Considering PClub Membership - but what about WorldClubs instead?
Sep 1, 2004, 10:15 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: SYD
Programs: UA 1K; VA Gold; QF Gold; HHonors Gold; Marriott Gold; National ExecElite
Posts: 419
Considering PClub Membership - but what about WorldClubs instead?
I've been doing enough travelling lately on non-BF fares that I'm thinking about buying club membership. I'll reach OP Gold by end of Sept, so the Prez Club membership will be discounted even more. But in looking at the list of club locations, there really aren't very many available, especially internationally. I also noticed that the NW Worldclubs locations seem to be many more and better affiliations around the globe. This brings me to three main questions:
1. Does the PClub membership get you into ALL NW Worldclubs worldwide and vice-versa?
2. Would it be better to buy a Worldclubs membership and use it for the CO PrezClubs?
3. Will NW honor my CO Elite status and give me a discount on a Worldclubs membership?
I fly 4-5 international trips per year; the most likely places I'll want clubs are MAN, CDG, FRA, GRU, GDL, SIN, PVG. Domestically, I'm in MSP, MCI, and EWR most often; my home airport is IND.
Advice?
1. Does the PClub membership get you into ALL NW Worldclubs worldwide and vice-versa?
2. Would it be better to buy a Worldclubs membership and use it for the CO PrezClubs?
3. Will NW honor my CO Elite status and give me a discount on a Worldclubs membership?
I fly 4-5 international trips per year; the most likely places I'll want clubs are MAN, CDG, FRA, GRU, GDL, SIN, PVG. Domestically, I'm in MSP, MCI, and EWR most often; my home airport is IND.
Advice?
Sep 1, 2004, 10:30 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: CLE
Posts: 9,816
Originally Posted by Boofer
I've been doing enough travelling lately on non-BF fares that I'm thinking about buying club membership. I'll reach OP Gold by end of Sept, so the Prez Club membership will be discounted even more. But in looking at the list of club locations, there really aren't very many available, especially internationally. I also noticed that the NW Worldclubs locations seem to be many more and better affiliations around the globe. This brings me to three main questions:
1. Does the PClub membership get you into ALL NW Worldclubs worldwide and vice-versa?
2. Would it be better to buy a Worldclubs membership and use it for the CO PrezClubs?
3. Will NW honor my CO Elite status and give me a discount on a Worldclubs membership?
I fly 4-5 international trips per year; the most likely places I'll want clubs are MAN, CDG, FRA, GRU, GDL, SIN, PVG. Domestically, I'm in MSP, MCI, and EWR most often; my home airport is IND.
Advice?
1. Does the PClub membership get you into ALL NW Worldclubs worldwide and vice-versa?
2. Would it be better to buy a Worldclubs membership and use it for the CO PrezClubs?
3. Will NW honor my CO Elite status and give me a discount on a Worldclubs membership?
I fly 4-5 international trips per year; the most likely places I'll want clubs are MAN, CDG, FRA, GRU, GDL, SIN, PVG. Domestically, I'm in MSP, MCI, and EWR most often; my home airport is IND.
Advice?
Sep 1, 2004, 11:06 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA *G 1MM LT United Club & Global Entry
Posts: 2,756
NW Worldclubs membership will currently get you into the America West clubs in PHX and LAS.
SunLover
SunLover
Sep 1, 2004, 11:10 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,040
Need to ask yourself which affiliate clubs you will be using. Just because a PC membership gets you into a club does not mean it will get you into a WorldClub affiliated club. ie I goto Vegas frequently, the PC card won't get you into the America West club, but a WC card will. If the clubs you need are available with PC I'd go with the PC card since you get the discount. WC won't honor your CO status just as PC won't honor a NW status.
flyerco
flyerco
Sep 1, 2004, 11:55 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: NYC
Programs: BAEC Silver, AA LTP 2MM
Posts: 3,359
Consider Amex Plat
Depending on how you plan to use the clubs, Amex Platinum may be a good option. It's good for all CO, NW and DL lounges, *but* you have to be flying on a same day ticket on the airline whose lounge you're using. For me, the lounge access justifies the otherwise ludicrous $450 annual fee for the Plat Card.
