Why do people in the US actually bother with lounge access?

[drewbles]

In MIA a few days ago I gave our unused chits to a random standing at the bar.....he was very appreciative and said he would pass any unused chits along.

There's a thread on FT dedicated to it. See here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ame...-chit-chits-coupons-etc-master-thread-76.html

Hide a chit, post on there, let someone find it

I tend to donate them to randoms like yourself too though.

 

[DrA]

There's a thread on FT dedicated to it. See here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ame...-chit-chits-coupons-etc-master-thread-76.html

Hide a chit, post on there, let someone find it

I tend to donate them to randoms like yourself too though.

Same here. Have received a few shocked faces when I've said "would you like these?" to randoms as I've left the lounge a few times.

 

[Ewing]

In MIA a few days ago I gave our unused chits to a random standing at the bar.....he was very appreciative and said he would pass any unused chits along.

I always do the same. People are very appreciative.

 

[Hvr]

Do they force the voucher system so that some people either:

1. Don't know about being able to replenish the vouchers (ie me)
2. Don't feel comfortable, as a grown adult, walking up with hands out, asking for another voucher

Do remember that only people who enter with OneWorld status (except AA) can get more vouchers. AA members have to pay for all of their drinks.

And yes I hand them to random pax as I depart, have always been thanked profusely.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

maybe I'm the only one but i prefer AA lounges to QF clubs.

I'd rather have no food than the same boring stuff served in QF lounges... the camembert wheel and party pies? not my preference.

what i like about the AA lounges is top shelf alcohol for free (as many drink chits as you want) and AA DFW has a nice smoking room inside. Those are the only two things I want (and coffee).

 

[ShaneN]

My impression is that the USA does not have the same lounge "culture" as here in Australia. I suspect a much smaller proportion of travelers are lounge members, and travel class does not give lounge access. I have been to AA lounges at LAX, DFW, ORD, BOS and MIA. All are much smaller than the QPs at SYD T3, MEL and BNE, and also much less crowded.

 

[coyote25]

In MIA a few days ago I gave our unused chits to a random standing at the bar.....he was very appreciative and said he would pass any unused chits along.

Did the same here a few times and every time the receiver was extremely grateful? Didn't seem like a big deal to me as I assume that's what everyone would do.

 

[Hvr]

<snip>. I have been to AA lounges at LAX, DFW, ORD, BOS and MIA. All are much smaller than the QPs at SYD T3, MEL and BNE, and also much less crowded.

I went to all of those lounges in the US last year and found MIA to be absolutely packed. Barely room for another person.

 

[dajop]

My impression is that the USA does not have the same lounge "culture" as here in Australia. I suspect a much smaller proportion of travelers are lounge members, and travel class does not give lounge access. I have been to AA lounges at LAX, DFW, ORD, BOS and MIA. All are much smaller than the QPs at SYD T3, MEL and BNE, and also much less crowded.

Yes the culture in US is to stand around at the gate so you can be first to board to find room in the o/h lockers for the 20kg carry on you have with you. Use of lounges is not something that necessarily helps with those goals.

I remember one of my first domestic flights in the US - I was in the Admirals Club at STL and sauntered to that gate about 20mins prior to departure like I would at home. I wasn't the last to board, but was in the last 5-10 passengers to board, and a colleague who was on the flight and already boarded, was worried I was going to miss the plane. It didn't take me long to work out the truly frequent flyers were the first on, not last on as tended to be the case in Australia (maximising lounge time).

 

[Sojourner]

Yes the culture in US is to stand around at the gate so you can be first to board to find room in the o/h lockers for the 20kg carry on you have with you. Use of lounges is not something that necessarily helps with those goals.

I remember one of my first domestic flights in the US - I was in the Admirals Club at STL and sauntered to that gate about 20mins prior to departure like I would at home. I wasn't the last to board, but was in the last 5-10 passengers to board, and a colleague who was on the flight and already boarded, was worried I was going to miss the plane. It didn't take me long to work out the truly frequent flyers were the first on, not last on as tended to be the case in Australia (maximising lounge time).

So true. It is unbelievable how much cough people try to carry on board, and unbelievable how the airlines have allowed this culture to fester. Upon a rough landing once in an AA flight, one of the overstuffed overhead compartments busted open and a bag carrying what I could only guess were bricks fell out hitting my headrest before falling to the ground. A few centimetres closer and I could've been seriously hurt. Then I might've had a story to tell about the lawsuit that could've followed.

 

[dajop]

So true. It is unbelievable how much cough people try to carry on board, and unbelievable how the airlines have allowed this culture to fester.

I actually think the airlines encourage it , as if people were to check luggage they would need to employee more luggage handlers! Of course that isn't accounting for the increased turn-around times, but some airlines (eg Southwest, who have free checked luggage, and Spirit who charge both for checked and carry on) do go against the grain.

Also I think the hub system makes things more complicated, so people don't want to risk checked luggage not making a connection and as for lounges - well a lot of the lounges are at the hubs - but often connection times are such that you probably don't get much time to spend in the lounge anyway!

 

[RooFlyer]

Yes the culture in US is to stand around at the gate so you can be first to board to find room in the o/h lockers for the 20kg carry on you have with you. Use of lounges is not something that necessarily helps with those goals.

I remember one of my first domestic flights in the US - I was in the Admirals Club at STL and sauntered to that gate about 20mins prior to departure like I would at home. I wasn't the last to board, but was in the last 5-10 passengers to board, and a colleague who was on the flight and already boarded, was worried I was going to miss the plane. It didn't take me long to work out the truly frequent flyers were the first on, not last on as tended to be the case in Australia (maximising lounge time).

