US Airways Awards Elite-Qualifying Miles for Lounge Memberships

Airport lounge memberships are pricey. With annual fees generally in the $450 range, a traveler who uses his lounge access monthly would be paying $37.50 a visit.

While the tranquility may be worth it to some, many would dismiss such an expenditure as an irresponsible extravagance.

Occasionally, discounts and frequent flyer bonuses make lounge memberships a better deal. Case in point: this new bonus-mile promotion from US Airways.

Offer Details

US Airways is offering 3,500 elite-qualifying miles to those who purchase new US Airways Club annual airport lounge memberships, or renew existing memberships, by August 31. Also eligible for the bonus: upgrades from 90-day plans to annual memberships.

Individual memberships are priced at $450 for non-elites, $375 for Silver, Gold, and Platinum elites, and $325 for Chairman's Preferred elites. The 90-day plans cost $120. (Note: Annual membership includes access to all US Airways Clubs, United Red Carpet Clubs, Continental Presidents Clubs, and Star Alliance lounges; 90-day plans only include US Airways' lounges.)

The $50 "enrollment fee" for new memberships is waived with this offer.

To earn the bonus, use promo code CLB35 when enrolling online, calling 1-800-828-8522, or signing up at a US Airways Club.

Deal or No Deal

A 3,500-mile bonus for purchasing a lounge membership is certainly an incentive, albeit a modest one. What gives this offer real heft is that these are elite-qualifying bonus miles. And waiving that nasty $50 fee for new memberships is a definite value-add as well.

This is a solid offer for anyone who considers a US Airways lounge membership a worthwhile expenditure, and who counts elite status with US Airways as a priority.

Reader Reality Check

Do you purchase lounge memberships?

If not, what would it take to convert you? Lower prices? More frequent flyer miles?

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Comments

[MORT]

US AIRWAYS IS A CARRIER THAT I HARDLY EVER FLY DUE TO THE (MY OPINION, OR COURSE,) THE WORST FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAM. I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO USE MY MILES (NOT AN ELITE MEMBER) EVEN FOR FLIGHTS FOR A SHORT DISTANCE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I TRIED TO GO FROM CMH TO LGA (LESS THAN 500 MILES) BUT THEY WANTED 50,000 MILES PER FLIGHT. FUGEDABOUT IT!