What Does the Black Card Get You at Planet Fitness
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Spa Day. Two of my favorite words! But usually, spa days cost a lot!
Massages, tanning, beauty treatments: they're all wonderful. And they're all available at a pretty reasonable price at Planet Fitness. America's Gym also has a spa area, only accessible to those who have Planet Fitness Black Card Membership. This membership offers a variety of perks that add up to a pretty extensive spa solution. No, you're not going to find candles and vaguely Asian-style New Age music. But the Black Card offers a lot.
This article is a Planet Fitness Black Card Review. We go through everything you need to know to determine if the Black Card Membership is the right choice for your needs.
Time to Join the Gym
Most people join a gym to lose weight or to maintain their healthy body. However, it's also pretty common that the only thing people lose when they join a gym is their money. The price of gym membership varies from one gym to another. And many gyms also offer a variety of membership options for their clients.
One such gym is Planet Fitness.
They offer no commitment $10 a month membership (as of writing). On top of that, you can add a Black Card Membership, which is more expensive but has a lot of perks. Typically a Black Card membership at Planet Fitness will cost somewhere around $21.99 a month.
The rates may vary from one branch to another because they are owned by franchisees. Some can charge higher and others may charge lower as part of their promotions. Be sure to watch out for a No Commitment promo!
All members get access to the PF App, which provides workout tips, instructions, and the super helpful crowd meter. They get access to all exercise equipment and even some weird perks like tootsie roll and pizza.
What Do You Get With The Black Card Membership?
Unlimited Access To The Gym
The Black Card membership is perfect for those who want full unlimited access to what Planet Fitness has to offer. Planet Fitness is open 24/7 so you can work out whenever you want.
Now there is no excuse to go to the gym!
You get to go whenever it is convenient for you. Best of all, the use of the equipment isn't limited even in the wee hours of the night. Everything is still accessible as long as no one else is using it.
There are different gym amenities available at each gym. For cardio workouts, you can use the treadmills, rowing machines, ellipticals, stair climbers, or bikes. There are also free weights such as benches, dumbells, and squat racks. There are also locker rooms and multiple showers.
Additionally, Planet Fitness has a lot of branches and the Black Card membership allows you to use them all. Most of their branches are found in the United States but there are also some in Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. This makes the gym more accessible while traveling or taking a vacation.
Aside from the 24/7 gym, Black Card membership holders also get a free shirt and a personal trainer for free. Members can either go to the gym and use it on their own or ask help from a trainer so they would know what to do to meet their goals.
If you're new to going to the gym or if you just want some guidance you can choose to have a personal trainer. Don't worry, the personal trainers at Planet Fitness won't charge anything at all. You are free to work with them so you can better accomplish your goal. All you have to do is to fill out a form so that a program can be created for you by a personal trainer.
Spa, Health, and Beauty Options
Aside from gym equipment, Planet Fitness offers a whole lot more. There are massage chairs that you can use to help you relax. These full body massage chairs may be limited in number and you'd have to wait your turn but your body will feel great after using it.
Selected branches also offer several spa options, including massages, tans, light therapy, and even hair cuts and styling. Unfortunately, most Planet Fitness locations don't have a sauna.
The major offerings are:
Planet Fitness HydroMassage
Hydromassage beds and chairs are water-based massagers that give relief to those aching joints and muscles. Glorious massage and heat for your tired body. See our article on Planet Fitness hydromassage beds for more information.
Planet Fitness Tanning
Depending on the branch, Planet Fitness offers tanning beds, tanning booths, and spray tanning. Sweet! The Tanning beds and booths are self-service, but the branches that offer spray tanning require a professional to be there to spray you. See our article on Planet Fitness tanning bed and spray tan options for further details.
Just be aware that for safety reasons, Planet Fitness may limit the amount of time you use the tanning beds. There is an elevated cancer risk from tanning bed use, so be careful of overexposure to the UV rays. Spray tanning is generally a better option.
Beauty Angel Light Therapy
Many Planet Fitness branches offer the remarkable Total Body Enhancement light therapy machines (usually the Beauty Angel RVT30). These units bathe the body in red light. By combining red light therapy and vibration, these machines are designed for both beauty and health. See our article on Planet Fitness Total Body Enhancement for all the details.
Also, keep in mind that tanning and red light therapy together can be a great solution.
Hair Salon Services
Some Planet Fitness Black Card areas even offer hair cuts and salon services. These are obviously not self-service and are only open when the stylist(s) are available. Still, this is a great perk if your PF offers it!
There's no limit in using such facilities and equipment.
Discounts
To add to all the unlimited offers, Black Card membership holders will also get discounts. They can purchase cooler drinks at half the price, although there are restrictions. They also get a 20% discount at Rebook and a 10% discount at pfstore.com.
Black Card Guest Passes
Those with the Black Card membership aren't the only ones who can benefit well from the membership. Members can also share their privileges with one guest per visit provided that the guest stays with the member at all times.
The guest passes will only have access to using the gym equipment. The tanning beds, hydromassage beds, and other free services are typically limited to the member.
Guests should be 18 years old or above and should bring an ID. Children who are 13 years or older may also accompany the Black Card membership holder, but they have to stay with the member at all times and the members should be the parent or guardian of the child. In that way, the Black Card can act as a sort of Planet Fitness Family Plan or pseudo-College Discount.
How to Cancel Planet Fitness Black Card
With all the benefits, perks, and offers that come with the Black Card membership, some still choose to cancel their membership. Whether they prefer another gym, are cutting on expenses, medically unable to use their facility, or prefer to workout at home, canceling the Planet Fitness Black Card Membership is possible.
Unfortunately, canceling the Black Card Membership is a tedious task. Once they have you, they don't want to let go!
Many gym-goers have complained about PF's cancellation process because there are several steps. Aside from that, you might have to pay for a cancelation fee.
We've put together a detailed article on How to Cancel Planet Fitness Membership, which you should refer to if you feel it's time to move on from PF.
Freezing Your Planet Fitness Black Card Membership
If you are planning to cancel your membership but is thinking about getting it back again later, you might want to simply freeze your membership rather than cancel it.
However, you can't just decide to freeze your membership. There must be verified and valid medical reasons. Your physician can recommend how much time off you need. That would be how long your membership will remain frozen. After the recommended amount of time, the membership fees will continue to be charged.
Also, take note that the approval of the medical freeze will still be highly dependent on the discretion of the branch. Different clubs have different policies and rules that they follow so there is still a chance that your request to freeze your membership won't be allowed.
Conclusion
The Planet Fitness Black Card Membership has great perks, and it's not terribly expensive given all of the nice offerings available. It may be worth checking in with your local PF to see what exactly is offered in their Black Card area since the offerings do vary somewhat by location.
What Does the Black Card Get You at Planet Fitness
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