring customers to show a departing boarding pass or implement even more onerous rules like Amex did.
So not to worry - if you keep it up PP will simply start requiring customers to show a departing boarding pass or implement even more onerous rules like Amex did.
Mar 30, 2019, 10:26 pm
#423
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 984
In my role as a lawyer I often say to my clients "just because you can, doesn't mean you should". While you are correct, there is no written rule that you can't hit up a restaurant after arriving and get food to take home with you, it is definitely against the spirit of the rules and something that could likely lead to this benefit disappearing.
Apr 1, 2019, 7:52 am
#425
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
Further research reveals that this feature will not include using a Visit to pay for the meal, it's just a marketing tie -in, and therefore less relevant to this discussion.
Apr 1, 2019, 11:42 am
#426
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
You can believe what you like, but PP is clearly designed and marketed as a pre-departure experience Stocking your frig with takeout on every arrival is no different than the CSR idiot who brought 25 guests into the lounge. Yes, it is technically permitted but it simply is not factored into the current pricing by the banks or PP. and now families >3 have to suffer (ie pay to bring in children who consume little) because of a few abusers.
So not to worry - if you keep it up PP will simply start requiring customers to show a departing boarding pass or implement even more onerous rules like Amex did.
So not to worry - if you keep it up PP will simply start requiring customers to show a departing boarding pass or implement even more onerous rules like Amex did.
See? This is the part I hate to say that people always jumped to the conclusion. Specifically, who said I did not have a departing BP?
For the record, the flight I took for that day was LAS-SFO-LAX-SFO.
Apr 1, 2019, 12:34 pm
#427
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
To those who feel PP should only be for departing passengers...
Some airports have arrivals lounges. That's a fact.
In my case, I recently flew UA from ORD to SFO. UA's terminal at ORD lacks PP, so I compensated for this by grabbing lunch at SFO at the Giants Clubhouse. (You may be glad to learn that the service sucked.)
OTOH, even if ORD did have a lounge, I'd go to it, get disappointed (as is the PP case in the states), and then still grab a mediocre bite at an SFO restaurant. Why? What other purpose does the card serve, to jimmy open doors?
Another scenario: at MEX, there are a few PP lounges near each other at T1. I invited one friend to have breakfast at one, then after we got crowded out, escaped to a slightly quieter one. Would you have done the same?
Some airports have arrivals lounges. That's a fact.
In my case, I recently flew UA from ORD to SFO. UA's terminal at ORD lacks PP, so I compensated for this by grabbing lunch at SFO at the Giants Clubhouse. (You may be glad to learn that the service sucked.)
OTOH, even if ORD did have a lounge, I'd go to it, get disappointed (as is the PP case in the states), and then still grab a mediocre bite at an SFO restaurant. Why? What other purpose does the card serve, to jimmy open doors?
Another scenario: at MEX, there are a few PP lounges near each other at T1. I invited one friend to have breakfast at one, then after we got crowded out, escaped to a slightly quieter one. Would you have done the same?
Apr 2, 2019, 6:48 am
#428
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List, CLEAR+, Covid-19
Posts: 4,967
Hey Gary, don't feel bad- I'm in airports with PP lounges and restaurants all the time (esp. PDX), but since I time my arrival to the airport such that I like to get to the gate a few mins before boarding, people like me average it out for those who double-dip 
Apr 2, 2019, 11:25 am
#429
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
PP already limited the # of guests per entry per lounge - which I 100% support - though I guess that same person could guest two more at another lounge in the same terminal.
Apr 2, 2019, 11:38 am
#430
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
In the USA bank-sponsored Priority Pass memberships typically absorb the fee for admitting a specified number of guests, but that does not create an entitlement to bring guests, nor does it create a limit on the number of guests, it only determines who pays.
Yes, you can invite friends and family to join you in a lounge. Most lounges will allow any number of guests – where a guest limit does apply you can find this within the lounge information pages on our app and website. If you are obtained membership directly from Priority Pass, your guest visits will be charged to your account at a fixed rate. If you have joined the program via a card issuer or another of our partners, then guest fees can vary – please contact your card issuer if you are unsure about these fees. Before you are allowed to enter the lounge you'll be asked to sign to confirm the number of guests, either on a digital screen or using a paper voucher system. Please ensure that the details are clear and correct before signing, as these details are used to process any applicable fees and it can be difficult to rectify errors at a later date. The applicable lounge visit fee for your guests will be charged directly to the nominated payment card linked to your membership. Please note that lounge staff will be unable to provide details about the fee that you will be charged, regardless of whether you joined Priority Pass directly or via a card issuer or other Priority Pass partner.
Apr 2, 2019, 4:17 pm
#431
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
I just feel how amazed that how people apply their own value to an issue. I am actually more surprised on how law school teaches students.
Apr 3, 2019, 12:39 am
#432
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List, CLEAR+, Covid-19
Posts: 4,967
Apr 3, 2019, 8:08 am
#433
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,722
I dont care care what you do - that’s your business. But that doesn’t make right or ethical and I guarantee that abuse of the PP program will have consequences for everyone.
Apr 3, 2019, 10:42 am
#435
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
I think not. Priority Pass is owned by an insurance company. Their core competence is modelling utilization rates and pricing to reflect it. If they are not charging enough to cover arrival redemptions they will adjust their rates or alter their rules.
We do not see the prices that they charge credit card issuers for sponsored memberships, but we do see their retail prices and guest fees, which increased slightly this year.
It's still early days for the restaurant options, and I would be more concerned about the restaurants that dropped out. I do not think it would have been because Priority Pass sent them too much business.
We do not see the prices that they charge credit card issuers for sponsored memberships, but we do see their retail prices and guest fees, which increased slightly this year.
It's still early days for the restaurant options, and I would be more concerned about the restaurants that dropped out. I do not think it would have been because Priority Pass sent them too much business.