Your Guide: Can I Use My City Sports Membership At La Fitness

Image Source: mms.businesswire.com

Your Guide: Can I Use My City Sports Membership At La Fitness

No, you cannot directly use your City Sports membership at LA Fitness. City Sports and LA Fitness are separate fitness companies. They have different ownership, different membership systems, and do not share a common membership network. This means your City Sports gym membership reciprocity does not extend to LA Fitness clubs. If you want to work out at an LA Fitness location, you will need to follow their LA Fitness guest pass rules or sign up for a new LA Fitness membership. LA Fitness does not accept other gym memberships from unrelated fitness chains as a form of entry.

Deciphering Gym Membership Access Rules

Gym memberships come with specific rules. These rules decide where and how you can use your membership. Most gyms operate as single entities. This means your membership works only at that gym’s locations.

Grasping Membership Reciprocity

Gym membership reciprocity means you can use your gym membership at more than one location. This usually happens in a few ways:

• Same Gym Chain: If a gym has many branches, like LA Fitness or Planet Fitness, your membership might work at all of them. This is common for national gym chains.
• Special Programs: Some gyms join fitness club affiliation programs. These programs allow members to visit partner gyms. This is rare between large, competing chains.
• Employer or Health Plans: Your workplace or health insurance might offer a fitness benefit. This benefit might let you visit many different gyms.

For City Sports, its membership generally works only at City Sports locations. There is no known direct City Sports gym membership reciprocity with LA Fitness. They are not part of the same network.

What About LA Fitness National Membership Access?

LA Fitness has a national membership system. This means if you have an LA Fitness membership, you can usually visit any LA Fitness club in the country. This feature is often called “national access” or “multi-club access.”

To use this, your LA Fitness membership must be a “multi-club” type. Basic, cheaper memberships might only allow access to one main club. Always check your specific membership agreement. This LA Fitness national membership access is a big benefit for people who travel or move often.

This multi-club access only works for LA Fitness clubs. It does not allow you to use your LA Fitness membership at gyms like City Sports, YMCA, or Gold’s Gym. Each gym chain has its own rules.

Fitness Club Affiliation Programs and Partnerships

Sometimes, different fitness clubs work together. This can happen through special programs. These are often called fitness club affiliation programs or gym chain partnership agreements.

How Do These Programs Work?

These programs let members from one gym use another gym’s facilities. This is not common for direct competitors. It happens more with:

• Smaller, local gyms: They might team up to offer more choices to members.
• Specialized studios: A yoga studio might partner with a spinning studio.
• Third-party fitness networks: These networks are the most common way to get “shared access.”

Examples of Fitness Center Shared Access

Some companies act as a middleman. They offer access to many gyms. You pay one fee to the middleman. Then you can visit different gyms in their network.

Examples include:

• ClassPass: You buy credits. You use these credits for classes or gym time at many different studios and gyms.
• Active&Fit Direct: This program offers access to a large network of gyms for a monthly fee.
• Health Insurance Programs: Many health insurance plans, especially for seniors, offer gym benefits.
  • SilverSneakers: For Medicare members. Offers free access to many gyms, including some LA Fitness locations.
  • Renew Active: Another Medicare program like SilverSneakers.
  • One Pass: A broader wellness program that can include gym access.

It is important to check if City Sports or LA Fitness are part of these specific programs. Your City Sports membership does not automatically grant you access to LA Fitness through these. Instead, your membership to the program itself would give you access to both (if they are in the program).

Examining City Sports and LA Fitness

To grasp why these memberships are separate, it helps to look at each company.

City Sports Gyms

City Sports is a regional gym chain. It mainly operates in certain areas. It offers a range of fitness equipment and classes. Membership costs and features vary by location. City Sports focuses on providing a local community gym experience.

LA Fitness Gyms

LA Fitness is one of the largest gym chains in the United States. It has hundreds of locations across the country and in Canada. LA Fitness clubs are typically large. They offer many amenities:
* Weight training areas
* Cardio machines
* Group fitness classes (Zumba, yoga, spin, etc.)
* Basketball courts
* Racquetball courts
* Swimming pools
* Saunas and whirlpools

LA Fitness aims for a broad appeal. It offers many options under one roof.

Why They Are Separate

These two companies are separate businesses. They compete in the fitness market. They have no formal gym chain partnership agreements between them. This is why a membership to one does not work at the other. It’s like having a membership to one grocery store chain and expecting it to work at a different one.

If You Are a City Sports Member Who Wants to Visit LA Fitness

Since your City Sports membership does not work at LA Fitness, you have other options. These options let you try LA Fitness or join their club.

Exploring LA Fitness Guest Pass Rules

LA Fitness has a guest pass system. This lets non-members visit a club for a short time.

• How it Works: Most LA Fitness clubs offer a free guest pass. This pass usually lets you visit for a few days, often 3 or 5 days. You can try the gym and see if you like it.
• Requirements: You usually need to be a local resident. You must be at least 18 years old, or 16 with a parent. You will need a photo ID. They may ask for contact info.
• Limitations: These passes are for new visitors. You cannot get one every week. There are rules about how often you can get one. They are meant for a one-time trial.
• Online vs. In-Club: You can often get a guest pass from the LA Fitness website. Or you can ask at the front desk of a club.

Using an LA Fitness guest pass is a good way to see what the gym offers. It does not need you to stop your City Sports membership.

Trial Memberships

Sometimes, LA Fitness offers longer trial periods. These are different from a guest pass. A trial membership might last a week or even a month. These often have a small fee. They are good if you want to test the gym more thoroughly.

