P.F. Chang’s inside Los Angeles International Airport’s (LAX) Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) has reportedly decided to leave the Priority Pass program.
According to The Flight Brothers, “while an official announcement from either party hasn’t been released, we were told by staff today that October 25th is the last day Priority Pass will be accepted.”
They report management was “displeased with Priority Pass support and reimbursement.”
I personally never visited the P.F. Chang’s at TBIT — but know frequent LAX travelers who did and aren’t happy with the news.
This is the second LAX restaurant participating in the Priority Pass program to leave the program.
What’s Going On with Priority Pass Restaurants?
American Express dumped the restaurant benefit from the Priority Pass Select membership it gave Platinum Card® from American Express and Business Platinum Card® from American Express members.
Several other credit cards, though, still include restaurant benefits with their Priority Pass Select memberships.
Personally, I’ve enjoyed several meals thanks to my Priority Pass benefits — especially the MSP Ike’s (RIP).
If payment to restaurants is an issue, I sincerely hope Priority Pass gets those issues resolved — and fast. Fleeing vendors certainly don’t increase a product’s worth or reputation.
As patrons, I certainly hope Priority Pass diners were tipping servers and bartenders. Just a guess, but non-tipping could persuade restaurants to not participate in the program.
— Chris
H/T: Larry and Bob
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It’s a shame if/when Priority Pass restaurants bow out because (many) PP members are too cheap to tip. Anyone who receives $28 worth of free food and beverages should be more than willing to tip $5+ for the privilege. Simple math, common courtesy, and basic decency.
This one would be a blow for me, as this is my second-most used restaurant in the program. I can anecdotally say that staff were accepting the card outside of posted hours (at least slightly), but I can’t speak to tips. If a required gratuity were added to minimize/resolve this issue (for all PP restaurants in the USA) this is the one time I’d be supportive of that.
Every time I was there I was brought to the back of the restaurant, 6 miles from nowhere, along with all the other PP members. It was kinda funny, all these tables of 1 and 2 people, occasionally 4, all of us corralled in the area near the kitchen . They thought so highly of us that they often turned the lights down in this section. Oh well, wasn’t too fond of their stuff anyway. Oh, and I always left a $10.
The food was absolute trash on a plate- but the bartenders were among the best!