skAAtinsteph

For me it breaks even at ten visits to a club. Since I definitely use the AA AC much more than ten times a year it's still cheaper to just get a club membership which works out to less than $10 a visit.

imaliveru

I've been a member. It's a great value if you travel by yourself to airports with clubs that wouldn't be covered by your main carrier's program.

Remember AmEx Platinum benefits as well.

The disadvantage is that you have to pay for any guest on any program, unlike most airline programs.

I would even say that if you're doing critical and/or time-sensitive travel (where flight cancellations/delays will cost you significant $) even just a few times a year to those airports that you wouldn't be served by under your carrier's program, it may be worth it as an 'insurance policy' as agents in those clubs that you otherwise wouldn't have access to may mean the difference between having your plans work out and not.

MJonTravel

I have the $99 per year, $24 per visit plan. In my humble opinion, it is more than worth it. I recommend club membership with whatever airline you fly most, backed up by the $99/$24 Priority Pass.

htb

My personal opinion is that for $99 flat plus $25 per visit I'd be better off visiting an airport restaurant while waiting. Paying that amount of money for lounge access with mostly extremely limited food choices is a waste of money to me. Preferences seem to differ, however, as can be seen from the responses above. But even waiting in the gate area for an hour or so isn't the end of the world.

HTB.

bradbel

So, should I assume you are not a member of any airline clubs? I'm just trying to distinguish if you have an issue with the Priority Pass or clubs in general.

Thanks!

bradbel

Question. If I can stay in a club using the PP card at the airports that I frequent, I assume I would not need to also purchase a airline club membership. Right?

3timesalady

That is correct. However, be aware that as LAXRuss noted, the priority pass club is not always the "convenient" club in a given airport. Also, if you are traveling with a companion, you will always have to pay an additional fee.

Personally, I don't see how the $99 PP membership is worth it to the OP. Assuming that s/ he uses an airport club once per RT, then s/ he is already paying nearly $400 in entry fees -- add on the $99 initial fee and that is well over a club membership for even those without any airline status.

Now, if one's home airport does not have a club and/ or the city pairs and airlines traveled change frequently, this may be a better deal.

htb

I don't have to be a member of any airline club. My Staralliance Gold status gets me into any Staralliance lounge on my day of travel, as long as I have a ticket of the alliance for that day. None of the lounges I have seen so far warrant a fee of $99 + $25 per visit. I also entered some lounges based on my golden Visa card. I was glad it was free.

I don't have a problem with. As I've written, I just don't see that I would spend $25 to get into one that offers only some drinks, and a very limited choice of snacks. Other's priorities and preferences may differ, and I don't have a problem with that.

HTB.

bradbel

OK. The posts have helped me understand that PP is not a scam. However, I think I should clarify one point to some repliers. PP does not cost $99 on top of another airliner club membership, you only pay $99 for the year (plus $25 per visit.)

An example, I live in MSP and primarily fly NW. I could pay $400 for a year in the Worldclub. However, with PP, I have the choice of two Worldclubs and a Red Carpet club in MSP. The same for PHX where I fly the most. The Delta Club Room is available on the PP plan about three gates from where NW is housed. Make sense?

The biggest issue I am still wrestling with is HTB's comments about "just find a nice restaurant and same the money." I guess I am a little bit of a snob.

BTW: There are other options for PP. Including a $399 unlimited stay option. I'm also a cheapskate!

opus17

The no-fee Saks World Mastercard gets you a free Priority Pass membership ($24/visit) -- no miles, 1% is returned in Saks discounts.

Athena53

It's not just the snob factor. It's getting out of the way of the repeated "the moving sidewalk is coming to an end" announcements, the awful beeping carts, the flight announcements.. Just gimme some peace! I'm signing on again for my 4th year, with the $249/10 visit plan. I used them all last year, but kept track of them and didn't do any more visits after I hit the max. I do consider the trade-off and if we have only an hour in the terminal and my husband is with me, we stay in the terminal. But, to me, being able to mellow out with a glass of wine and plug into the Internet when I'm stuck someplace like ORD for 2 or 3 hours is "priceless".

TrayflowInUK

I'm about to lose NW Platinum (Skyteam Elite +) status, and as a USA expat in Europe, this makes a difference. I'm torn between purchasing PP or getting WorldClub membership... in the end I think I'll go w/ WorldClubs as that will get me into the lounges I frequent the most for $250/yr including a guest. But I'm still strongly considering Priority Pass.

flysurfer

Since the PP card with unlimited free access come free with my Amex Platinum card, it's a no-brainer. ^

I wouldn't consider paying seperately for it, as the cost for the PP card alone (with unlimited free access) comes close to the annual fee of the Amex card.

I also don't really understand the benefit of the $24 per visit plan, as for $24, I'll probably always find a nice bar or restaurant at the airport that offers better drinks or food than what's available in your typical airline "club", especially those in the U.S.

Athena53

As I mentioned in my earlier post, for us it's the "peace and quiet" factor. A few clubs get crowded at certain times (ORD on Friday at 6 PM!) but where else in the airport can you find comfy chairs, a reasonable distance between you and your neighbor, a convenient place to park your laptop.. you know what I mean. I found a special area for laptop users in a gate area at EWR last month and diesel (or whatever fuel) fumes were leaking in from the planes- after awhile I had to leave because I didn't feel well.

So, I'm willing to pay for it if I anticipate being in the terminal for over an hour.

dgwright99

I assume that your Amex Plat is not a US card then ? I've looked at the Amex Plat lounge benefit for US cards, and it doesn't seem nearly as flexible as PP.