I really don’t care to discuss on this blog whether polygamy, polyamory, or any sort of plural relationship is good or bad. But I do sense society is changing and such arrangements will one day be protected by law, even in the United States. That presents fascinating implications for travel.
Yesterday Ben and I were at the Saudia counter in Dubai checking in for our flights back to LA and I noticed a man followed by four women and a herd of children checking in next to us. I joked that either his older girls were already covering up or he brought all his wives along.
As it turned out, the four woman in burkas were his wives. They arrived at the lounge just before us and the man was forced to speak English since he was dealing with a Filipino lounge attendant.
“I can’t bring my wives in?” he asked.
It appeared he was flying in business class and the rest of his family was in economy class. He was told no and issued instructions to them to wait outside.
Polygamy is legal in 58 nations. Almost every one of these nations is predominantly Muslim or recognizes polygamous relationships only for Muslims.
But support for polygamy (or perhaps polyamory is the better term) is at an all-time high in the USA and without wading too deep into the legal thicket, laws proscribing such behavior are on shaky constitutional grounds in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s conception of marriage.
How would a changing legal view of plural marriage implicate lounge access?
The big three legacy carriers in the USA have the following lounge access guidelines for family access:
- American Airlines
Immediate family (spouse, domestic partner and/or children under 18) or up to 2 guests.
- Delta Air Lines
Members with an Individual Membership may access Delta Sky Club with up to 2 guests or immediate family (spouse or domestic partner and children under 21 years of age)
- United Airlines
United Club members may bring their spouse and dependent children under 21, or up to two guests, into any United Club location. Members must accompany their family and guests during their United Club visit.
All three assume a single spouse. You can bet that there will be protest if a woman with four husbands or a man with four wives is limited to two guests.
How would a changing legal view of plural marriage implicate other aspects of travel?
Plural marriage could implicate lifetime companion benefits, elite perks, upgrade priority, and reserved seating. Will it be a relatively easy transition or will airlines fight it since there is greater capacity to game the system under such a relational arrangement?
CONCLUSION
The point is not that any sort of radical change will occur overnight. Rather, the question is how airlines will adopt to changing views of marriage if that civil institution expands beyond two people. The lounge incident yesterday in Dubai has got me thinking about it…
The language of the entrance policy is clear: two adults maximum can be guested per member. The policy doesn’t guarantee access to every primary family member.
The only issue with legal acceptance of plural marriages is division of assets after death or incapacity of spouse. If a woman with four husbands has ten children, does the estate get divided equally after death? What about length of union? How will a judge provide for kids with chronic illnesses vs. healthy ones? Is it fair to divide equally when one of the husbands received more economic assistance during life of marriage? Do the husbands with bigger pensions have to provide for children that are not theirs? List goes on possible nightmare scenarios for the courts. Do tax payers end up covering the costs for family members with expensive medical needs?
Not a big deal. The Airlines can change the access rules to whatever they want to, max of 2 guest, max of 1 wife or whatever.
I was in NRT on a trip with my wife and son. We were all in Business class but I am a OneWorld Emerald which gives me access to the First Class lounges but with only 1 guest. When I checked into the lounge the woman was apologizing for only giving me access to the Business lounge. I did not ask for or expect access to the 1st lounge because I know the rules.
I have an AA Admirals Club membership and the rules have been stretched for me when traveling with my wife, son and mother. But if I was denied access I would understand because that is not within the rules.
It is the airlines club and they make the rules.
I see you’ve been reading comments on Lucky’s article.
@Joemart
The issue is with the word ‘or’. Its a choice between:
A. Immediate family; or
B. Max 2 guests.
Pick one. It doesn’t limit number of maximum member of immediate family.
As for your 2nd paragraph, you need to take a legal degree on those countries which legalizes polygamy to understand how things work. This blog is not the suitable place to discuss it.
@dk
It may not be a big deal, it also may be a big deal. Gender separated toilet can be a big deal. There’s always a possibility….
@James
Yes someone can try to make a big deal out of it. But the club is not a basic right, it is a perk of flying or with most who have access to AA Admirals Club you pay for it. Rule are at the whim of the operator of the club. Look at the AMEX clubs, they just changed the access rules this week.
@dk
There’s a possibility someone would bring the issue to discrimination based on beliefs and/or religion.
I’m not saying that you are wrong. I agree with you lounge owner have absolute discretion. But people have tendency to dispute small things since they’re unable to figure out how to work on big things…..
Matthew, you’ve raised a very interesting issue. To extrapolate a bit, suppose a Muslim man from a country where polygamy is permitted takes a job in a country where polygamy is not permitted and the job comes with health insurance for the employee and family . . . probably already asked and answered, perhaps handled as a one-off by private companies.
How about social matters? Supposed a foreign muslim workers with 3 wives being reported to the police by the neighbour, because the neighbour said it was illegal to have more than 1 wive at a time.
What a gentleman traveling up front in Biz with his 4 wives and kids in the back!! a cheapskate too!!!!If he sprung for Biz for a few of his wives they should have gotten access!!!
Our social security system in america only recognizes up to 4 wives for payments if each married to the worker for at least 10 years!!!