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StumbleUS Airways closing McCarran club lounge; only two remain
Lounging around: Michael Marks of Cleveland works with his wife, Debbie, in the Continental Airlines’ Presidents Club at McCarran International Airport on July 20.
Fri, Jul 24, 2009 (3 a.m.)
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US Airways is closing its airline club lounge at McCarran International Airport, leaving only two of the hideaways that are considered a perk for loyal customers.
The airline, which in the last year has reduced capacity and shut down its night-hub operation in Las Vegas, will close the doors of US Airways Club on Sept. 13.
The announcement was part of a sweeping cost-cutting measure disclosed last week. The airline will lay off 600 employees systemwide, scale back staff at the US Airways Club at its Phoenix hub and close its only off-airport ticket counter.
The closure leaves only Continental Airlines’ Presidents Club lounge in the D gates and a lounge operated by McCarran in Terminal 2 on behalf of several international carriers.
An aviation expert doesn’t view the closure of the club as an industry trend, and he wasn’t surprised by the airline’s decision.
“I think fewer people are using club rooms because there’s so much more to do on the concourses,” said Mike Boyd of Evergreen, Colo.-based Boyd Group International. “Besides, why would you need a club in Las Vegas? Las Vegas is one big club.”
A number of airports, including McCarran, have abundant shops and restaurants in their concourses. Some airlines, such as Southwest, that don’t have clubs have set up computer workstations and chargers for passengers in their gate areas.
Boyd said airlines developed clubs as a perk for their best customers. They’re quieter than gates and are an ideal location to check e-mail, have a snack or drink or just wait for a connecting flight.
But the biggest benefit, he said, is that members can get one-on-one attention for itinerary changes or other customer service.
“Typically, the people that staff these clubs are the company’s A team,” he said.
Boyd said he doesn’t expect US Airways to suffer any public perception problems as a result of closing its club. Delta Air Lines, he said, recently closed its club at Denver International Airport with little fanfare.
A McCarran spokesman said in addition to being a revenue source for the airport, clubs are viewed as an amenity that better serves passengers waiting for flights or connecting to another destination.
Chris Jones, a McCarran spokesman, said operators of lounges pay a standard rent of $81.13 per square foot per year, a rate that took effect this month.
The soon-to-be-closed US Airways Club, located on the mezzanine above the ticket counters, is open from 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Unlike many airline clubs nationwide, the US Airways Club at McCarran has no conference rooms, and it’s outside the airport’s secure area, meaning that customers who use it have to be rescreened to get to connecting flights.
Because US Airways has de-emphasized Las Vegas as a hub in recent months, the need for a top-line club here has waned.
US Airways has clubs in its Charlotte, N.C.; Philadelphia; and Phoenix hubs and in 10 airports, including Los Angeles International, New York’s LaGuardia Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The three hubs have three clubs apiece.
US Airways is among the carriers suffering from a downturn in business travel, and the airline has cut flights — and employees — to survive.
Most of the 600 layoffs announced last week included ground jobs, but the airline has asked 400 flight attendants to take furloughs to avoid further layoffs. The company delivered 340 pink slips to customer service agents across the country and announced contractors would be used for ramp service work at airports served primarily by its commuter partner, US Airways Express.
The airline closed its only off-airport ticket counter at its headquarters in Tempe, Ariz.
US Airways hasn’t disclosed how many employees have been cut in Las Vegas, but laid off about 60 in February at McCarran.
One of the airport’s remaining two clubs, Continental’s, opened last year.
Continental Airlines’ Presidents Club is one of 23 across the country, according to the airline’s Web site. The airline has five clubs at its Houston Intercontinental Airport hub and three at its international gateway at Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J.
The McCarran club is on the third floor above Gates 33 and 35 on the D concourse. It’s open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Annual membership fees range from $325 to $425, depending on how frequently a customer flies. Daily memberships can be purchased for $45.
“The new facility at Las Vegas offers a great view of the city as well as the rest of the airport,” Continental spokeswoman Mary Clark said.
