I'm not so sure about that. If I were travelling on business as an FB silver and could use the lounge I'd whack the cost of doing so on my corporate card!

I reckon we will see the lounges significantly busier than previously...

If so, you could also whack �35 of real food taken at an airport restaurant. When you add up the cost of what you consume at the lounge in terms of crackers and drinks, I doubt that it comes near that much. For a long layover, it probably makes sense but I doubt that there will be many takers. I find the idea more attractive for a group travelling together as pointed above. Might be attractive for a Plat to whack on the corporate card for a couple of clients. Alltogether the effect on the number of loungers is likely to be tiny.

God bless BMI status match.... burn those KLM miles while you can guys.. if this is true about paying, KLM has gone from bad to worse, to pathetic over the past few years. This little gem they have come up with makes me happy I went elsewhere.

For many travellers the food and drinks are not the most important reasons to visit the lounge. In the lounge, we can comfortably work on our laptop and use free wifi access. You don't have to watch your belongings continuously.

Most importantly, the lounge offers an opportunity to withdraw from the stress of the public airport areas so we can read a report or book. �35 is a steep price, but I would still consider it when I have more then 2 spare hours.

It was AF's strategic 'free tasting' of long-haul business class that got me and my family to buy C on future flights (albeit on LH .)

Anyway, although I do appreciate having the option to pay through the nose for lounge access in AMS and CDG, isn't the Delta Sky Club 30 day membership for $90 still a much better deal?

http://www.nwa.com/services/bustrav/...empmember.html

It would seem, according to various sources, that access for the first guest of an Elite Plus member will still be free of charge.

On many an occasion have I felt that the public areas offered an opportunity to withdraw from the stress of the crowded lounge!

Johan

Was always my feeling at MXP when I needed to use the crowded international lounge before an AZ flight before the airline ceased most operations from the airport!

Now the same AZ lounge in MXP is empty.
Old-style, for sure, but you can really sleep.
More, you can eat as much as you want italian ice-creams...
You have also a wider choice of biscuits, cakes and chips than in AF or LH MXP lounges which, however, are more modern in style and have more newspapers.
However AF lounge is smaller.
Just my 2 cents!

I live in US but given my international address and i am Flying Blue Gold / Skyteam Elite Plus..

Last 3 days i had a back to back travel and found this

a) Atlanta Lounge :: Sorry Sir, Flying Blue Elite Plus are allowed only if you are travelling overseas or can show the passport that you are not residing in USA

b) Ft.Lauderdale :: Sorry Sir, As per the new rules they have only selected Lounges across USA that you can get in and Ft.lauderdale is not part of it..

c) LAX :: After 20 mins of checking, calling and everything the representative did and said i will allow you this time sir, but i fear next time might not be possible..

Not sure where these guys are heading into.............I am seriously thinking of moving to Worldperks...

Not sure Worldperks will solve your problem.

The issue is that certain alliances restrict lounge access to lounges to those pax traveling on an international flight. Here's how it works:

• Oneworld: lounge access for all top status card holders traveling on a oneworld flight that day. Only restriction: AA Card holders cannot enter lounges if trip is solely in North America. However, top status card holders of any other program (BA, QF, CX, etc) can use the lounge, even if traveling on a purely North American/US domestic trip.
• Star Alliance: the same: lounge access for all top status card holders traveling on a Star Alliance flight that day. Only restriction: US and UA Card holders cannot enter lounges if trip is solely in North America. However, top status card holders of any other program (BD, LH, SA, SQ, etc) can use the lounge, even if traveling on a purely North American/US domestic trip.
• Skyteam: lounge access for all top status card holders traveling on an international flight. Basta. No access for domestic flights, no matter if you are member of a US-based airline's program or a foreign one.

Thus, the problem is that Skyteam is more restrictive than others. Being a member of Worldperks doesn't allow you to escape that problem.

For some reason that doesn't surprise me Air France-KLM is a member of that alliance that provides the least service . So if you want to swap your Flying Blue card for something else, go with one of the European programs of a oneworld or Star carrier. (Of course only if your travel patterns allow for it)

So your card says Elite Plus? Not Elite. In that case why should you need to show proof of address. Strange.

Were you flying internationally?

Thanks for your excellent and exhaustive comparison. Really concise and precise...then useful!^^

The card says Elite Plus because i had my address outside USA. Per the rules they said either i should be flying international or show them my out country passport to get an access..

Do somebody have the Skymiles Club rules for Flyingblue ?

In this case, the SkyTeam approach seems to be the more consistent one.