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Priority Pass -- help me understand.

b2bailey

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Awhile ago, I somehow received a free membership to Priority Pass.
I looked at locations and made a mental note that I most likely would not have an opportunity to use -- but if I did -- it would cost me $35 per visit

Today I arrived at my gate at SJC (San Jose CA) with hours to spare.
After locating my gate, I planned to find a sit down restaurant.
Low and behold -- across from my gate I saw a sign for The Club.
I entered to inquire.
I showed him my card -- he entered it, said okay.
I've enjoyed some pretty good food and several beverages.
One more hour left until departure -- and I'm thinking this visit would be worth $35 if I am charged.

Anyone familiar with this Program?
 

echino

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Looks like you have a membership with no free visits, you pay for $35 each visit. For $35, you can have access to a lounge, or a set amount for off your restaurant bill, usually $28. Obviously, not a good deal to pay $35 to get $28 off. There are Priority Pass memberships that include free visits (lounges and restaurants), it only makes sense to use those memberships for restaurants.

Edit: it appears you used it in a lounge called The Club? Not a standalone restaurant? Then you paid $35 for entrance, not just got a discount on a bill. It can be a good deal.
 

rickandcindy23

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Awhile ago, I somehow received a free membership to Priority Pass.
I looked at locations and made a mental note that I most likely would not have an opportunity to use -- but if I did -- it would cost me $35 per visit

Today I arrived at my gate at SJC (San Jose CA) with hours to spare.
After locating my gate, I planned to find a sit down restaurant.
Low and behold -- across from my gate I saw a sign for The Club.
I entered to inquire.
I showed him my card -- he entered it, said okay.
I've enjoyed some pretty good food and several beverages.
One more hour left until departure -- and I'm thinking this visit would be worth $35 if I am charged.

Anyone familiar with this Program?
Yeah, very familiar with the program. What card did you show them? What credit card do you have, or were you using a free membership that II offers?
 

b2bailey

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Yeah, very familiar with the program. What card did you show them? What credit card do you have, or were you using a free membership that II offers?
I only showed the card that says Priority Pass.
Must have been free membership through II.
 

mjm1

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We get the Priority Pass by having the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card. Provides free entry for up to 2 people to lounges that participate. It used to provide up to $28 each for certain restaurants, but that benefit recently ended.
 

4TimeAway

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We've used the Hilton Amex Card Priority Pass for access to mid-range lounges. Cabo is good, Athens good, heathrow ok, LAX has zero priroty pass lounges*, Seattle ok, sometimes they are too busy to get into.

Seems like the more exclusive the program the better the lounge.

*-LAX mainly has high end lounges and airline specific. I'm still trying to figure that game out.
 

TolmiePeak

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The big value in priority pass at SeaTac was the $28 restaurant credit. That ended July 1. None of the priority pass lounges that I have been to are worth paying $35 to get into.
 

bobpark56

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The big value in priority pass at SeaTac was the $28 restaurant credit. That ended July 1. None of the priority pass lounges that I have been to are worth paying $35 to get into.
And some even turn you away. We have been turned away twice in Boston. On a 3rd try, the Air France lounge was receptive to our Priority Pass, and we received at least 4-star treatment. But you can't count on Priority Pass have lounges being available. The one at Cancún's terminal 3 closed some time ago and was not replaced.
 

jackio

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The last 2 times we were at MCO, we were waitlisted. We were called within 15 - 20 minutes. We have the card through Chase Sapphire Reserve, so no charge for holder plus 2 guests.
 

rickandcindy23

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The last 2 times we were at MCO, we were waitlisted. We were called within 15 - 20 minutes. We have the card through Chase Sapphire Reserve, so no charge for holder plus 2 guests.
The one we went to at MCO was not great. Just soda and small snacks.

I am hoping to see more options at "The Club" locations around the country.
 

AlmostRetired

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I have free access through the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card for me and a guest. Chase Sapphire is building their own clubs at some airports. They have one at Kennedy and one at LaGuardia. They both offer both food that you get up to take and menus items that they deliver to your table. All drinks are free. A story that is now funny happened 3 weeks ago. My wife and I were flying Delta to Montreal for a 4 night vacation before my wives knee replacement. We got there early enough to have breakfast at the Sapphire Club. 20 minutes before boarding our names were called to come to the gate. We were asked for our passports. When we renewed our passports, we also got passport cards which I thought was good for travel to the Caribbean and Canada. All I took was our passport cards. It was explained that it was only for water and land travel. I was unsuccessful convincing them that air travel to Canada is land travel only a little higher. We did not get on the flight and the next one with availability was not for another 12 hours. We decided to go to Chicago and took an Uber to LaGuardia for a Southwest flight to Chicago that was 3 1/2 hours later. They have a Sapphire Club at LaGuardia so we ate lunch there. They offer have free massages. My wife had one before our flight. The one at JFK has showers. Been to many priority clubs. The both Sapphire Clubs are much much better than any priority clubs I have been to. I called up the Sheraton in Montreal to explain what happened and cancel our reservation. They did not charge us 1 day for the cancellation.
 

Sandy VDH

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I did found out the hard way that the Sapphire club at LGA will only allow you in on departing flights. Our flight was cancelled and they would NOT let us back in at all. We were trying to figure out how to get home, but didn't matter, they didn't care.

But otherwise I like the fact that I get some value out of something that I get for no additional fee. Since I have two free cards, one from Chase SR and one from AMEX Aspire (I think) I do use them. I missed the restaurants that CSR option had until July 1st this year. If they built more CSR lounges I would be happier.
 

silentg

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We got a lounge pass from Aer Lingus on our trip to Ireland. It was a nice perk. We didn’t use it on the flight home because we would have to pay. First time we had one.
 

SteveinHNL

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If they didn't charge your card upon entry, I don't think they are going to charge you at all.
 

PrairieGirl

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If they didn't charge your card upon entry, I don't think they are going to charge you at all.
The lounges themselves have nothing to do with charging for Priority Pass - they can't even tell you how much you will be charged. When you set up your PP account, you link it to a CC which will automatically be charged when then run your Priority Pass card (or app) at a participating lounge.
 

PrairieGirl

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None of the priority pass lounges that I have been to are worth paying $35 to get into.
Then you must try the WestJet lounge in Calgary if you ever get the chance! Priority Pass is a great value there. Lovely setting. Sit down anywhere you like, order off a kiosk right at your seat and food/drink is delivered to you. Promptly. Very nice food offerings (complete meal salads!) and full bar. Yummy desserts.
 

SteveinHNL

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The lounges themselves have nothing to do with charging for Priority Pass - they can't even tell you how much you will be charged. When you set up your PP account, you link it to a CC which will automatically be charged when then run your Priority Pass card (or app) at a participating lounge.
This is interesting to know. I used to have PP through my Chase reserve card and there were no costs. I gave up that card when LAX stopped having any PP options.
 

PrairieGirl

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This is interesting to know. I used to have PP through my Chase reserve card and there were no costs. I gave up that card when LAX stopped having any PP options.
Yes, depending on how you have Priority Pass, the costs are different. Yours was free due to your CC affiliation and mine was $35/visit (through II). Others may have a different amount attached depending on how they acquired PP privileges. So it makes total sense that the individual lounges don't want to keep track of this.
 
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