Amex/Priority Club/Priority Pass

[Rono]

Third time lucky..

As a Plat Debit Card holder...I get a Priority Card.
Asking the call centre overseas leaves me confused...

Priority Card has three membership levels..

Priority Pass Standard
Priority Standard Plus ( whatever that means)
Priority Pass Prestige

The Amex website says that my Plat Debit Card entitles me to the Prestige level?

I have three questions...

Has anyone else negotiated this maze/
Can anyone explain the real differences between the three Priority levels
Any recent observations on the quality/availability/distribution of lounges eg Sydney and Brisbane International terminals don't appear to have lounges..

regards

Paul R

 

[TonyHancock]

Priority Pass Standard = $27 per lounge visit
Priority Pass Standard Plus = 10 free visits and after that $27 per lounge visit.
Priority Pass Prestige = All lounge visits are free.

In all cases it costs $27 if you want to take a guest in.

Current access, in Australia, is to the DJ domestic lounges and the UA lounge in the MEL international terminal. There has been some discussion here on AFF of whether DJ will continue to allow priority pass access to its lounges.

I use Priority Pass for arrivals access at the Air Canada lounge at LHR T3.

 

[straitman]

Third time lucky..

As a Plat Debit Card holder...I get a Priority Card.
Asking the call centre overseas leaves me confused...

Priority Card has three membership levels..

Priority Pass Standard
Priority Standard Plus ( whatever that means)
Priority Pass Prestige

The Amex website says that my Plat Debit Card entitles me to the Prestige level?

I have three questions...

Has anyone else negotiated this maze/
Can anyone explain the real differences between the three Priority levels
Any recent observations on the quality/availability/distribution of lounges eg Sydney and Brisbane International terminals don't appear to have lounges..

regards

Paul R

Priority Club is a hotel rewards program associated with the Intercontinental Hotel group.

Priority Pass is a lounge membership that has limited uses in Australia. As an Amex Platinum Charge card holded you get access at the highest level of membership. How the other levels relate I have no idea.

 

[Rono]

Priority Pass Standard = $27 per lounge visit
Priority Pass Standard Plus = 10 free visits and after that $27 per lounge visit.
Priority Pass Prestige = All lounge visits are free.

In all cases it costs $27 if you want to take a guest in.

Current access, in Australia, is to the DJ domestic lounges and the UA lounge in the MEL international terminal. There has been some discussion here on AFF of whether DJ will continue to allow priority pass access to its lounges.

I use Priority Pass for arrivals access at the Air Canada lounge at LHR T3.

Tony, thanks for your prompt reply.....
Question...when I asked this evening, Priority Pass said that they had three lounges at Heathrow...Foredeck at T4, Service Air at T# and Service Air at T1??


How does that fit in with you using Air Canada's lounge??

regards

Paul R

 

[Rono]

Priority Club is a hotel rewards program associated with the Intercontinental Hotel group.

Priority Pass is a lounge membership that has limited uses in Australia. As an Amex Platinum Charge card holded you get access at the highest level of membership. How the other levels relate I have no idea.

Thanks Straitman, its getting a little clearer now..

regards

Paul R

 

[TonyHancock]

Tony, thanks for your prompt reply.....
Question...when I asked this evening, Priority Pass said that they had three lounges at Heathrow...Foredeck at T4, Service Air at T# and Service Air at T1??


How does that fit in with you using Air Canada's lounge??

regards

Paul R

I think the person you spoke to may have been referring to the departure lounges:

T1 - Servisair Lounge
T3 - Servisair Lounge
T4 - 4Deck Lounge

Priority Pass also gives access to the T3 Air Canada Arrivals Lounge.

If you got to prioritypass.com you can see select lounges from the dropdown menu on the left.

 

[Mal]

What is a Plat Debit card? Do you mean a Plat Charge card?


Out of the Plat cards, here are the ones that I know have PriortyPass:
Platinum Reserve Credit Card - 2 free visits for the holder per year. Additional charged at $Us27.
Platinum Charge Card - free yearly membership, unlimited entry, $U27 per guest.

 

[Rono]

What is a Plat Debit card? Do you mean a Plat Charge card?


Out of the Plat cards, here are the ones that I know have PriortyPass:
Platinum Reserve Credit Card - 2 free visits for the holder per year. Additional charged at $Us27.
Platinum Charge Card - free yearly membership, unlimited entry, $U27 per guest.

Mal, thanks for your response.
I apologize for the reference to Plat when I should have said Platinum Debit Card but as the top of my original post hinted, I had tried to post the question several times but my signal strength caused drop outs, so I resorted to the abbreviations.


