Guess Canada isn't considered International by USAirways
Mar 2, 2009, 8:08 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Phoenix AZ
Programs: US UA AA DL CO
Posts: 326
Guess Canada isn't considered International by USAirways
Last week I flew from Phoenix to Calgary. I am a Gold Dividends Member, so I thought this would allow me to access the Club Room in Phoenix before my flight. The lady at the front door to the club said "technically, you must be flying TRANSATLANTIC international to use the club room, but I'll let you in."
I can't find anything on the USAirways website or Star Alliance that says TRANSATLANTIC. Just the notation:
Chairman's, Platinum and Gold Preferred members receive access to Star Alliance Lounges only when traveling internationally as part of their Star Alliance Gold Benefits.
Does anyone know of this hidden rule, or can point me to the website clause? If this is true, doesn't this go against the rules of Star Alliance benefits?
I can't find anything on the USAirways website or Star Alliance that says TRANSATLANTIC. Just the notation:
Chairman's, Platinum and Gold Preferred members receive access to Star Alliance Lounges only when traveling internationally as part of their Star Alliance Gold Benefits.
Does anyone know of this hidden rule, or can point me to the website clause? If this is true, doesn't this go against the rules of Star Alliance benefits?
Mar 2, 2009, 8:19 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 509
Star Alliance benefits
Enjoy special privileges when you travel on any participating Star Alliance airlines. Just present your Gold Preferred membership card and same-day international ticket to access the US Airways Club and more than 600 Star Alliance lounges.
Eligible international destinations for lounge access include Asia, Africa, Canada, Europe, Middle East, South America and the following cities: Mexico City, Guadalajara, San Jose (Costa Rica)
Seems as if you should have been let in
Enjoy special privileges when you travel on any participating Star Alliance airlines. Just present your Gold Preferred membership card and same-day international ticket to access the US Airways Club and more than 600 Star Alliance lounges.
Eligible international destinations for lounge access include Asia, Africa, Canada, Europe, Middle East, South America and the following cities: Mexico City, Guadalajara, San Jose (Costa Rica)
Seems as if you should have been let in
Mar 2, 2009, 11:47 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA
Programs: SPG Lifetime PP ; Hyatt Globalist ; Nexus
Posts: 950
This is actually new. US used to exclude Canada from interntational lounge access. Interesting thing is they didn't mention Carribean.
Mar 2, 2009, 1:47 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: Former long-time US GP; now AA dirt
Posts: 4,904
I couldn't use the US Club in PHL when flying to Cancun last year.
Mar 2, 2009, 3:07 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Programs: DL Silver, UA Silver, Marriott Lifetime Silver, IHG Plat, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,695
Mar 2, 2009, 3:24 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Toronto, NYC, somewhere on planet Earth
Programs: UA 1K, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 8,289
Not sure if you are flying on US or AC, but I know that UA accepts * Gold members (incl PremEx) for flights from US to Canada.
Either way, the MLLs are much better than all the US airline operated lounges!
Either way, the MLLs are much better than all the US airline operated lounges!
Mar 2, 2009, 3:27 pm
#7
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: AA Platinum; US Gold; DL Silver
Posts: 941
Sorry, but this goes both ways, too.
If US Airways let you into the club but started charging 50,000 miles minimum for a coach ticket to Canada or the Caribbean, citing their status as an "international" destination, people would be screaming their heads off.
If US Airways let you into the club but started charging 50,000 miles minimum for a coach ticket to Canada or the Caribbean, citing their status as an "international" destination, people would be screaming their heads off.
Mar 2, 2009, 4:31 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA
Programs: SPG Lifetime PP ; Hyatt Globalist ; Nexus
Posts: 950
This has nothing to do with the fare or miles required for an award ticket. As long as they have the same cut-off time for those destinations as other internatioinal destinations ( usually 60 min vs 30 min domestc ), the lounge policy should be consistent. And this also happens to be the Star Alliance policy.
Mar 2, 2009, 5:28 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: AA Platinum; US Gold; DL Silver
Posts: 941
This has nothing to do with the fare or miles required for an award ticket. As long as they have the same cut-off time for those destinations as other internatioinal destinations ( usually 60 min vs 30 min domestc ), the lounge policy should be consistent. And this also happens to be the Star Alliance policy.
And no, I don't agree.
US treats Canada as "domestic" for bookings, and both Canada and the Caribbean as "domestic" for FF redemptions. A consistent treatment of these destinations would also make the present club policy a reasonable one.
Incidentally, UAL and future Star member CO have the same policy. Air Canada used to as well, and if that hasn't changed, they still do.
Mar 2, 2009, 5:40 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: nobody
Posts: 1,837
I have a club membership, so I'm a bit less sympathetic to this argument than most.
And no, I don't agree.
US treats Canada as "domestic" for bookings, and both Canada and the Caribbean as "domestic" for FF redemptions. A consistent treatment of these destinations would also make the present club policy a reasonable one.
Incidentally, UAL and future Star member CO have the same policy. Air Canada used to as well, and if that hasn't changed, they still do.
And no, I don't agree.
US treats Canada as "domestic" for bookings, and both Canada and the Caribbean as "domestic" for FF redemptions. A consistent treatment of these destinations would also make the present club policy a reasonable one.
Incidentally, UAL and future Star member CO have the same policy. Air Canada used to as well, and if that hasn't changed, they still do.
http://flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/S%2ARCC/ADMIT
Mar 2, 2009, 5:52 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Programs: DL Silver, UA Silver, Marriott Lifetime Silver, IHG Plat, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,695
Air Canada's Maple Leaf Lounge policy:
http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelin...es/access.html
http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelin...es/access.html
Star Alliance Gold members
Any Star Alliance member with a Star Alliance Gold logo on their card is entitled to Maple Leaf Lounge access provided the member is travelling on a departing Star Alliance flight, in any class of service. At no additional charge, the Star Alliance member may be accompanied by one guest who is also in possession of a same-day ticket on a qualifying, departing flight.
