New US Air Club Fees Disadvantage Global Travelers
US Airways this week will transition to a tiered airport club membership fee structure that charges customers more for reciprocal access to airport clubs operated by partner carriers. US Airways will become only the second U.S. airline to implement a tiered airport club program.
Most other major U.S. carriers that have airport club affiliations with other airlines do not charge extra for access. America West Airlines is the exception. It levies higher fees for those who want access to Northwest Airlines clubs, in addition to its own club locations in Las Vegas and Phoenix.
For US Airways, the least expensive option, which actually will cost less than the current membership fee, provides access only to US Airways 24 clubs in 19 domestic airports and one club at London Gatwick Airport. The next tier adds 44 networkwide Red Carpet Clubs operated by US Airways partner United Airlines, and the top tier encompasses all US Airways, United and roughly 500 affiliated Star Alliance airport lounges. US Airways expects to officially join Star this spring.
"We have historically priced the clubs with a one-size-fits-all approach, offering only one product. However, many customers have told us that their travel does not require access beyond the network of the US Airways Club," said B. Ben Baldanza, US Airways senior vice president of marketing and revenue management. "Offering a club product with different benefits and tailored pricing allows us to give our customers the selection they want at prices that reflect the value of each product, resulting in a lower price for 95 percent of our customers."
Annual fee levels will vary, depending on a customer's frequent flyer status. For base level program members, the lowest tier of airport club access will be $375, $75 less than current levels and on par with 2002 prices. Tacking on access to United's clubs will cost an additional $120—or $45 more than the 2003 price—while full US Airways/United/Star Alliance club access will cost an extra $220.
Unlike US Airways, United's airport club program bases membership fees solely on frequent flyer status. Reciprocal privileges automatically are extended to members flying on partner airlines and using partner clubs. As a result, United customers benefit more from the United-US Airways airport club reciprocity than US Airways customers, who have to pay extra for such reciprocal privileges. That fact is contrary to US Airways' repeated assertions that reciprocal club access with partner airlines is "an added customer benefit." Current US Airways club members, however, still can make use of United's clubs through Sept. 1.
In other airport club news, Delta and United last month ended their reciprocal program.
Meanwhile, several airlines now are adding wireless Internet connectivity to their airport lounges. Continental Airlines said it will add the feature to all 28 of its locations by year-end, and both British Airways and Iberia said they will begin deploying it in their clubs starting next month. Virgin Atlantic Airways' new New York JFK club, which opened last month, also offers wireless Internet access.