Clark said the club has computer workstations, complimentary alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, snacks, newspapers and magazines. Personnel are available to book travel and answer questions.
Continental’s relationship with other airlines may enable customers of other carriers to use Presidents Clubs worldwide. But the airline is on the verge of changing its alliance.
Currently, Continental is a part of the SkyTeam Alliance of Aeromexico, Delta, Northwest, Korean Air, Aeroflot, Air France, Alitalia, China Southern, Czech and KLM Royal Dutch.
Clark said Continental will leave that alliance Oct. 24 and join the Star Alliance, which includes United, US Airways, Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, All Nippon, Asiana, Austrian, British Midland, Egyptair, LOT, Lufthansa, SAS, Shanghai, Singapore, South African, Spanair, Swiss, TAP, Thai and Turkish Airlines.
McCarran’s Jones said the Clark County Aviation Department owns the Terminal 2 lounge in the part of the airport that primarily serves international and charter airlines. A third-party operator manages the Terminal 2 lounge and tracks who uses the facility, billing carriers such as Virgin Atlantic, Korean Air and Lufthansa subsidiary Condor Flugdienst on a per-passenger basis.
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clearly passenger numbers are dropping or perhaps the quality of them are...
"I think fewer people are using club rooms because there's so much more to do on the concourses," said Mike Boyd of Evergreen, Colo.-based Boyd Group International. "Besides, why would you need a club in Las Vegas? Las Vegas is one big club." Ever think of the high and I mean very high prices for food and whatever at the airport.
I use the Continental Club at McCarran and enjoy the food, drinks and ability to check my flight status or change it one on one with a professional. The peace and quiet helps also. For the price I pay (I am allowed two guests) for belonging I get my return in 4 or 5 visits to the club per year. When flights are delayed the best place to get results is the club.
More people for the unemployment line.
another day, another story of how this town is coming undone.
too many americans out of work, and the "evil rich people" are not human ATM machines for you liberals.
Yep, another indicator of the declining economy and how it's been handled by our Government. Maybe the government will take the club over and appoint a CZAR to oversee it.
I love how Richard could not find one US AIR Club Member to provide real truths to this story. What an easy thing to write, lets just rewrite the US Air press release and make it our own.
Fact is that US Airways claims that the club was closed due to the location not being inside of the security gates which led to the decreased customer amounts. In every other club location they are inside of the security gates at each airport, so when you have a layover you can easily meet in the club.
US Airways has turned their back on Vegas. How much support did McCarron provide to them over the years as America West and now the "improved" US Airways? I hope that McCarron was not demanding higher rent which makes these decisions so much easier for the airlines.
I am a Club Member, as I am a Platinum Member based in Vegas. This club provides the best service and has had to deal with having the least amount of amenities of other clubs. They have a club at LAX - how many US Airways flights go out of LAX vs Las Vegas? No comparison, however with their reducing the Vegas flights it is getting closer. So they keep LAX open and close Vegas? Of course, these are facts that could have been researched to really ask yourself deeper questions of why.
How do you jump for joy and believe the LVCVA bull about British Airways coming to town, there fore justifying their international spending. They are bringing - what 300 pax to town a day. Take away all of the US Airways flights - this BA flight does not make a dent in what US Airways took from Vegas. Where was the LVCVA on domestic airline support spending - obviously they could not convince the #1-2 ranked air carrier into the city to stay with their volume.
US Airways takes away direct service to how many markets that we had a year ago? Where is this story and the loss of these seats? Sorry it does not come wrapped up in a blanket for you to write.
US Airways really could care less about Vegas and the bleeding continues. With stories like this that do not really dive into one of the largest contributing factors to the decline in ability to fill guest rooms now and into the future.
So for every story we build to support a 300 seat flight coming into the city - a story that talks about losing non stop service to JFK, ATL and other cities should be written.
How do you fill 10,000 more guest rooms - when they take away more and more flights and the services that support the business traveler.
By the way - ask anyone in hotel sales in town - the Obama remark hurt bookings. So stop with the comments that it did not. Come and sit in one our hotel meetings to learn facts.