jamesteroh

I like the Stoli's better than I did Skyy. The Gordon's was downright nasty and they should have been embarrassed to have had that in an airport lounge. I like they serve Grey Goose in D1!!

C W

I'll actually take Stoli over Goose, especially in savory drinks. But I certainly don't mind it being offered in D1

jamesteroh

Speaking of vodka, I wish they would bring back the Sweet Tea Vodka they had on Delta flights last summer. That was really good

MSPeconomist

Slightly OT but PP seems to be trying to fight back a bit in a creative way:

I just got an email from PP announcing two two benefits, both labeled as featured lounge alternatives that involve your PP card giving you a credit at airport F&B outlets:

Distillery at PDX. US$28 credit.

Seven SYD restaurants AUS$36 credit.

Maybe they're going to emphasize arrangements like this in place of lounges in the future. It's a creative solution for airports with no space for additional lounges or where the existing lounges refuse to sign up with PP.

Anyone want to speculate on whether PP will try to fix up something similar at MSP to make up for the exit of the Escape Lounge from PP? [Before they were renovated out of their lease, I would have lobbied for Surdyk's cafe and wine bar. I guess the good news is that at least the restaurant across the concourse is somewhat similar and now seems to own the former Surdyk's sidewalk cafe seating area.]

jamesteroh

I wonder why I'm not getting PP emails?
Do you just show your PP to get the credit at PDX? I wonder how that works since some PP's charge even the card holder a fee to get in (like the one that comes with the Hilton Am Ex). Is it a limit of one $28 credit or is that for everyone in the group?

I'd rather have a $28 credit towards a couple good drinks than lounge access unless it's a long layover.

C W

I believe they run your card like any other PP location. This is what others have reported at their other restaurant partnerships.

It's certainly a nice option to have, especially with how poor the PDX Board Room is.

chrisny2

It's $28 per person but each person counts as a lounge visit. So if your membership comes with 2 guests, you could get up to three $28 credits. If your membership charges you some fee per visit, you are still charged the visit fee as appropriate.

jamesteroh

Makes sense, they just run the PP pass card instead of the credit and then the credit card linked would be charged for the difference.

It will be a nice option at PDX seeing some board rooms aren't permitting PP swipes anymore if they are crowded. I wish they would add it at some smaller airports like CHS that doesn't have a lounge and in the Delta terminal at PDX where there isn't a skyclub or lounge available. It would be really nice to have at Canada airports like YUL and YYZ where there is no lounge for US flights

bj27

No, they would run your PP card for one visit and deduct $28 USD from your bill. Any leftover you would need to present another form of payment for. PP does not process merchant charges in the way you are describing.

sethb

I did, at least when I wasn't DM (and sometimes when I was, I'd rather DL get the money than Amex).

jamesteroh

I'm sure they'll be seeing a lot more Am Ex swipes in February once they start offering a third choice benefit to diamonds instead of an automatic SC membership. I know I'll be using my Am Ex reserve card instead. I wouldn't be surprised if Delta follows American and United and stops allowing Am Ex Plat. entries in a few years.

C W

It is my understanding that Amex pays Delta for each swipe, therefore as long as Amex is willing to continue paying it is certainly in Delta's interest. I take the ability to use both a Reserve and Platinum card in conjunction with the new Guest Pass option as a solidification of the Platinum partnership, not a weakening.

jamesteroh

But United and American were also receiving money from swipes and decided it wasn't in their best interest to continue accepting Am Ex and Delta stopped allowing guesting on Am Ex cards and the Escape lounge is no longer accepting PP despite getting $ per swipe. The United lounges are a lot less crowded as are the sky clubs after those changes.

I like the diamond change since I have a reserve card. If I use the $200 voucher for my third benefit that is paying for almost half the reserve card fee. I wish they would allow you the option to chose four more GU's as the third gift (I'd be happy with even two)

pvn

Delta has a much closer relationship with Amex than either AA or UA ever did, though.

MSPeconomist

AFAIK UA never allowed their passengers to enter lounges with the swipe of an AmEWx card. US did and moreover US didn't even require same day travel on US or one of its partners. A few times I used US lounges when flying DL, such as at BDL. (RIP)

AS allowed lounge access with either a swipe or a PP card, but I cannot remember which method I used at LAX when flying DL from T6. That was a nice alternative too, although I wasn't a fan of the old battered AS lounges at SEA.