My experience is more in Canada than USA, but that (and a variant) sounds a pretty sensible interpretation I hadn't thought of in this thread.

With Air Canada, and many Nth American carriers, booking economy and getting an upgrade at the gate is the name of the game. High to top status pax will nearly always book economy because they know they have a high probability of an upgrade (because unlike QF, they will fill the J cabin from whY, rather than treating it like a premium product).

So you have the situation of having a bunch of pax who in Australia would be Plats or P1, rather than enjoying a last snifter of XO in the lounge, all huddled around the gate waiting for their name to be called out for an upgrade. If you don't respond, you miss out. So there is less incentive for lounges to be a place for high status pax to hang out, because many won't be there!

But as a paid J pax on AC I STILL go to the gate relatively early because you do need to get to the bloody overhead lockers before they are snaffled (especially on the E190s).

 

[amaroo]

My experience is more in Canada than USA, but that (and a variant) sounds a pretty sensible interpretation I hadn't thought of in this thread.

<snip>

So you have the situation of having a bunch of pax who in Australia would be Plats or P1, rather than enjoying a last snifter of XO in the lounge, all huddled around the gate waiting for their name to be called out for an upgrade. If you don't respond, you miss out. So there is less incentive for lounges to be a place for high status pax to hang out, because many won't be there!

Had first hand experience of this in Montreal a week or so ago. No AA lounge, so we hung around the gate waiting.....watched many people approach the agents, engage in short conversation and then walk away. Just prior to boarding we were called to the desk.......as I approached I heard the agent tell another passenger - they're a family and we need to keep them together.

The four of us got an OPUP to first The look on a few faces was priceless! The ride to Miami was a very pleasant one!

 

[JohnK]

How much for a beer in AAdmirals Clubs if you do not have a voucher?

A few years back out in the terminal a beer was ~USD5 which was not too bad. I could easily spend my time at a bar in the terminal watching people go by. Beats the boredom of the AAdmirals Club.

 

[drewbles]

How much for a beer in AAdmirals Clubs if you do not have a voucher?

A few years back out in the terminal a beer was ~USD5 which was not too bad. I could easily spend my time at a bar in the terminal watching people go by. Beats the boredom of the AAdmirals Club.

For most beers, free. If you want a 'premium' I have no idea (as I use chits when there, and tip a single a beer for bottle/tap beer).

 

[NM]

For most beers, free. If you want a 'premium' I have no idea (as I use chits when there, and tip a single a beer for bottle/tap beer).

"Free" for the purchase, but generally accepted that the barman/barmaid will be tipped. I know not everyone tips the AAdmirals Club barman, but it does seem that $1 a drink is a common practice. I generally don't tip is using a chit and its a matter of grabbing a beer from the fridge and opening it for me. But if they mix a "good" G&T from the top shelf, then they can expect a dead president left on the counter.

 

[Kolo]

I'm currently in the DL Lounge at LGA and its snowing...most flights have been cancelled but, fingers crossed, my flight might be one of the last out before shutdown. So here's the reason to use a Lounge - those folk who have been cancelled are being processed quite quickly at the service desk, while outside are long, long queues. Plus I'm on free wifi, its comfortable waiting, and I've had a couple of free decent coffees. Not sure of their alcohol policy here, its a bit early! But I might need a stiff gin if my flight goes red.

 

[phily]

It seems that I've had a completely different experience with an AA lounge to nearly everyone else here.

I was at LAX last Friday evening, with 5 hrs to wait for QF12 to SYD. I'm QF WP and arrived from a domestic flight at T4, so went up to the AA Lounge and into their Flagship lounge. Entry was free because of my status, and there was no charge for any food or drinks. It was two-thirds full for an hour, but then an AA flight nearly emptied the lounge. The big lounge chairs are soft and comfortable, with a decent number of power outlets scattered around. There was a decent range of food, including hot pumpkin soup and a hot turkey dish that was a bit dry. There were also sandwiches, cheeses, chips, and more. There was a good range of drinks, including a large fridge of waters and sodas, there was champagne that was very acceptable, wines, and a good range of spirits.

After 3 hrs I caught the airside shuttle bus from T4 to TBIT (that meant that I didn't have to go through security again while changing terminals) so as to try out the OneWorld First Lounge - the QF F lounge isn't due till about April. I was horrified at the OW F lounge. There was not a spare seat in the place, and that meant that there was excessive demand for the available food. Additionally, there were very few power outlets, a critical item for most people these days charging up their devices before a long flight. I eventually managed to get a seat, but they are cheap and uncomfortable chairs. I did at least manage to find some Glenfiddich so I was happy enough for a while.

So, if you're in LAX, and you're either Emerald or QF WP, my firm advice is to go to the AA Flagship lounge.

 

[serfty]

...

So, if you're in LAX, and you're either Emerald or QF WP, my firm advice is to go to the AA Flagship lounge.

Good advice about a well known situation. (At least until the *O lounge refurbish is complete.)

The only thing I would do currently different is walk landside; it's generally quicker to the lounge than taking the airside bus at that time of night.

 

[RooFlyer]

It seems that I've had a completely different experience with an AA lounge to nearly everyone else here.

<snip>.

True, but most of the discussion here has nee about 'regular' lounges. The AA Flagship Lounges do function more like the ones here in Oz.