Priority Pass Benefits rapidly improving
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,719
I think it takes a little nerve to hike the access fee by 18% at a moment where dissatisfaction with the program (bad lounges, major denied-access issues, lame coverage at key airports like ORD, LAX, SYD) has never been clearer.
#18
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DAL
Posts: 1,447
Who was paying the $28 entrance fee for PP? The fee is only paid by the person entering if the CC or other type of membership is not covering the entrance fee. Thankfully Chase has imposed limits for PP instead of unlimited guests for card holders.
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,719
#20
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,953
#21
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DAL
Posts: 1,447
Very few PP lounges are worth the old or new entrance fee. It is easy to obtain PP access as a CC perk rather than to pay PP for a membership.
#22
#23
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: Star Alliance G*, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium,
Posts: 3,585
ORD?
PP is much better globally than in the US from my experience. There is nothing at FLL (Fort Lauderdale). Not even restaurant credit. DCA (DC) seems to have a restaurant credit now so that is a plus.
I would encourage people send emails to complain about lack of PP at Fort Lauderdale so maybe it will motivate them to do something
I would encourage people send emails to complain about lack of PP at Fort Lauderdale so maybe it will motivate them to do something
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,719
Nothing but restaurant options AFAIK which I have no interest in. I can sit in a crowded, noisy restaurant anytime -- a weak substitute for a lounge.
At ORD you have to be departing from T5, which mostly means you are leaving the country, and not on AA/UA/LH/AC/NH which do not depart from there. No PP facilities in T1/2/3 which is an egregious hole in the network.
At ORD you have to be departing from T5, which mostly means you are leaving the country, and not on AA/UA/LH/AC/NH which do not depart from there. No PP facilities in T1/2/3 which is an egregious hole in the network.
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
That might be true for the US but there are a fair number of countries where credit cards aren't really a thing (and even if they are, their benefits/rewards are anemic to say the least). Though since international lounges are still generally better than US ones, it probably balances out.
#26
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DAL
Posts: 1,447
That might be true for the US but there are a fair number of countries where credit cards aren't really a thing (and even if they are, their benefits/rewards are anemic to say the least). Though since international lounges are still generally better than US ones, it probably balances out.
Non US/Canadian airports would be the only place I would consider purchasing a PP if I had an extended layover. Most the PP complaints/comments in this forum have been about US locations & options.
I am still curious about the cost to PP for lounge access, the PP cost to the card companies for the perks and the discount PP receives from the participating locations. The PP business model reminds me of an MVNO which are bulk buyers of cell access who resale the service and compete for customers with the cell companies on price and service.
#27
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 19
Non US/Canadian airports would be the only place I would consider purchasing a PP if I had an extended layover. Most the PP complaints/comments in this forum have been about US locations & options.
I am still curious about the cost to PP for lounge access, the PP cost to the card companies for the perks and the discount PP receives from the participating locations. The PP business model reminds me of an MVNO which are bulk buyers of cell access who resale the service and compete for customers with the cell companies on price and service.
I am still curious about the cost to PP for lounge access, the PP cost to the card companies for the perks and the discount PP receives from the participating locations. The PP business model reminds me of an MVNO which are bulk buyers of cell access who resale the service and compete for customers with the cell companies on price and service.
CC memberships are likely gravy train money for PP. Likely a good chunk of users who don't regularly use the service but they get a constant revenue stream from the card companies.
#28
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,953
#29
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DAL
Posts: 1,447
I am sure the PP business model is more akin to insurance than phone MVNOs. People pay for access to the network but will use a lot less than they pay in in aggregate. They likely negotiate a discount with lounges much like insurance companies do for "in network" services, but that is more to constrain cost overruns than anything else.
CC memberships are likely gravy train money for PP. Likely a good chunk of users who don't regularly use the service but they get a constant revenue stream from the card companies.
CC memberships are likely gravy train money for PP. Likely a good chunk of users who don't regularly use the service but they get a constant revenue stream from the card companies.
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
I actually think a lot of the priority pass lounges are the crowded noisy locations in airports. The SYD restaurant options are actually very peaceful compared to the Amex international lounge which is heaving most of the time.