what's the cheapest way to gain access to rcc?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 152
what's the cheapest way to gain access to rcc?
I am a frequent traveler but i feel 500 bux is a bit much for the club. What is the cheapest option (not using miles) to gain access to the red carpet club? in other words which altrernative cheaper membership including credit cards, will give me access?
Thanks
Thanks
#2
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,333
Have a member or someone with access based on class of service or status guest you in.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: SPI
Programs: AA Gold, UA LT Plat, Mar LTT
Posts: 18,147
Become a *Gold member, and fly internationally on *A same day flights.
Best, Dave
Best, Dave
#4
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: UA, DL
Posts: 550
Int'l travel as a *G or having a co-worker who is traveling with you and has a RCC membership or hanging out by the door and begging to be someones "guest" . All three options are absolutely FREE - but I feel that if you want to enjoy the "perks" of the RCCs you gotta pay somehow - as a 1K, using miles is not a horrible option if you wanna get rid of some of those miles.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 152
is there any alternative club i can join that would cost a little less?
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: SPI
Programs: AA Gold, UA LT Plat, Mar LTT
Posts: 18,147
Bottom line: If you fly UA, why would you WANT to join a different club?
Best, Dave
#7
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,333
You said you are a frequent flyer... to give a better answer we need to know how frequent and on what airlines. What, if any, status do you have on what airlines? About how many miles and segments do you fly per year and between what airports? Club membership only makes sense if you have the money to spend or your travel patterns make it a good value. We need more info to help answer your question.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 152
i basically travel ual only and fly once a month, this is not frequent to many of you, but for me its pretty often and usually gives me premier from segments. either way due to frequent delays or whatever ellse i find myself looking for club access. at one point i say maple leaf club offering access which i think is cheaper but i was wondering what other clubs or credit cards would allow me the access as well.
Thanks
Thanks
#9
In memoriam
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Seattle WA
Programs: Kimpton IC, Hyatt Diamond, Gold Marriott, Lifetime Platinum Starwood
Posts: 8,665
You can pay $50 each time you want access (Day pass). If you're a 1K there is a discounted amount for the annual membership. Some employers pay for their employees to have this benefit as well (although it may be taxable).
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 152
again beacuse $ 500 is a bit much i was hoping for a cheaper aqlternative.
#11
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: YOW
Programs: AC E75K *G
Posts: 7,099
So in one sense, this is lounge access for free, in that you are getting it just by spending the money you would have on your flights to begin with.
The trade-off is the loss of 35k status miles that you might have wanted to bank with another program. If this costs you too much in benefits you like getting from your current FF program you might not think it's worth it.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 152
what about credit card clubs or any othe rsa lounge memberships?
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: SPI
Programs: AA Gold, UA LT Plat, Mar LTT
Posts: 18,147
Once a month is likely NOT worth the $500 fee.
Best, Dave
#14
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,241
I fly a lot more than that and that is what I do. In irregular operations it's worth it, and I only do it 2-3 times a year.
#15
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,333
If you are looking for access primarily to the RCCs... then your main options are to buy a RCC membership for $400 (the premier discount rate) or a US airways club membership for $495 (assuming no status with US and the RCC add-on option).
As zorn pointed out... if you can fly 35k per year, you could credit it to Air Canada, which would get you star alliance gold and get you RCC and US airways club access whenever flying on UA or US. You would lose economy plus access on United, but you could buy that for $299 - which would be cheaper than paying for the lounge access.
But, because you say you usually qualify on segments, I'm guessing that you are not going to hit 35k per year.
So between $400 for RCC membership and $495 for US airways membership... it depends on which lounge you want to access when NOT flying on the other. With the RCC membership, you get access to the RCCs regardless of who you are flying. With the US airways membership you get access to the US airways lounges regardless of who you are flying. With either you access to the others lounge if you are flying on them (w/ RCC membership you get to use US lounge if flying US).
You could look at priority pass, but many/most of the RCCs don't subscribe, so that is likely of little use.
As zorn pointed out... if you can fly 35k per year, you could credit it to Air Canada, which would get you star alliance gold and get you RCC and US airways club access whenever flying on UA or US. You would lose economy plus access on United, but you could buy that for $299 - which would be cheaper than paying for the lounge access.
But, because you say you usually qualify on segments, I'm guessing that you are not going to hit 35k per year.
So between $400 for RCC membership and $495 for US airways membership... it depends on which lounge you want to access when NOT flying on the other. With the RCC membership, you get access to the RCCs regardless of who you are flying. With the US airways membership you get access to the US airways lounges regardless of who you are flying. With either you access to the others lounge if you are flying on them (w/ RCC membership you get to use US lounge if flying US).
You could look at priority pass, but many/most of the RCCs don't subscribe, so that is likely of little use.