Just wondering which FF programs dont have miles that expire and also which clubs have lifetime memberships

Most just changed the rules recently to eliminate expiration and yet each has specific conditions to keep miles intact and UNexpired!

Club memberships are also available in general at many carriers even for lifetime memberships, but the lifetime of the airline and changes in rules are frequent flier program rules are seemingly neverending!

Currently both NWA and DL are "realigning/improving" their FF programs!

As a result it is getting tougher to upgrade!

So it's increasingly VERY tough to plan too far ahead in this game!

club memberships are often 100% free for top-status-members outside North America.

UA gives free RCC membership for PremEx and 1K (for members based outside North America).

LH Senator status automatically includes Senator- (and StarGold-) Lounge access.

SR Travelclub membership (Qualiflyer program) automatically includes Lounge admission to SR/SAbena and AA-lounges.

etc. etc. etc.

Rudi - in my experience UA does not give free RCC membership to Prem Exec members outside the USA, only to 1K. There may be a different approach to Europe cf. Asia and Australasia.
CTank - most airlines give lounge membership for the duration of top level membership eg MH, QF, AN, SQ, only the few north American airlines seem not to apply that policy.
If you want a cheaper lifetime access to the Red Carpet Club, do consider joining the Ansett Golden Wing. Given the present low value of the AUD, that cost is USD1880, and gives you access to RCC for all UA domestic flights, without question, as well as internationally on most Star carriers.

[This message has been edited by Koala (edited 08-15-2000).]

Continental sells lifetime memberships to their club.

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Travel is a powerful antidote to contemporary American arrogance.

With America West, if a person's account activity is dormant for 36 months, their mileage credits will be expired.

The HP Club offers a lifetime membership for $2,575 for an individual or $4,475 with spouse.

• Note that CO's current rates are due to expire October 31, 2000. If you've been a OnePass member less than a year (or join now), the incomparable $99.95 Prestige Pack includes an initiation fee waiver, which should make Lifetime Presidents Club only $2500 ($4400 with spouse). Beginning November 1, 2000, you'd be looking at $3720 ($6385 with spouse). This will bring CO in line with where NW is now. (CO and NW have mutual reciprocity.)
  
  Note also that HP's Lifetime Membership gives you access to CO's and NW's clubs, so that's another possibility.
• TW has the least expensive Lifetime Membership at $1900 ($2400 with spouse).
• US offers Lifetime Membership for $2950 ($4550 with spouse) and has reciprocity with AA. AA and US are the only clubs that sell memberships to 18 year olds; all others mentioned have a minimum age of 21.

CO, HP, NW, and TW offer discounted Senior Lifetime memberships.

Rudi: DL gives all of its SkyMiles Platinum Medallion holders complimentary [annual] Crown Room membership. DL has reciprocity with UA.


[This message has been edited by EPS (edited 08-15-2000).]

I was a Japan-based 1P earlier this year and had free access to RCC.

Chiangi .. there is a fine line here.

I am, and have been for a while a UA 1P member. In 2 months I will be 1K.

No matter WHAT your UA status, I am NOT given automatic RCC access, EXCEPT on an INTERNATIONAL connecting ticket on UA Or a * carrier.

Think Rudi has a different "official" deal being based in Switzerland. How his Star Gold UA issued card looks any different than mine is what must confuse the RCC lounges!

Mind you I really have never had a problem talking my way in on domestic legs, as showing them a book of tickets in and out of USA for past/previous weeks does the trick, but you do not "automatically" get in at RCC.

A Star * Gold card (which costs ZIP) really now opens door on a dozen or so airline lounges worldwide.



[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 08-16-2000).]

Thank you for your replies to my message. So as I understand Co is the only major US carrier that SELLS lifetime memberships. As most of my travel is spread out through different alliances I have never gotten above the first elite status so I am left with no option but to buy memberships and im not interested in annual renewel. So if someone could post what airlines SELL memberships for life besides CO and Ansett I would be much obliged

as Merry confirmed for Mileage Plus members based in Great Britain more than a year ago, and as I know for myself and from Flyertalk-colleagues based in Switzerland, France and Germany: all UA Premier Executives (not only 1K's) in those countries mentioned above get automatically a complimentary RCC-membership (sent as a seperate RCC-membership-card, accompanied with a simple form-letter saying: "compliments of UA").

I was (98) and am (2000) 'only' Premier Executive (1K only every second year) and always got it (for free).

Again as was noted, TWA has the least expensive Lifetime Membership at $1900 ($2400 with spouse).

And also US offers Lifetime Membership for $2950 ($4550 with spouse) and has reciprocity with AA.

What is a Star * Gold card

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ozstamps:

A Star * Gold card (which costs ZIP) really now opens door on a dozen or so airline lounges worldwide.

ozstamps meant Star Gold status in the Star Alliance, that allows access to a number of partner lounges worldwide. http://www.star-alliance.com/