@sillykitty1 wrote:
As much as I love the Centurion lounges, I don't think they are an good alternative to carrier lounges. Centerion lounge's are too few and far between. At large airports like LAX, ORD, DFW, it is unlikely they will be conveneintly located for most flyers. To me, and most other frequent flyers I know, airport lounges are about convenience, they are not a destination. I not very likely to book flights around lounge locations, or schlep across multiple terminals to get to one, even if I did have a long enough layover.
I can see your point where this is likely the case for most frequent flyers.
For those with similar traveling habits as mine, I find them an excellent alternative. The Lounges I use most are SFO, DFW and LGA. I'm not a frequent flyer, have no airline loyalty, and have full flexibility on choosing my fare and cabin class.
SFO - Lounge is in T3 with UA. Though, I'm not crazy about UA, it's almost reason enough to choose them over the Carriers in T1 (my least favorite). VX/AA in T2 is fine with GE (tsa precheck) which makes bypassing security relatively easily. Getting from T3 to T2 in SFO isn't a great challenge, at least not for me.
DFW - I just fly AA and ignore the other carriers. Problem solved.
LGA - DL and AA (with airside suttle to all their flights) makes the Centurion Lounge quite convenient.
These days, I prefer F, when possible. Assuming most FAs will save bin space for their F pax, I can just leave the lounge at the last minute and be last to board. They're not going to leave without me, especially if I'm checked in. For me, and I'd imagine for those similar, it offers a much better alternative, though I'd agree this wouldn't the case for the majority of travelers. I just find domestic lounges so underwhelming (except for the AA Flagship lounges in JFK/ORD or the UA GS ones), that I'll just show up late and sit in general boarding rather than pay for it.
I just don't find domestic Carrier lounges worth it, at all. For example, there isn't even a restroom at the UA Lounge at SAT.
*Edited* PS - Forgot to add LAS! Here, I just request drop off at T1 (WN's), go through D Gates security with precheck, and take the Tram to the Lounge. UA/AA depts from the D Gates while VX from T3. Even WN from T1 is easily accessed via the Trams. No great traversing here, assuming one is famiilar with LAS.
@Anonymous - Agreed, one should always tip!