Sep 1, 2004, 12:08 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,658
American Express Plat card will not get you into international affiliated clubs.
Most CO affiliated clubs now no longer allow you to bring in a guest and you can not trust the accuracy of the affiliated listing on the CO web site. GIG for example no longer allows Pres Club members - but the listing has not been updated. I do not think the NW WC membership has the no guest policy for affiliated clubs.
Most CO affiliated clubs now no longer allow you to bring in a guest and you can not trust the accuracy of the affiliated listing on the CO web site. GIG for example no longer allows Pres Club members - but the listing has not been updated. I do not think the NW WC membership has the no guest policy for affiliated clubs.
Sep 1, 2004, 6:08 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: CO Plat - AW Plat - AA Gold - SPG Plat - HH Gold - HY Gold - WBR - Alpha Phi Omega - GO CANES!
Posts: 558
PRIORITY PASS.
There's a 20% discount code in a thread somewhere on this board.
Seriously - I did not know how GREAT this Priority Pass thing was until I picked it up a couple weeks ago. You get ALL NW, ALL CO, ALL AW, and some uniteds, some deltas, and a PILE of obscure airports with lounges serviced by Globe Ground and some other companies. For example, I was just in Malaga, and I hit that lounge HARD. A President's Club pass wouldn't get you in there.
After the discount, you'd pay $320 on the Priority Pass. For CO, you'd pay $250 (if you're platinum) plus a $50 initiation fee. Oh, and the CO club runs Jan 1 to Jan 1. That means if you were to join September 1, you'd pay $300, and only get four months.
I have a President's Club membership AND the Priority Pass. I will NOT be renewing the CO. My Priority Pass is good until August of next year. As long as they are kicking butt, I will stay with them.
OH, and I was in your boat myself in December last year - I went through ALL the same thoughts you are going through. I tried to calculate the most likely travel situations to determine which is the best solution. I then decided on NW because it included Vegas and Phoenix. I tried to get them to give me the Platinum price on the membership and they refused. I had to go through the process of matching status etc. I opted not to deal with it. If only I knew about the Priority Pass then it wouldn't have even been an issue.
The only downside to PP membership that I know of is that you do NOT get free guests. You have to pay $24 per guest per visit. That kind of sucks but it's worth the tradeoff if you look at the amazing list of lounges that you get that you don't get with CO.
There's a 20% discount code in a thread somewhere on this board.
Seriously - I did not know how GREAT this Priority Pass thing was until I picked it up a couple weeks ago. You get ALL NW, ALL CO, ALL AW, and some uniteds, some deltas, and a PILE of obscure airports with lounges serviced by Globe Ground and some other companies. For example, I was just in Malaga, and I hit that lounge HARD. A President's Club pass wouldn't get you in there.
After the discount, you'd pay $320 on the Priority Pass. For CO, you'd pay $250 (if you're platinum) plus a $50 initiation fee. Oh, and the CO club runs Jan 1 to Jan 1. That means if you were to join September 1, you'd pay $300, and only get four months.
I have a President's Club membership AND the Priority Pass. I will NOT be renewing the CO. My Priority Pass is good until August of next year. As long as they are kicking butt, I will stay with them.
OH, and I was in your boat myself in December last year - I went through ALL the same thoughts you are going through. I tried to calculate the most likely travel situations to determine which is the best solution. I then decided on NW because it included Vegas and Phoenix. I tried to get them to give me the Platinum price on the membership and they refused. I had to go through the process of matching status etc. I opted not to deal with it. If only I knew about the Priority Pass then it wouldn't have even been an issue.
The only downside to PP membership that I know of is that you do NOT get free guests. You have to pay $24 per guest per visit. That kind of sucks but it's worth the tradeoff if you look at the amazing list of lounges that you get that you don't get with CO.
