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Airlines encourage travelers to purchase club day passes in advance, radio host Abrams says. But they often go unused -- for example, when a lengthy security line drains a passenger's time or when a flight delay turns a long layover into a mad dash for a connecting plane.As a result, you'll find plenty of passes on eBay, for discounts of up to 20%.
Shop around
Thanks to partnership agreements among airlines, your ticket on one may enable you to enter the club of another, says Susan Foster, the author of "Smart Packing for Today's Traveler."Passengers on Northwest, for example, also can enter Continental and Delta lounges. Even better, Delta allows travelers to purchase $25 day passes to its clubs no matter what airline they are flying. Compared with other airlines' prices of $40 to $50, that's a savings of at least 38%.
Assess before paying
"Clubs can get busy, especially at the airport hubs," Trippler says. "Sometimes you can barely find a place to sit."Before you pay for a pass, take a quick look around the club to ensure that you can get what you want out of your visit, whether that's a quiet place to relax or a free computer to check your e-mail.
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What you'll find in each club varies from location to location, as well as from airline to airline. Here's a rundown of what major U.S. airlines offer:
| Club | Locations | Club features | Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
American Airlines: Admirals' Club | At 37 airports worldwide. Free access to the lounges of partner Qantas. | Every club: snacks, nonalcoholic drinks, periodicals, fax machines* and computers. Select clubs: alcoholic drinks, showers, kids' playrooms, smoking areas, Wi-Fi*, conference rooms* and dining*. | $250 to $400, or 35,000 to 60,000 miles annually depending on your frequent-flier level. New members pay a $50 or 10,000-mile initiation fee. A day pass is $50. |
Continental Airlines: Presidents Club | At 27 airports worldwide. Free access to the lounges of SkyTeam partners Delta and Northwest. | Every club: snacks, drinks (including alcohol), periodicals, local phone calls, fax machines*, Wi-Fi and computers. Select clubs: conference rooms*. | $275 to $375 annually, depending on your frequent-flier level. New members pay a $50 initiation fee. Day passes are $45 each or $350 for a 10-pack. |
Delta Air Lines: Crown Room Clubs | At 34 airports worldwide. Free access to the lounges of SkyTeam partners Continental and Northwest. | Every club: snacks, drinks (including alcohol), periodicals, local phone calls, fax machines*, Wi-Fi and computers. Select clubs: conference rooms* and putting greens. | $125 to $400, or 40,000 to 70,000 miles annually depending on your frequent-flier level. New members pay a $50 or 10,000-mile initiation fee. A day pass is $25. |
Northwest Airlines: WorldClubs | At 18 airports worldwide. Free access to the lounges of SkyTeam partners Continental and Delta. | Every club: snacks, drinks (including alcohol), Wi-Fi, periodicals, fax machines* and computers. Select clubs: conference rooms*. | $250 to $400 annually, depending on your frequent-flier level. New members pay a $50 initiation fee. Day passes are $45 each or $85 for a 60-day trial. |
United Airlines: United Red Carpet Club | At 34 airports worldwide. Free access to the clubs of StarAlliance airlines (including US Airways). | Every club: snacks, drinks (including alcohol*), local phone calls, Wi-Fi*, periodicals, fax machines* and computers. Select clubs: conference rooms*. | $300 to $500, or 40,000 to 70,000 miles annually depending on your frequent-flier level. A day pass is $50. |
US Airways: US Airways Club | At 16 airports worldwide. | Every club: snacks, drinks (including alcohol*), fax machines*, periodicals and computers. Select clubs: conference rooms*, Wi-Fi* and dining*. | $315 to $390 annually, depending on your frequent-flier level. Travelers can add membership to the United Red Carpet Club for $120 and Star Alliance lounges for $100. A day pass is $40. |
*Airline club charges a fee for this perk.
Video on MSN Money
Getting bumpedMissing your flight because it's overbooked is no way to start a trip. Here's how you can keep it from happening to you -- and what to do if it does happen.
This article was reported and written by Kelli B. Grant of SmartMoney.
Published July 24, 2007
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