pragakhan

No way, if the amount of people at any given time is an indication, I would say just the opposite, they must be rolling in the dough lol

I don't really see how the WC relates to their FF program though as stated in your post.

Econ1

If someone under 21 travels a lot, a lounge may be important to them. When choosing an airline to accrue miles and status with, that person may choose another airline that will allow them into their lounges. Hence in the long run they will have lost a younger traveler that has many more years of traveling ahead of them. That person may switch airlines in the future, but it is more likely they will stick with their original airline if they are satisfied. NW may lose the opportunity to attract frequent fliers when they are younger, assuming lounge access is important.

3Cforme

Find U.S.-based airline with a club age limit < 21 and report back to us. I suspect if it serves complimentary booze, under 21s will not be welcomed as members.

SchmutzigMSP

I'll do it for him. As previously reported, US Airways Club membership terms have a membership limit of 18 years old. Scroll to the bottom of this page and you'll see this:
And if you attempt to join United's Red Carpet Club at 18 years old, you'll also be allowed:

http://www.united.com/page/article/0...e=RelatedLinks
Not to be out done, however, American Airlines also allows 18 year olds to possess memberships:
http://www.aa.com/content/images/abo...conditions.pdf

BNAChairman

Any < 21 year-old flyers have problems entering airport clubs abroad? I'm not sure of any country that cares as much about the minimum drinking age as we do in the US. It's not without good reason though; too many helicopter parents in this country would relish the opportunity to sue an airline on behalf of sweet but drunk little Jack or Jill. I can hear it now, "NWA has hurt my child and now I need compensation!"

mersk862

AA, UA and US all allow 18 year olds to join. AA, UA and US do not serve complimentary alcohol - it's $5 please.

DL, CO and NW all require members to be 21 years old. DL, CO and NW all serve complimentary alcohol.

As a 21 year old Crown Room member, my general experience is it's extremely easy to get alcohol. In my several visits to DL, CO and NW lounges, I've only been carded once - the DL Crown Room at SEA. At several NW WorldClubs, I've helped myself to pouring a Heineken for myself. This obviously could be a problem if a U21 was allowed into the club without a guardian (who would thus be responsible for said U21), as they could easily get themselves a beer and since there's no bartender, no one would stop them. That's why it's important (and that's the difference from UA/US/AA) that they be denied entrance - the matron is essentially the keys to the bar and serves the role of the bartender checking IDs. If they had a bartender at every club who was the only one allowed to serve alcohol (no self-serve, which is a in my opinion), then youcould conceivably allow 18 year olds in, but with the abundance of self-serve booze at the clubs, you have to deny entry.

SirJman

I am 19 and fly out of DTW about 10 times a year alone. When I was younger than 18 I could always get my dad (who has a WC membership) to get a pass to let him through security, and then he would get me in the lounge even though he was not the ticketed passenger, they would always let us in the club. Now that I'm older than 18 I can't get my dad to come with me through security, but I've still had luck. I go in and ask the agent at the front if there is anyway I can use the internet connection (I claim I am not going to eat anything) I've been turned away in DTW a couple times, but never yet in SFO, MEM, NRT, HKG and CUN

slippahs

I wonder what legal liability can be if you let someone in under 21 as a guest, they get hammered, then do something outrageous...?

ControlTower

I am Under 21, and eager to get the membership:-:

Why do I fly NW? while I can purchase US/UA/AA ?

well I am going to buy lifetime ones, and in the long run,
waiting couple more years is worth than paying $5 a glass.

also NW has best IFE, In seat power than any other carriers.
(not domestic, but who cares if they let you fly upfront )

Yaatri

If you are under 21, you cannot prchase a membership. I take my kids with me all the time. They are now 9 and 14.

humanoid94

Becareful with the "Guest you in" method as occassionally the WC agents will card one's guest. It is pretty infrequent, but a couple months ago one of the WC agents at DCA carded my (three years older than me) guest.

clarence5ybr

What's ironic is that in a number of states, including Minnesota and Michigan, it's legal for an 18, 19, or 20-year-old to work as a bartender. Heaven knows someone too young to legally drink but who works as a bartender would never get tempted and sneak a drink every now and then.

yogimax

Precisely!

To answer your question, everyone involved would be liable.

kcnwa

Should have clarified... Under 21 W/O a guardian and purchasing... Sorry! Many times I accompanied my dad into WC's before I was able to get my own.

Now me all growed up!

kcnwa

DCA almost always carded my guests.