American Express (Premium Plaza) Lounge will now require a boarding pass

[upnatem]

You said it complex.

Every lounge is now full of pilots in uniform. It should have been obvious to all what was going to happen.

But how can that be? I thought the ongoing argument was that pilots were all professionals and should be treated that way? Would professionals stoop so low as to try and scam the system just to save a few bucks?

[confusedalot]

You said it complex.

Every lounge is now full of pilots in uniform. It should have been obvious to all what was going to happen.

But how can that be? I thought the ongoing argument was that pilots were all professionals and should be treated that way? Would professionals stoop so low as to try and scam the system just to save a few bucks?

as the politicians say, do you want to hear the truth, or do you want to hear what you want to hear

[godsrcrazy]

I am glad they did this. To be honest it is sicking to hear the way people in their uniform talk. The pilots and F/A have to have some of the most immatureconversations i have ever heard in a Lounge. I have heard people say i hope they aren't flying our airplane.

Good on you AMEX i may even renew my card now.

[Impact]

Good to see they shut down this scam. It was an embarrassment, and frankly, I question the character of those who took advantage of it.

[Tail-Chaser]

Good to see they shut down this scam. It was an embarrassment, and frankly, I question the character of those who took advantage of it.

The scam that people had multiple secondary cards that were never actually getting used for purchases or just the fact that flight crew were using the lounge period?

[Alcoholism]

Guess we know who couldn't afford $700/yr

[Impact]

Good to see they shut down this scam. It was an embarrassment, and frankly, I question the character of those who took advantage of it.

The scam that people had multiple secondary cards that were never actually getting used for purchases or just the fact that flight crew were using the lounge period?

Both, but mostly the latter.

Although I don't claim to know the exact marketing strategy behind the cards benefits, I think we can all agree that it was never intended to be a quasi-crewroom with meals. Common sense and an inkling of character would make this fairly clear. (not to mention it's in the fine print, apparently)

[Tail-Chaser]

If you were arguing against the supplementary card usage then I'd agree with you. I paid full price and had one card though I respectfully disagree with you calling into question the character of anyone who used the lounges. How a business wants to conduct themselves is their choice. They could've enforced the boarding pass policy from the get go but they were happy to have our business until AMEX said enough. I see no issue with going in and having a bite to eat a couple times a month. How is that any different from a frequent business traveller at which the service is marketed to?

[Impact]

.....I see no issue with going in and having a bite to eat a couple times a month. How is that any different from a frequent business traveller at which the service is marketed to?

I think you've answered your own question. It wasn't marketed as a "crew lounge". It was marketed as a business traveller perk. Had AMEX thought they could've made money on the concept of crew lounges, I'm pretty sure they would have opened one in each major airport in North America by now. But alas...they haven't.

The concept that everyone knew this cardholder perkwas being abused, complaining about how it is now changing, and even suggesting that there will now be people out there abusing the standby travel policies just to gain to a hugely discounted meal, only reinforces my opinion that we are no longer professionals.

Question for you. Are you a commuter who travelled standby when you were accessing the lounge?

[Tail-Chaser]

.....I see no issue with going in and having a bite to eat a couple times a month. How is that any different from a frequent business traveller at which the service is marketed to?

I think you've answered your own question. It wasn't marketed as a "crew lounge". It was marketed as a business traveller perk. Had AMEX thought they could've made money on the concept of crew lounges, I'm pretty sure they would have opened one in each major airport in North America by now. But alas...they haven't.

The concept that everyone knew this cardholder perkwas being abused, complaining about how it is now changing, and even suggesting that there will now be people out there abusing the standby travel policies just to gain to a hugely discounted meal, only reinforces my opinion that we are no longer professionals.

Question for you. Are you a commuter who travelled standby when you were accessing the lounge?

What someone is wearing while they're there is irrelevant to me. A cardholder is a cardholder. I had long breaks in between flights while at home base, several hours long, so it made sense to spend some time there.

[dumbbell daddy]

What a joke. Typical cheap pilots.........