US Airways Club members
Any US Airways Club member is entitled to Maple Leaf Lounge access when holding a valid membership card and a same-day confirmed ticket for travel on a departing Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz, Star Alliance or an Air Canada/US Airways codeshare flight. At no additional charge, the US Airways Club member may be accompanied by one guest who is also in possession of a same-day ticket on a qualifying, departing flight.
Any Star Alliance member with a Star Alliance Gold logo on their card is entitled to Maple Leaf Lounge access provided the member is travelling on a departing Star Alliance flight, in any class of service. At no additional charge, the Star Alliance member may be accompanied by one guest who is also in possession of a same-day ticket on a qualifying, departing flight.
US Airways Club members
Any US Airways Club member is entitled to Maple Leaf Lounge access when holding a valid membership card and a same-day confirmed ticket for travel on a departing Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz, Star Alliance or an Air Canada/US Airways codeshare flight. At no additional charge, the US Airways Club member may be accompanied by one guest who is also in possession of a same-day ticket on a qualifying, departing flight.
Mar 2, 2009, 6:11 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA
Programs: SPG Lifetime PP ; Hyatt Globalist ; Nexus
Posts: 950
You probably need to figure out US' and UA's polciy first. As previously posted, Canada is now included in International for lounge access purpose for both UA & US. To me, UA's policy complies with Star Alliance but US' not if they still exclude Carribean. That's all what matters.
I have a club membership, so I'm a bit less sympathetic to this argument than most.
And no, I don't agree.
US treats Canada as "domestic" for bookings, and both Canada and the Caribbean as "domestic" for FF redemptions. A consistent treatment of these destinations would also make the present club policy a reasonable one.
Incidentally, UAL and future Star member CO have the same policy. Air Canada used to as well, and if that hasn't changed, they still do.
And no, I don't agree.
US treats Canada as "domestic" for bookings, and both Canada and the Caribbean as "domestic" for FF redemptions. A consistent treatment of these destinations would also make the present club policy a reasonable one.
Incidentally, UAL and future Star member CO have the same policy. Air Canada used to as well, and if that hasn't changed, they still do.
Mar 2, 2009, 6:17 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Toronto, NYC, somewhere on planet Earth
Programs: UA 1K, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 8,289
I have a club membership, so I'm a bit less sympathetic to this argument than most.
And no, I don't agree.
US treats Canada as "domestic" for bookings, and both Canada and the Caribbean as "domestic" for FF redemptions. A consistent treatment of these destinations would also make the present club policy a reasonable one.
Incidentally, UAL and future Star member CO have the same policy. Air Canada used to as well, and if that hasn't changed, they still do.
And no, I don't agree.
US treats Canada as "domestic" for bookings, and both Canada and the Caribbean as "domestic" for FF redemptions. A consistent treatment of these destinations would also make the present club policy a reasonable one.
Incidentally, UAL and future Star member CO have the same policy. Air Canada used to as well, and if that hasn't changed, they still do.
1) Both airlines do not allow their own * Gold (from UA or US) members into their lounges on domestic flights, but allow those with * Gold status from other Star Alliance memberships.
2) US is the only one that does not allow US/UA * Gold members access to lounges when flying to Canada.
The irony of it is that they sell memberships to lounges that pale in comparison to the peers in the Star Alliance.
Last edited by neuron; Mar 2, 2009 at 6:43 pm Reason: left out 'domestic flights' in point 1
Mar 2, 2009, 6:21 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2007
Location: PHL
Programs: US/*A, Marriott, ICH, Budget, Avis
Posts: 762
Were you eligible for an upgrade?
Mar 2, 2009, 6:36 pm
#15
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA
Programs: SPG Lifetime PP ; Hyatt Globalist ; Nexus
Posts: 950
Let me clarify this. Star Alliance's policy says US & UA elite should have access on a international star alliance flight. UA follows this while US' doesn't have Carribean included but it does include CANADA now.
http://www.staralliance.com/en/trave...ss-policy.html
United and US Airways Star Alliance Gold customers may only access the Red Carpet Club and US Airways Clubs within the U.S. when travelling in conjunction with a Star Alliance international flight.
http://www.usairways.com/awa/content...rred/gold.aspx
Eligible international destinations for lounge access include Asia, Africa, Canada, Europe, Middle East, South America and the following cities: Mexico City, Guadalajara, San Jose (Costa Rica)
http://www.staralliance.com/en/trave...ss-policy.html
United and US Airways Star Alliance Gold customers may only access the Red Carpet Club and US Airways Clubs within the U.S. when travelling in conjunction with a Star Alliance international flight.
http://www.usairways.com/awa/content...rred/gold.aspx
Eligible international destinations for lounge access include Asia, Africa, Canada, Europe, Middle East, South America and the following cities: Mexico City, Guadalajara, San Jose (Costa Rica)
Both UA and US are inconsistent with their policies when it comes to Star Alliance.
1) Both airlines do not allow their own * Gold (from UA or US) members into their lounges, but allow those with * Gold status from other Star Alliance memberships.
2) US is the only one that does not allow US/UA * Gold members access to lounges when flying to Canada.
The irony of it is that they sell memberships to lounges that pale in comparison to the peers in the Star Alliance.
1) Both airlines do not allow their own * Gold (from UA or US) members into their lounges, but allow those with * Gold status from other Star Alliance memberships.
2) US is the only one that does not allow US/UA * Gold members access to lounges when flying to Canada.
The irony of it is that they sell memberships to lounges that pale in comparison to the peers in the Star Alliance.