@iced wrote:Something simply cannot be both exclusive and have a low barrier of entry at the same time.
These were the sound words I needed to hear. I'll be saying farewell to my business platinum in a few months. The perks just don't match the AF ($600 starting February).
Personal cards:
Honestly it never really struck me as much of a benefit unless one was travelling internationally, even when I picked it up compliments of the CSR two years ago.
At least at that time, there was usually plenty of room, and the food while not fantastic was edible and there was plenty to go around in the places I wound up... really for me it was just a somewhat nicer place to sit and eat rather than in an airport gate chair, and was admittedly interesting to me to see lounges with nothing but chopsticks for things like cataloupe haha.
At the $100 / year or whatever the benefit was, I would've gotten my money's worth on my Asia tour in 2017; if that gig had continued on with the international travel or if I were a jet setter on my own right, it probably would've been of good value value. Now though, it's just an additional benefit that I don't really use on my short hops between LAX and SFO as that's the extent of my travel these days.
The CSR is still my primary use credit card though, so I ain't complain'.
Guess it depends on what you are expecting. Alaska has been pulling this bit for quite awhile. I have almost always been able to find lounges to use my PP membership at although 90%+ of my travel is international. You have to have reasonable expectations since US airport lounges are usually subpar compared to their global counterparts. The nicer airport lounges I have been in for the US are a result of flying first class and not something you are just getting with a credit card. One of the Delta Skyclubs via my plat card I stopped in while passing through Atlanta was alright. I have been disappointed with the centurion lounges I have visited. For the most part with PP expect a room with chairs, maybe a tv and some snacks/drinks. The main purpose of it is so you can avoid the hell that is the terminal where sometimes its soo bad you can't even get a seat. It isn't reasonable to expect the type of experience a first class passenger will have because these PP memberships are handed out like candy by credit card companies. Overseas it can be different but inside the US if you are only going to be flying domestic I would not recommend someone get a credit card just for PP membership, unless they know specifically what lounges they will be using and that they feel the quality of the lounge justifies the AF. I only keep the access because of my international travel. Not something I would pay for if I only had domestic flights at least not with the options the airports I frequent have.
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@Anonymous wrote:I certainly get the justification behind it and would be more than happy for just the old room with chair to sit away from the seething mass of people but I have not even been able to get that. Priority Pass is definetly not a "benefit" in my case.
I agree if you don't even have access to PP lounges at the airports you visit then the value to you is zero. Really doesn't matter what is available at other airports if those are not airports you will be visiting. https://www.businessinsider.com/disappointing-photos-exclusive-airport-lounges-food-lines-reality-vs-expectation-2018-11