[ahramin]

When the ads for this card came up, I read the fine print and it said "Must have a valid boarding pass" so I didn't bother looking any further into it. Now Amex has figured out that the terms they published and everyone agreed to aren't being followed, and insist this ends. I don't see how that would make them a bad company.

[3down&loct]

Most likely this would never have happened if crew members purchased the $699 card instead of trying to screw the system by buying the supp cards. Apparently there were even cases where the primary holder was making profit on the supp cards by selling the for up to $250. So in the end it came down to the sheer volume of aircrew in the lounges. Additionally many aircrew were using the lounge as a free lunch bag fill up even though it was strictly against the rules to consume food outside the lounge. Over the past 6 months I often counted upwards of 40 crew in the lounge at one time. In many cases congregating together and being very loud to the point were I even left a few times because it was annoying. I would hazard to guess that the majority were using supp cards.
Sad to see this happen after paying full dues for the past 5 years.

[infiniteregulus]

I for one commute long distance with long layovers for connecting flights. Whether in uniform or not, or if I pay $1000 or $10 for my ticket, I pay for the card and expect the benefits associated with that purchase. No employee pass travel? Why? Is someone travelling on Expedia or Swoop/ULCC also gonna be banned just cause they pay a low fare?? Heck with all the taxes and airport fees I pay, it's pretty much the same price in the end anyway! I do agree with the bad professionalism displayed by a select few who frequent the lounges. I for one have always worn a light jacket over my uniform anyway to mask my flight-crewness lol. I don't however agree with the crews going in every hour, five times a day to grab a snack like it's a cafeteria or grocery store. A shame really, cause now the odd 4hour break mid-duty is gonna be brutal without being able to sit for a coffee thanks to the abusers!

[montado]

All this said maybe the airlines and airport authorities could do something for flight crew. I guess the airlines don’t want to pay more rent than they have to but if you are not at a base often times you have no where to relax when the airline schedule you for a 3 hour sit. Winnipeg, Edmonton, Ottawa, where do ya go if you don’t have a crew room? If you don’t use the lounge in YWG I guess you hide by the Starbucks. Regional pilots often times sit as much time in airports as they spend flying, an unfortunate reality. I can see why jazz sky encore and Georgian pilots would take advantage of Amex.

Also places like Calgary U.S. side when you’re flight delays a couple hours, do they even have any chairs? They make that place unbearable as a passenger never mind flight crew. Haha being sarcastic of course but really no where to hide so I can see the lure to the lounge pass as flight crew. I think the lounges are going to miss out on a tonne of revenue now that crew won’t be going.

[daedalusx]

Called to cancelled just in time for the 699$ to be refunded. Too bad because I was using it 90% for the coffee ...

[flyinhigh]

When the ads for this card came up, I read the fine print and it said "Must have a valid boarding pass" so I didn't bother looking any further into it. Now Amex has figured out that the terms they published and everyone agreed to aren't being followed, and insist this ends. I don't see how that would make them a bad company.

This is key. They clearly state that you must have a valid boarding pass to access the lounge. Not come in between flights to hangout, curse, yell, argue with others etc.

If you have a boarding card, fill your boots and use it (It does not state stby will not be honoured).

Everytime you use your card, AMEX gets a bill to offset the cost. If you are accessing it against the policies, what do you think will happen. Especially when crews are taking alcohol (yes I watched this happen), food, starting arguments, etc.

I was actually expecting this to happen loooong ago.

[Blue42]

There is no restriction on accessing the PriorityPass lounges with a standby boarding pass. That restriction only applies to the airline lounges that your Amex card allows you entry into.

#10 under the terms and conditions.....

"Airline, airport and and other travel industry employees traveling on reduced rate tickets may not be eligible for access!"

[AOW]

#10 under the terms and conditions.....

"Airline, airport and and other travel industry employees traveling on reduced rate tickets may not be eligible for access!"

Not “shall”.

[complexintentions]

Kinda funny that the top-ranked topic of discussion is about how the ability to scam some shitty free food is now becoming less possible...

Viva l'Aviation Canadienne!

Go Czech Republic!