Re your comments; upon my questioning Amex, I was sent the Priority Club card which I now know is for the hotels side of things, I wanted the airline lounges. I am chasing Priority Pass to see whether I should be getting their card or whether just presenting my Amex card is enough to gain free access.

regards

Paul R

 

[TonyHancock]

I wanted the airline lounges. I am chasing Priority Pass to see whether I should be getting their card or whether just presenting my Amex card is enough to gain free access.

In the US you can present your Platinum Amex Charge Card for entry to some airline lounges. The airlines are listed in the terms and conditions you will have received with the card.

Outside of the US you will need the Priority Pass card.

 

[markis10]

Priority Club is a hotel rewards program associated with the Intercontinental Hotel group.

Priority Pass is a lounge membership that has limited uses in Australia. As an Amex Platinum Charge card holded you get access at the highest level of membership. How the other levels relate I have no idea.

And just to confuse things, you earn Priority Club points purchasing a Priority Pass with your Amex:

Earn up to 6,500 Priority Club points with your first year Priority Pass membership. Join now to enjoy this special offer, exclusively for Priority Club Rewards members only! Priority Club Terms & Conditions apply.
Whichever plan you choose, you can enjoy a stress-free VIP experience with the world's largest independent lounge program.

Standard Membership
This low cost plan is designed for the traveler who wants the security of access when needed with a low annual fee - just US$99. With this special offer, you will receive 1,800 Priority Club points on the first year Priority Pass membership*. Join online today for only US$99! After a visit to a participating lounge a fee of just US$27 per person, per visit is charged to the member's designated payment card.

Annual Fee: Only US$99 Member Visit Fee: US$27 Guest Visit Fee: US$27

Standard Plus Membership
This plan incorporates Standard Membership with 10 member lounge visits included - for an annual fee of just US$249. After the free visits have been used, each visit is charged at US$27 per visit to the member's designated payment card. With this special offer, you will receive 4,000 Priority Club points on the first year Priority Pass membership*. Join online today for only US$249.
Annual Fee: Only US$249
Member Visit Fee: 10 Visits FREE
then US$27 Guest Visit Fee: US$27

Prestige Membership
Designed for the frequent traveler that would prefer to make a one-off payment to gain access to lounges. For as little as US$399 free access to all the participating lounges in the program is available as often as required. With this special offer, you will receive 6,500 Priority Club points on the first year Priority Pass membership*. Join online today for only US$399
Annual Fee: Only US$399 Member Visit Fee: All visits FREE Guest Visit Fee: US$27

 

[Rono]

In the US you can present your Platinum Amex Charge Card for entry to some airline lounges. The airlines are listed in the terms and conditions you will have received with the card.

Outside of the US you will need the Priority Pass card.

Tony, thanks for the heads up, appreciated.

regards

Paul R

 

[Rono]

And just to confuse things, you earn Priority Club points purchasing a Priority Pass with your Amex:

Earn up to 6,500 Priority Club points with your first year Priority Pass membership. Join now to enjoy this special offer, exclusively for Priority Club Rewards members only! Priority Club Terms & Conditions apply.
Whichever plan you choose, you can enjoy a stress-free VIP experience with the world's largest independent lounge program.

Standard Membership
This low cost plan is designed for the traveler who wants the security of access when needed with a low annual fee - just US$99. With this special offer, you will receive 1,800 Priority Club points on the first year Priority Pass membership*. Join online today for only US$99! After a visit to a participating lounge a fee of just US$27 per person, per visit is charged to the member's designated payment card.

Annual Fee: Only US$99 Member Visit Fee: US$27 Guest Visit Fee: US$27

Standard Plus Membership
This plan incorporates Standard Membership with 10 member lounge visits included - for an annual fee of just US$249. After the free visits have been used, each visit is charged at US$27 per visit to the member's designated payment card. With this special offer, you will receive 4,000 Priority Club points on the first year Priority Pass membership*. Join online today for only US$249.
Annual Fee: Only US$249
Member Visit Fee: 10 Visits FREE
then US$27 Guest Visit Fee: US$27

Prestige Membership
Designed for the frequent traveler that would prefer to make a one-off payment to gain access to lounges. For as little as US$399 free access to all the participating lounges in the program is available as often as required. With this special offer, you will receive 6,500 Priority Club points on the first year Priority Pass membership*. Join online today for only US$399
Annual Fee: Only US$399 Member Visit Fee: All visits FREE Guest Visit Fee: US$27

Markis, thanks for the detailed response.

So if I have understood things correctly thus far, should I be expecting to get a Prestige Priority Pass Card free of charge because I am an Amex Platinum Debit Card holder. am waiting for Priority Pass to call me back.

regards

Paul R

 

[TonyHancock]

Markis, thanks for the detailed response.

