lightmac wrote:So are the majority of people in American lounges status guests and that is how they get in?
fanoftristars wrote:Maybe sheer size of the domestic market and how little it takes to purchase business class/domestic first. Most allow access for transcon business/first. As for European lounges, I'd beg to differ. At least the Air France lounge and KLM crown lounge really aren't any nicer than Delta's Sky Clubs. I'd actually rate Delta Sky clubs, especially at key gateways to be a notch above their European counterparts.
OSL777FLYER wrote:You need to have a high status or pay. I find it ridiculous that if you are flying e.g. MSP-ATL-FRA, if you then want to use the lounge AT MSP it will cost you about $50.
European carriers I must say are much more lenient on these things.
I flew in Business FRA-BOS-ORD a 3 years ago and since my flight FRA-BOS was on a LH flight I was not allowed access to UA's lounge in BOS, since they claimed they had no deal with LH. Funnily if I fly ORD-FRA-OSL and the leg ORD-FRA is on UA, LH always allows me acces to their lounges.
I guess it's jst US carriers way of sucking more cash out of their premium passengers
ual777newpaint wrote:fanoftristars wrote:Maybe sheer size of the domestic market and how little it takes to purchase business class/domestic first. Most allow access for transcon business/first. As for European lounges, I'd beg to differ. At least the Air France lounge and KLM crown lounge really aren't any nicer than Delta's Sky Clubs. I'd actually rate Delta Sky clubs, especially at key gateways to be a notch above their European counterparts.
I'll agree that many Skyclubs have nicer fixtures than AF/KL lounges, but the food in most Skyclubs (except certain international terminal locations) is pitiful. Sad hors d'oeuvres on paper plates aren't exactly anything to write home about.
hOMSaR wrote:The lounges are already quite full in many cases. There’s no way they could possibly have enough room if they allowed all domestic F passengers in.
OSL777FLYER wrote:You need to have a high status or pay. I find it ridiculous that if you are flying e.g. MSP-ATL-FRA, if you then want to use the lounge AT MSP it will cost you about $50.
spacecadet wrote:hOMSaR wrote:The lounges are already quite full in many cases. There’s no way they could possibly have enough room if they allowed all domestic F passengers in.
Then they should build more lounges. Many overseas airlines have multiple lounges at major airports, yet most US airlines only have one at major US airports.
It's not really rocket science. This is just an example of how the race to the bottom at US airlines is now affecting the higher service classes as well.
What this is really about is stuff like deals with AMEX or Priority Pass. Or just charging people extra for lounge access. It's not about crowd control. It's about making even more money by providing worse service.
(btw, I am both a Priority Pass and AMEX Platinum cardholder, which gives me lounge access at basically any airport, whatever class I'm flying. If I'm flying coach and get lounge access while someone flying business on that same airline can't, what does that tell you?)
LAXintl wrote:The entire business model is different.
These lounges are first and foremost membership clubs. Pay the annual membership fee and you can use them on any fare and any route. The lounges are meant to be a revenue generating offering, basically an ancillary choice for customers.
Only as a secondary offering are lounges opened to premium flyers on select routes, namely a few high profile transcons and most international routes.
spacecadet wrote:
Then they should build more lounges. Many overseas airlines have multiple lounges at major airports, yet most US airlines only have one at major US airports.
spacecadet wrote:Then they should build more lounges. Many overseas airlines have multiple lounges at major airports, yet most US airlines only have one at major US airports.
It's not really rocket science. This is just an example of how the race to the bottom at US airlines is now affecting the higher service classes as well.
spacecadet wrote:hOMSaR wrote:The lounges are already quite full in many cases. There’s no way they could possibly have enough room if they allowed all domestic F passengers in.
Then they should build more lounges. Many overseas airlines have multiple lounges at major airports, yet most US airlines only have one at major US airports.
It's not really rocket science. This is just an example of how the race to the bottom at US airlines is now affecting the higher service classes as well.)
ben175 wrote:I was incredibly surprised when I flew DL JFK to SXM last week that even some international flights do not get lounge access for J pax. As an Australian, that's pretty much unheard of.
asqx wrote:It depends on if the flight is marketed as Delta One or just First Class/Business class.
According to Delta's Website:
"Delta One or SkyTeam Premium Cabin Passenger
Customers traveling in Delta One on an international Delta flight or a domestic Delta flight connecting to/from a same-day international Delta flight* in Delta One or travel in international First/Business Class on a SkyTeam-operated flight. (In order to qualify for Club access, the customer must be confirmed in the premium (first or business class) cabin for the international segment of their itinerary.)
*International Travel includes: Customers traveling to/from Europe, Asia, South America, Central America, Africa, Canada and Mexico (excludes travel to/from the Caribbean, Guam, Palau and Saipan)."
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US ... terms.html