Should Alaska Lounge Access Be Inclued With the AS / BofA Visa?
 

Who thinks access to this lounge should be included with their credit card.

Not at all. So many people, particularly in SEA have the AS credit card, this lounge would just revert back to the Priority Pass capacity sign being out all the time. If they debuted a "premium" version of the card, with a higher annual fee and other benefits (with things like reduced change/cancellation fees, early boarding, a GGU or two, AL access, bonus mile earning, EQM credits, etc etc), I could see that being possible. But at $99 annual fee and at their home base, that would be way too many potential guests.

Totally understandable. Are the PP lounges at SEA overcrowded all the time now? SEA is my home airport too and I'll be getting the AS card soon. Do you think 50% off the AS lounge is better value than the PP lounges at SEA?

When I was still SEA based, AS lounges in SEA were still PP, so never used the other PP options there. But I've used similar in other cities and they aren't fantastic. While the Alaska Lounges are decent, they're definitely not the best lounges out there either, but at least they're close to Alaska gates. The other SEA PP lounges are a bit of a hike. Depends on how much $25 is worth to you and how much you've already sunk in to your PP membership, but IMO $25 isn't a bad deal for a comfy and quieter place to sit, a few drinks, some coffee and a light bite to eat nearby my boarding gate, especially in the brand new lounge.

Should Alaska Lounge Access Be Inclued in the AS/BofA Visa?
 

Moderator Note: New topic for moved posts.

dayone, AS Moderator

Wouldn't that make having status not worth actually flying the miles if you get all the benefits by just having the CC?

Typically the credit card issuer (bank) subsidizes the cost of the membership. That is why membership in a UC, SC, or AC is more expensive through direct payment than through the relevant CC's annual fee.

The question is whether BOA would be willing to subsidize the annual fee of $450 and thus provide its card for $350-400. The question then becomes whether there is a market for the card at that price and finally whether there is capacity.

So, the better question for this board is, "would you pay $400 for the card if it included access?"

Like the Citi Exec that comes with, say, a first year 40K or 50K bonus? Sure, will sign up and just close it the following year.

So, I could potentially get benefits of a FF which would be the No Change Fees, Early Boarding, Priority Lane at Security, 4 GGus, an unspecified bonus for class of service (100% bonus for MVPG or 125% bonus for 75k), companion upgrade with me, premium beverage in main cabin, 2 checked bags (plus 2 for a companion) just by paying $350 - 400 for the AS credit card. My math says that $400 is CHEAP for all that, I can't get to MVPG for only $350 or $400. So obviously all the benefits would not be included, but it intesting to speculate if the CC would be worth not worrying about achieving status - depending on which benefits the card would give.

Right, like the Hilton Diamond thing, why bother about actual stays? Just get the Aspire and enjoy the free night, bonus points all the assorted travel credits/benefits.

I could not imagine how crowded the lounge(s) would be if that was a benefit of the AS Visa card. Heck, even the Centurion Lounges are crazy at times.

If I were an Airport restauranteur, I'd be lobbying for this, because eventually that's where we'll all be headed.

Free lounge access will never be an option on the existing BofA card... the annual fee is just too cheap, the card is too common, and the lounges wouldn't be able to handle the capacity. Plus BofA would be taking a bath on the subsidizing the annual lounge fee.

As with some other cards, who have offered a "premium" version of the airline cards in the price range of $400-$500, then maybe lounge access would be included. But like those other premium cards, it'd have to have some other pretty nice perks. There was a thread awhile back where people daydreamed about what features such a card might include.

Not now that the discount is a permanent feature. For me, the $25 discounted entry is a perfect balance. I don't fly enough Y fares to warrant the lounge membership (or the high annual fee that would accompany the card), but enough to have the $25 discount come in handy.

The easy solution to overcrowding if they did give credit card holders lounge access would be to turn the entire area where Alaska gates are into one huge lounge. Then convert the current lounges into holding pens for those without lounge access, complete with armed escorts to and from the gates so they don't cause any trouble in the "lounge."