So if I have understood things correctly thus far, should I be expecting to get a Prestige Priority Pass Card free of charge because I am an Amex Platinum Debit Card holder. am waiting for Priority Pass to call me back.

regards

Paul R

Paul, that is exactly right. Priority Pass is free with the Amex Platinum charge card, and you receive Prestige Membership. (I am assuming that by "debit" card you mean charge card.)

Amex should provide you with the application form that you can fax back or mail out. It took about three weeks from application to receipt of the card for me.

Even as a QF WP I find Priority Pass a useful addition. As mentioned before I use the Air Canada arrivals lounge at LHR T3. I will also be using it on some non Oneworld travel I have in Europe later in the year.

 

[oz_mark]

Markis, thanks for the detailed response.

So if I have understood things correctly thus far, should I be expecting to get a Prestige Priority Pass Card free of charge because I am an Amex Platinum Debit Card holder. am waiting for Priority Pass to call me back.

You are eligible for one, however you have to apply through Amex. There is a form to fill in that you send to Amex.

 

[11sjw]

Priority Pass provides much better coverage overseas than in Oz.

Some lounges in the US are announcing they'll pull out (eg Continental at ATL). However it is handy when flying with airlines that you have no status/lounge membership with. The Premium Lounge in Toronto T1 was OK and definitely beat 1.5hrs waiting in the terminal, the pasta was ok.

Looking forward to trying the lounge in HKG soon.

 

[Rono]

Paul, that is exactly right. Priority Pass is free with the Amex Platinum charge card, and you receive Prestige Membership. (I am assuming that by "debit" card you mean charge card.)

Amex should provide you with the application form that you can fax back or mail out. It took about three weeks from application to receipt of the card for me.

Even as a QF WP I find Priority Pass a useful addition. As mentioned before I use the Air Canada arrivals lounge at LHR T3. I will also be using it on some non Oneworld travel I have in Europe later in the year.

Thanks Tony, the picture is getting clearer by the minute.

regards

Paul R

 

[Rono]

You are eligible for one, however you have to apply through Amex. There is a form to fill in that you send to Amex.

Markis, thanks.

I have rung Amex, they are emailing me a form.
Thanks to the forum here I have found out that my wife as a supplementary Platinum card holder is also entitle to a Priority Pass Prestige card (useful when we travel seperately). Curiously the Amex website says its free for her as well but the Amex staff are saying that they want to charge her a couple hundred $US on a reduced rate??

Getting there bit by bit...

regards

Paul R

 

[TonyHancock]

Markis, thanks.

I have rung Amex, they are emailing me a form.
Thanks to the forum here I have found out that my wife as a supplementary Platinum card holder is also entitle to a Priority Pass Prestige card (useful when we travel seperately). Curiously the Amex website says its free for her as well but the Amex staff are saying that they want to charge her a couple hundred $US on a reduced rate??

Getting there bit by bit...

regards

Paul R

Interestingly Amex seem to be saying that supplementary card holders have to pay a fee for their Priority Pass.

"One complimentary membership per Platinum account, with a reduced membership of USD299 per year available for one Supplementary Platinum Card member per account. Please allow at least 10 working days for your Priority Pass™ Card via post. You will be required to show your Priority Pass Card on entry. Partners and benefits are subject to change without notice."

This is from the terms and conditions in the offer I signed up for last year:

American Express®

 

[Rono]

Interestingly Amex seem to be saying that supplementary card holders have to pay a fee for their Priority Pass.

"One complimentary membership per Platinum account, with a reduced membership of USD299 per year available for one Supplementary Platinum Card member per account. Please allow at least 10 working days for your Priority Pass™ Card via post. You will be required to show your Priority Pass Card on entry. Partners and benefits are subject to change without notice."

This is from the terms and conditions in the offer I signed up for last year:

American Express®

Tony,

I have been told I was looking at overseas Amex websites where the additional complimentary card holder gets the Prestige card for free. In australia, the answer I got is now...

The benefit for your Australian card is that the Priority Pass is complimentary for the Basic Card Member and the Supplementary Card Member is entitled to the benefit at a reduced annual rate of US$249 instead of US$399.

Thanks for your help in this matter Tony..

regards

Paul R

 

[Isochronous]

Priority Pass provides much better coverage overseas than in Oz.

Some lounges in the US are announcing they'll pull out (eg Continental at ATL). However it is handy when flying with airlines that you have no status/lounge membership with. The Premium Lounge in Toronto T1 was OK and definitely beat 1.5hrs waiting in the terminal, the pasta was ok.

Looking forward to trying the lounge in HKG soon.

The HKG lounge is solid. Good lobster crackers from memory.