Cheap Ways to Get Into an Airline Club

Forgo annual membership

For most travelers, the annual fee just isn't worth it, says Trippler. You'd have to visit United Airlines' Red Carpet Club more than 10 times each year to get a better per-visit rate on the $500 fee than you would buying individual $50 day passes. That means being loyal to United — even members can't get into the club without a valid ticket from the sponsoring airline. A day pass should only set you back $25 to $50.

Check your wallet...

Its contents — and not just those in the cash compartment — may be the key to getting you in for free, says Abrams. Lounge access is a common benefit for platinum cards. The $395 annual fee for an American Express Platinum, for example, includes complimentary access for cardholders to the clubs of Continental, Delta and Northwest.

...And your ticket, too

All airlines offer free club access to passengers traveling in first or business class on an international flight.

Negotiate

If you're getting bumped, or volunteering to give up your seat, ask for access to the airline club as part of your compensation, Trippler suggests. "Sure, I'll take the airline voucher, but if the next flight doesn't leave for a few hours, I'll need a day pass to your club," he says.

Head to eBay

Airlines encourage travelers to purchase club day passes in advance, says Abrams. But they can often go unused. (Say, if a long security line may drain your time before boarding, or a delay turns that long layover into a mad dash for a connecting plane.) As a result, you'll find plenty on eBay, for discounts of up to 20%. A pair of United Airlines passes sold for $86 — a 14% discount off the $100 face value.

Shop around

Thanks to partnership agreements among airlines, your ticket on one may enable you to enter the club of another, says Susan Foster, author of "Smart Packing for Today's Traveler." Northwest Airlines passengers, for example, can also 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," says Trippler. "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 email.

Club Details
Airline	Locations	Club Features	Costs
American Airlines Admirals' Club	At 37 airports world-wide. Free access to the lounges of partner Qantas.	Every club: Snacks, nonalcoholic drinks, periodicals, fax machines* and computers. Select clubs: Alcoholic drinks, showers, kids' play rooms, 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 initiation fee.) Buy a day pass for $50.
Continental Airlines Presidents Club	At 27 airports world-wide. 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.) Buy a day pass for $45 each or 10-packs for $350.
Delta Airlines Crown Room Clubs	At 34 airports world-wide. 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*, 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 initiation fee.) Buy a day pass for $25 each.
Northwest Airlines WorldClubs	At 18 airports world-wide. 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.) Buy a day pass for $45 each or a 60-day trial for $85.
United Airlines Red Carpet Club	At 34 airports world-wide. Free access to the clubs of StarAlliance airlines (including U.S. 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. Buy a day pass for $50 each.
US Airways US Airways Club	At 16 airports world-wide.	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. Add on membership to United Red Carpet Club for $120 and Star Alliance lounges for $100. Buy a day pass for $40 each.

Source: Individual airlines. * Airline club charges a fee for this perk.

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