Sep 1, 2004, 9:02 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: SYD
Programs: UA 1K; VA Gold; QF Gold; HHonors Gold; Marriott Gold; National ExecElite
Posts: 419
Wow. Thanks for that reply!
Originally Posted by suitcasejockey
PRIORITY PASS.
There's a 20% discount code in a thread somewhere on this board.
Seriously - I did not know how GREAT this Priority Pass thing was until I picked it up a couple weeks ago. You get ALL NW, ALL CO, ALL AW, and some uniteds, some deltas, and a PILE of obscure airports with lounges serviced by Globe Ground and some other companies. For example, I was just in Malaga, and I hit that lounge HARD. A President's Club pass wouldn't get you in there.
After the discount, you'd pay $320 on the Priority Pass. For CO, you'd pay $250 (if you're platinum) plus a $50 initiation fee. Oh, and the CO club runs Jan 1 to Jan 1. That means if you were to join September 1, you'd pay $300, and only get four months.
I have a President's Club membership AND the Priority Pass. I will NOT be renewing the CO. My Priority Pass is good until August of next year. As long as they are kicking butt, I will stay with them.
OH, and I was in your boat myself in December last year - I went through ALL the same thoughts you are going through. I tried to calculate the most likely travel situations to determine which is the best solution. I then decided on NW because it included Vegas and Phoenix. I tried to get them to give me the Platinum price on the membership and they refused. I had to go through the process of matching status etc. I opted not to deal with it. If only I knew about the Priority Pass then it wouldn't have even been an issue.
The only downside to PP membership that I know of is that you do NOT get free guests. You have to pay $24 per guest per visit. That kind of sucks but it's worth the tradeoff if you look at the amazing list of lounges that you get that you don't get with CO.
There's a 20% discount code in a thread somewhere on this board.
Seriously - I did not know how GREAT this Priority Pass thing was until I picked it up a couple weeks ago. You get ALL NW, ALL CO, ALL AW, and some uniteds, some deltas, and a PILE of obscure airports with lounges serviced by Globe Ground and some other companies. For example, I was just in Malaga, and I hit that lounge HARD. A President's Club pass wouldn't get you in there.
After the discount, you'd pay $320 on the Priority Pass. For CO, you'd pay $250 (if you're platinum) plus a $50 initiation fee. Oh, and the CO club runs Jan 1 to Jan 1. That means if you were to join September 1, you'd pay $300, and only get four months.
I have a President's Club membership AND the Priority Pass. I will NOT be renewing the CO. My Priority Pass is good until August of next year. As long as they are kicking butt, I will stay with them.
OH, and I was in your boat myself in December last year - I went through ALL the same thoughts you are going through. I tried to calculate the most likely travel situations to determine which is the best solution. I then decided on NW because it included Vegas and Phoenix. I tried to get them to give me the Platinum price on the membership and they refused. I had to go through the process of matching status etc. I opted not to deal with it. If only I knew about the Priority Pass then it wouldn't have even been an issue.
The only downside to PP membership that I know of is that you do NOT get free guests. You have to pay $24 per guest per visit. That kind of sucks but it's worth the tradeoff if you look at the amazing list of lounges that you get that you don't get with CO.
Sep 1, 2004, 9:13 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2004
Location: NJ
Posts: 643
Originally Posted by suitcasejockey
Oh, and the CO club runs Jan 1 to Jan 1. That means if you were to join September 1, you'd pay $300, and only get four months.
Sep 1, 2004, 9:41 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: CO Plat - AW Plat - AA Gold - SPG Plat - HH Gold - HY Gold - WBR - Alpha Phi Omega - GO CANES!
Posts: 558
Originally Posted by wck4
That's actually wrong. I got a PC membership in June, and my PC card says it's valid until 07/2005. It runs 12 months after you join.
Anyway - do what you want - if you have your heart set on an NW club then get it - NW has GREAT clubs - except there's no internet... Continental has free wireless, and the BEST bloody mary's I have ever had.
