I once know a family, with 6 daughters. They named the first one Mary Lou, second one Mary Jo, Third one Mary Beth, Fourth one Mary Ellen, Fifth one Mary Anne, the last one was born in December, and good names were running out, so they named the baby sister Mary Christmas, Merry Flyer could be a cousin with an accent (get it Mary -- Merry. :-) (how do you put that smily face in, by the way??)

auditor:

to put the smiley face in, just use the emoticon (colon,close parenthesis,no space). you are including a dash for a nose, and flyertalk 2.0 is not accepting that as a smiley face. the same works for frowney faces, in-awe faces, and some others.
, ,

[This message has been edited by MileCrazy (edited 01-29-99).]

[This message has been edited by MileCrazy (edited 01-29-99).]

The no-nose appoach has been audited. Cool.

[This message has been edited by TheAuditor (edited 01-29-99).]

Matt, you raise some intersting points about the VIP clubs. Yes, there a number of other reasons you might want to join the club. In addition to the ones you mentioned, one could use them for Friday happy hours or watching Monday night football. I still believe they are not cost justified.

You mention bumping. Involuntary bumping is a rare event and is declining at most airlines - on CO it is almost non-existent. It is even rarer for elite members. You can play the bumping game by always volunteering to be bumped, but on outbound flights most people have to be somewhere and can't afford this. It's true that when returning home one's schedule is more conducive to being bumped, but even here, how many times a year are we talking about. A few? I suppose you can make a case that if you can get bumped more than once a year, it pays to have someplace to wait for the next flight, but joining the VIP club seems a bit extreme.

Connections - I usually try to fly direct so connections are much less of an issue. Even so, most domestic connections are 1/2 to 2 hours max. My guess is that about 65-70 min. is average. Even for someone who racks up 60+ segments a year, you are only talking about 30 connections/year tops(and that's if every trip has a connection).

Business meetings - A good idea, but I'd hate to see what my clients would say if I suggested I meet them at the airport!

Free local calls and snacks - Local calls are irrelevant - I'm on the road - we're talking long distance to be useful. Snacks are nice, but again, available elsewhere for a small price.

Checking in/changing flights - For elite level members in most any program the lines at the main check-in are usually short to being with. Changing flights can be done with a phone call to the elite line (either from the pay phone or a cell phone).

Being kicked out of the Hilton - I would much rather find a place to work at the Hilton than at the airport. And if you know you're getting booted at 2 PM, why would have a 6 PM flight? I think I've missed something there.

I could comment on the other items you mention, but for me it's pretty clear. The $350 (or whatever they're charging now) is ridiculous for real amount of time I would use the club.

I was sold on the clubs many years ago (more than 20) when I was at O'Hare one night when the airport was unexpectedly closed because of weather. I happened to be in the RCC at the time, waiting for my flight. I was called to the desk, given a reservation at the airport hotel and booking on the first flight out (another airline) the next morning, with a chit for dinner and a toilet kit. When I left the club for the hotel (by way of baggage claim, where I picked up my toilet kit), I passed through the airport waiting areas, where no one yet knew the airport was closed. I got to the hotel and checked in with no sweat. Went to my room, then came down for my free dinner. By then, the lobby was a zoo. You better believe my club membership paid off. I immediately bought lifetime memberships in every club that provides free drinks, and I've had several similar experiences since.

I need to try it

OMNI: It worked!!!

Last december my company had an emergency, and I had to dial-up with a modem and find some time to work. I had a friend who was travelling with me and we were tired out from a long flight. We ended up grabbing a room at the first hotel we could find ($90) and checking out after about two or three hours..

The emergency fog delays around last Christmas that people have been posting about sounded like pretty compelling reasons, too, and there are times where I just plain miss my flight or have >3 hour connexions for international flights.

So last weekend, I sprung for a 15 month (CO-Elite-promo) membership, it works out to $15/month, which my company is paying for -- my thanks to a fellow FlyerTalker for a $75 off coupon.

I won't try to change your mind, Mileking, but let me point out a couple of things:

I do try to get bumped if I've got a few hours to kill on the outbound (flying out the night before for work the next day) or return (and am not already upgraded), and succeed maybe 3 or 4 times/year = $900-$1200 of free travel and sometimes a free upgrade.

As for elite check-in, have you SEEN the Premex (UA, not CO so the answer is probably "no") lines at IAD/SFO/ORD???? My record long wait was 36 mins (!!!).

Local calls are perfect if you are in town to work and need to set and/or confirm some meetings on your way in or follow up on stuff on your way out.

And by your own average, on connections alone, I'd be spending 15-30 hours/year in a RCC...30 hours in a hotel room is more than the cost of a RCC (convoluted but good logic).

How much is that roaming charge to make the flight change on your cell phone?

Lastly, in my expreience, folks LOVE to meet at the clubs at the airport (now of course there is an extra charge for this) because folks can fly in and out on same-day itineraries without hassling with traffic/hotel shuttles, etc. In 98 I set one up at DCA and attended one at ORD and one at ATL (crowne room).

Anyway don't mind agreeing to disagree, but since my company pays (and I haven't even had to make these arguments to them yet) its an acedemic decision for me!

Matt, if my company paid for my membership, you can bet your a** I'd be in the club too! Since they won't, I find it hard to part with the $350/year. Believe me, you have some great points and there are probably a few times every year that I really wish I was a member (even at $350 out of my own pocket). Until I can convince my company to spring for the fee, it looks like I'll be toughing it out with the rest of the traveling public. But if they relent, I'll be sure to invite you over for some drinks!

MileKing... that's the reason why I also cannot join the RCC or other major airline
club (I do have Priority Pass which is an amount I can handle within my budget.) But my company won't spring 350 dollars for an annual membership for what Human resources told me was a "stupid and silly little thing,
calling me pretentious."

But Matt outlined many excellent reasons for going IF you can swing it. What I'm trying to do is cut personal expenses so an airline club will have to wait until I get a company that will pay for it.

(I"m LUcky they pay my car service to work
daily. And I had to fight for that!!! It's tough to drive when you're half asleep at 2 in the morning!) CATMAN

OMNI: someday I'd liek to see the inside of one of U-A's RCC clubs. If any of you let me come along I'll pay whatever entrance free and treat you to whatever drinks you want and can handle.

Just so I can say "I was ONCE in an RCC club." Thank you. CATMAN

And Dangerous, too!!!! One could even get mugged at that hour, or any hour. Now if you were in TEXAS, you could have my .357 sitting beside you on the seat. It makes a real good equalizer.

[This message has been edited by JAWS_II (edited 02-04-99).]

Catman,
When you come to the Party in Paradise, I'll take you into the Honolulu RCC. Happy?

The UA RCC staff is so much nicer than the staff at the regular check-ins (even at the elite levels). I've gotten great service when a flight has been canceled or delayed. When SFO was fogged in, the RCC person booked me in confirmed seating on two flights and told me to get on whichever one left first.

CatMan: I think I read, that you will fly (upgraded) UA business to London - don't you?

On those international flights, just showing your (upgraded) business class ticket (you don't need an entrance voucher), you have automatically access to UA's Red Carpet Clubs at the american gateway airport and in London Heathrow. Enjoy!

But you can't use UA's Arrival by United service on upgraded business class tickets - don't shoot the messanger.