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Policies change, The conditions change unilaterally and the injured party are the users, this is the new sapada of the credit cards to enter the VIP rooms.
Before starting with my opinion, It is worth pointing out that what I analyze in this post comes directly from the decision of the issuing banks of the credit cards and it is not a decision directly made by the operators of the different VIP rooms.
With this background, in this opinion column, Let's review the recent changes that several, and I could say that the vast majority of banks and their credit cards have implemented, at the expense of our experience.
Elimination of credit cards with entry to VIP rooms
Days ago I published on my social networks the notification from the bank where they informed me, for the first time, the new conditions of use of free passes for national VIP rooms, This generated a wave of reactions on all my social platforms that I didn't think would have such a wide reach in the community..
Again, @BancoPichincha makes it harder to love your credit cards. Via email they reported that they updated requirements to enter national VIP rooms: you must consume $600 or more monthly on average with TC to be able to have 6 income per year, otherwise, you will pay $27 plus VAT pic.twitter.com/CJOP0F1HU1
— Nicholas Larenas ✈️ (@n_larenas) February 19, 2025
That was the publication, quite simple and direct: The conditions have changed and it is becoming more difficult to use the benefits for which one chose one or another credit card..
What is the problem? In my case, I'm going with my current Black card for one 8 years and the main benefit it had was the reason for me to accept this document, were access to the VIP rooms with 6 annual passes that taking into account my several trips a year, It was very convenient to rest, work and eat something while I wait for my flight to leave. Ojo, there were no consumption restrictions, you just had to be strategic to use them wisely and don't forget how many you had used.
However, Not all comments were supportive or empathetic toward my fair claim., It is also important to indicate that the implementation of the monthly consumption requirement has been implemented little by little and without warning., That's why many of us were surprised after traveling that they charged us for access to any VIP in the world..
The comments, some even defending the banks and their freedom to change policies at their clear convenience and others saying why am I complaining if "you only have to consume $600 monthly" and voila you will have free access or that if I do not consume more than that monthly value I should not be considered a VIP. The debate also led to the fact that the VIP rooms are becoming less and less exclusive because they are full and the glamor has been lost.
I understand all the different points of view, but there is something that is wrong and that is that in addition to requiring a minimum expense with TC, They continue to charge us an annual fee for being part of the card and its benefits plan, that clearly have less and less good. Let us add that in the case of Banco Pichincha, now you also have to pay money to exchange air tickets, It wasn't like that before, You see how we continue to receive less benefits by paying and spending more.
For some consume $600 It can be little or normal, but I'm sure that for most it is a lot, and I include myself in this list, since if before the minimum of $400 it seemed excessive to me, Let's not say now that they raised the value again and it goes far beyond what is beneficial for me..
Now comes the point of how we see ourselves as passengers and it is assumed that if we do not spend a lot of money with our cards we are not VIP, That is a stereotype and yes the banks filled the country with Black cards or higher, leading to the rooms being filled more than our standard deserves., that's not our problem, but from the banks, But this does not mean we should "pay a premium" for those of us who are paying for a product with supposed exclusive benefits..
Of course, There are VIP rooms whose services are not the best or others that are always full, but if we pay and hire the TCs for something, Shouldn't we receive it without additional and arbitrary conditions?
I just wanted to talk a little more about this situation that is not exclusive to one bank and many have told me that their cards have also changed, but there are others that remain firmly in what they offer to their clients and that is how it should be, do not seek to make us distance ourselves or get angry because of the changes, otherwise, improve profits, otherwise, I just kept my debit card forever and paid Priority Pass.
What do you think of these changes?? How are you doing with your credit card and VIP access?? Tell me your experience in the comments.
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