But a Priority Pass may be cheaper depending, and it gives you everything NW's club does except free guests, and you get a TON more lounges and you don't need to be flying any particular airline to get into the lounge.
*I* do know that I am paying for both CO and PP and I will not be renewing the CO since the PP is a SIGNIFICANTLY better deal. And if you go outside the US to anywhere out of the direct service area of NW or CO you're burned. This means ANYWHERE in Europe except Amsterdam and Gatwick, and you may have to be flying on NW or KLM that day to get into AMS. With the Priority Pass you don't use the KLM lounge at AMS - you get your choice of a few others next door to the KLM lounge.
Sep 2, 2004, 8:30 am
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: new york, ny, usa
Posts: 13,536
Originally Posted by cova
Most CO affiliated clubs now no longer allow you to bring in a guest
okay, honey, i am going to run in and have a drink. you can wait here on this nice bench. read a newspaper, why don't ya?
Sep 2, 2004, 12:30 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: LAX
Programs: UA GS, Marriott Plat, SPG Plat, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 873
Originally Posted by suitcasejockey
But a Priority Pass may be cheaper depending, and it gives you everything NW's club does except free guests, and you get a TON more lounges and you don't need to be flying any particular airline to get into the lounge.
*I* do know that I am paying for both CO and PP and I will not be renewing the CO since the PP is a SIGNIFICANTLY better deal.
*I* do know that I am paying for both CO and PP and I will not be renewing the CO since the PP is a SIGNIFICANTLY better deal.
I guess my only concern is an employee of one of these clubs not recognizing a PP and refusing entry...
Sep 2, 2004, 1:35 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: CO Plat - AW Plat - AA Gold - SPG Plat - HH Gold - HY Gold - WBR - Alpha Phi Omega - GO CANES!
Posts: 558
I just got the card within the past month, and have started pounding it already. I have not heard of this problem - and even at CO lounges I ask about the PP. They all know it.
The only reason I found out about it is when I had a problem with the lounge lady not recognizing Continental's card.
So far it's been great!
The only reason I found out about it is when I had a problem with the lounge lady not recognizing Continental's card.
So far it's been great!
Sep 2, 2004, 2:10 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: LAX
Programs: UA GS, Marriott Plat, SPG Plat, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 873
Also (this should be my last question... 
), can you go to ANY club regardless of the airline you're flying? For instance, if I'm flying US Airways, can I go to a Continental PC or a Delta Crown?
Thanks...
), can you go to ANY club regardless of the airline you're flying? For instance, if I'm flying US Airways, can I go to a Continental PC or a Delta Crown?Thanks...
Sep 2, 2004, 3:59 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: SYD
Programs: UA 1K; VA Gold; QF Gold; HHonors Gold; Marriott Gold; National ExecElite
Posts: 419
Decision: I went with the Priority Pass
Thanks everybody for the comments. After much analysis and scenario testing (because that's just who I am 
), I decided to get the Priority Pass and joined up today. Should make for much more comfortable travels. This month alone, I go IND-MSP-IND, IND-CVG-ROA-CVG-IND, IND-DTW-SWF-DTW-IND, IND-EWR-CDG-EWR-CDG, IND-EWR-IND, and IND-IAH-SAN-EWR-IND. I'm a little concerned about the PP in Paris, only because the PP club location is in the opposite terminal at CDG. Trying to get the employer to pay Biz fare, though, so I'll just use the lounge CO sends me to there.
), I decided to get the Priority Pass and joined up today. Should make for much more comfortable travels. This month alone, I go IND-MSP-IND, IND-CVG-ROA-CVG-IND, IND-DTW-SWF-DTW-IND, IND-EWR-CDG-EWR-CDG, IND-EWR-IND, and IND-IAH-SAN-EWR-IND. I'm a little concerned about the PP in Paris, only because the PP club location is in the opposite terminal at CDG. Trying to get the employer to pay Biz fare, though, so I'll just use the lounge CO sends me to there.