Hey Guys...

This is my first post, but I've been lurking around a couple of weeks reading...well...a lot.

A quick question, do any other Star Alliance programs (other than UA) offer something like the Red Carpet Club - where you can essentially buy your way into the lounges, either via points or $$$?

Thanks in advance!

Cheers
Uproared

Welcome to FT!

You can purchase an Air New Zealand Koru Club membership using miles or money.

You can also purchase US Airways Club and Air Canada Maple Leaf Club membership with money, but not miles (AFAICT).

You can use miles for club memberships at US including ones for spouses. With the upcoming changes in the US clubs, you would be better off sticking with Red Carpet.

why dont you buy a priority club membership instead?

What does Holiday Inn have to do with this?

I think they meant Priority Pass.

Maybe it is their new commercial.....go into RCC - agent asks "Do you have a RCC membership?"

"No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night."

Locations aren't always convenient in airports (eg. you fly United but the PP club is actually a CO facility). If you're flying mostly on one alliance i'd think a "Club" associated with one of the specific airlines is the way to go.

oops. I mixed passes and clubs

Hm I don't think that would be a problem. FWIW, it seems that most lounges outside of main hubs are generic (in Europe, at least).

Welcome to FT uproared

Not forgetting *G status gets lounge access (and if *G other than UA and US this includes lounge access when flying USA domestic flights).

What exactly is Priority Pass? is there a website?

A lounge access scheme that you can subscribe to for a given amount per year.
www.prioritypass.com

Basically put, it gets you into various airport lounges of different carriers (partners) at different places. Some of these are arrival lounges as well as departure lounges and concourse lounges.

Http://www.prioritypass.com

Your level of travel will determine which level you buy access to.
99 a year for basic membership and 24 dollars every visit to a lounge.
249 a year for ten passes a year and 24 dollars every visit after that.
399 a year for unlimited visits.

One interesting feature is that you can get a guest in with you.. for another 24 dollars.

It's a decent deal that I've been considering for a while. Granted, not all access to all lounges will occur, and some lounges may not be conveniently located. The 249 deal level is probably the best for most folks.

Consider that if you fly roundtrip from the US to europe you may have as many as 4 opportunities to use the Pass (departure/arrival in both directions).

With the 99 dollar membership you've actually paid 195 dollars. 3 more visits at any point the rest of your travelling year and you've now exceeded what it would cost to get a full year and ten free passes.

If you bought the 249 level you would still have 3 visits left at no cost (And effectively would have paid for itself by not having any visit fees).

But consider this carefully. If you're going to be in lounges for an hour or two at a time is it worth the cost?

BTW, there is another way to get Priority Pass for free. American Express offers it for some of their cards and other cards do as well, usually Platinum level cards. It may be worth checking with your Visa/MasterCard to see if an upgrade to a platinum card will get you the Priority Pass and whether the yearly card fee is worth the difference in price. .

Regards,
-Bouncer-

As a MP 1P flying internationally I can use any *A lounge I want for free. It doesn't seem like that good of a deal for me. The only time I even get to the airport early is for international flights.

Sounds like a good idea for someone else.

Thanks for the info.

Thanks everyone!

I agree that a *G would be the best way to go, however I dont have the time (probably not the funds either) to travel enough.

I'm a 19 year old student, and I'll be leaving in a couple of weeks to travel around the world for 2 1/2 months... I'll have about 8 star alliance flights, so I thought that it might be worth buying a pass to access the lounges.

I'm looking forward to doing some milage runs, etc. once I finish studying, as I've always had a passion for flying since I was young; especially class upgrades and the lounges

Cheers
Lucas