Thread: American Express airport lounge program vs Priority Pass?

I have been deliberating between getting a Platinum card or Priority Pass. I could not believe that the American Express airport lounge offered a few very distinct advantages at nearly the same price. The unlimited plan for the Priority Pass is $399 vs $450 for the American Express card. For $50 more there is $200 in coverage for airline incidentals "The $200 Airline Fee Credit can apply to fees such as baggage fees, flight change fees, in-flight food and airport lounge day passes"

Now I do get that the Priority Pass has a slightly greater number of participating airport lounges but when one takes into account the $200 fee that would be enough to pay for several day passes at non-participating lounges. I have discovered that there are many airports that have no lounges offering Priority Pass club access like Miami.

Contrasted to the American Express airport lounge program that offers access to Delta, US Airways, and American Airlines lounges if a ticketed passenger on the given airline. If not a day pass could be purchased and the price offset using the $200 for incidentals.

Am I right to conclude that the American Express airport lounge access would be a better option considering the comparable price and the fact I would be receiving all the additional cardmember benefits from American Express?

For what it's worth I concluded the Amex platinum is a better deal although there are a lot more restrictions on lounge usage. I mostly travel United and their lounges are not in the program. But I can use US Airways lounges without a ticket. And the $200 credit offsets the $450 fee. Plus I have had to pay for Hertz #1 gold and that is included. So, if you only use the lounge access and get the $200 returned in baggage fees you'll only be out $25 over having just the gold Amex. That seems like a good deal.

I stumbled on to this site after searching for info on my new AmEx Gold... lots of good info here!!

I thought I read that the Platinum card gives you priority pass, is that not true? Does if give you a totally unique program? Just looking for clarification. Thanks!!

Originally Posted by angryslav

I stumbled on to this site after searching for info on my new AmEx Gold... lots of good info here!!

I thought I read that the Platinum card gives you priority pass, is that not true? Does if give you a totally unique program? Just looking for clarification. Thanks!!

Platinum gives you Priority Pass Select. That excludes United lounges for instance starting in October. Priority Pass Select will get you into many international lounges. The platinum card plus a same-day ticket gets you into Delta lounges. Platinum by itself works for US Airways

Depends, do you fly on continental? It seems like somebody has been doing his homework. and mentioned that another airline wont be letting people in the lounges with your platinum.

Originally Posted by Money card

Depends, do you fly on continental? It seems like somebody has been doing his homework. and mentioned that another airline wont be letting people in the lounges with your platinum.

Right, United bought Continental so very soon most of the rules that apply to United also apply to Continental.

Doing your homework is the united situation like continental, where chase and American express got into a fight did chase team up with united? Chase has a conti. 1 pass priority.
I know on the conti. chase 1 pass priority are doing business and leaving American express out. is United teaming up with Chase?

I do most of my personal travel on United (2-3 trips a year) and I basically split my business travel between US Air and AA (with the occasional trip on DL) getting me typically no more than 25k FF miles on both US Air (which I send to my United acct) and AA... and looking back up at the original post I may be just fine with those three airlines... the pity would be no club access on personal travel.

If you are interested in learning more about the Platinum Card, you may wish to check out CreditCardForum's in-depth review which includes a generous sponsored promotion for new signups. Here is the link: American Express Platinum Card Review

-CCG

I use my $200 airline credit and bought two one day passes to use in United lounges. They were on sale so they were only $78 which got credited back immediately on my statement. Yes, now you also get a free $400 value, Priority Pass. The $450 fee is already a wash.