Joining LA Fitness

If you like LA Fitness, you can sign up for a new membership. This would be separate from your City Sports membership. You would pay a separate fee.

LA Fitness offers different membership tiers.
* Single-Club Access: This is usually the cheapest. It only lets you use one specific LA Fitness club.
* Multi-Club Access: This costs more. It lets you use many or all LA Fitness clubs. This is the LA Fitness national membership access we discussed.

When you join, ask about all fees. There might be an enrollment fee, a monthly fee, and perhaps an annual fee.

Transferring City Sports Membership to LA Fitness: Is It Possible?

People often ask about transferring City Sports membership to LA Fitness. The short answer is no, you cannot directly transfer it. These are two separate companies. They do not have a system to move a membership from one to the other.

What “Transferring” Really Means Here

When you want to go from City Sports to LA Fitness, it means two things:

1. Canceling Your City Sports Membership: You need to follow the rules for canceling your City Sports gym membership. This usually involves giving notice, like 30 days. Check your contract for exact steps and any fees.
2. Joining LA Fitness: You then sign up for a new membership at LA Fitness. This is a new contract with a new company.

You cannot use your City Sports membership value or time toward an LA Fitness membership. They are completely separate.

Can I Use My Gym Membership At Other Locations?

This is a common question for any gym member. The answer depends on your specific gym and your specific membership plan.

Within the Same Gym Chain

Yes, for most large gym chains, you can use your membership at other locations of the same chain.

• Example: LA Fitness: As discussed, many LA Fitness memberships include LA Fitness national membership access. This means you can go to any LA Fitness club. Higher-tier memberships usually offer this. Basic memberships might only allow access to one club.
• Example: Planet Fitness: Most Planet Fitness memberships let you visit other clubs in their network. Their “Black Card” membership specifically offers this benefit.
• Example: 24 Hour Fitness: Similar to LA Fitness, higher-level memberships let you use multiple 24 Hour Fitness locations.

Always check your personal membership agreement. The terms can change.

Across Different Gym Chains

No, you almost never can use your gym membership at a different gym chain. This is the main point for City Sports and LA Fitness. They are competitors. They do not share membership systems.

So, does LA Fitness accept other gym memberships? No, not from other direct gym chains. Their entry system scans LA Fitness membership cards or apps only.

The only exceptions are the third-party fitness programs (like ClassPass or health plan benefits) where you pay a network provider, not the individual gym. Even then, your gym membership itself doesn’t work. It’s the network pass that works.

Multi-Club Gym Membership Benefits

Having a membership that works at many locations can be very helpful. These multi-club gym membership benefits include:

• Convenience: You can work out near home, near work, or while traveling. You are not tied to just one spot.
• Variety: If your gym chain has different types of clubs, you might find different equipment or classes at each.
• No Interruptions: If your usual club closes for repairs or you move, you can easily find another nearby.
• Flexibility: You can choose the club that best fits your schedule each day.

For LA Fitness, their “Signature” or “Premier” level memberships often include this multi-club gym membership benefits feature. For City Sports, access is generally limited to their own clubs.

A Look at Fitness Center Shared Access Options

True fitness center shared access between different gym brands is rare. When it happens, it is usually through a third party.

Corporate Wellness Programs

Many companies offer fitness benefits. They partner with networks of gyms. Employees can use various gyms in the network. If your employer offers such a program, check if both City Sports and LA Fitness are included. This would not be your City Sports membership working at LA Fitness. It would be your corporate wellness program allowing you to access both.

Health Insurance Plans

As mentioned, some health plans, especially for older adults, offer gym benefits.
* Medicare Advantage: Plans like SilverSneakers or Renew Active give members access to many gyms. This might include LA Fitness or City Sports. You would show your program ID, not your gym’s membership card.
* Commercial Health Plans: Some plans, like those from Blue Cross Blue Shield or Aetna, might offer gym discounts or access through programs like Active&Fit.

This is the closest you get to “shared access” between different gym brands. You are not using your City Sports membership at LA Fitness. You are using a separate program that has contracts with both gyms.

The Nuances of Gym Chain Partnership Agreements

Sometimes, gym chains do have agreements. These gym chain partnership agreements are usually for specific purposes.

• Acquisitions: One chain buys another. For example, LA Fitness bought some Bally Total Fitness clubs in the past. After an acquisition, members of the acquired chain might be absorbed into the new one. This is a permanent change, not a partnership for shared access.
• Co-branding: Very rarely, two different brands might share a space or offer a joint product. This is not common in the direct gym membership world.
• Limited Promotions: A gym might run a short-term promotion with a different fitness service, like a specific class or personal training offer. This is not for general membership use.

For City Sports and LA Fitness, no such public gym chain partnership agreements exist for membership sharing. They operate independently.

Important Considerations Before Switching or Joining

If you are thinking about changing gyms or joining a second gym, keep these points in mind:

Review Your Current Contract

• Cancellation Policy: Before you cancel your City Sports membership, read your contract. Look for notice periods (e.g., 30-day notice) and any cancellation fees.
• Billing Cycles: Make sure you cancel before your next billing cycle.

Research the New Gym

• Tour the Facility: Visit the LA Fitness club you plan to join. See if it meets your needs.
• Check Amenities: Does it have the equipment and classes you want?
• Read the Contract: Understand all fees, membership types, and cancellation rules for LA Fitness.
• LA Fitness Guest Pass Rules: Use one to try it out first! This is a great way to test the waters without commitment.

Compare Costs and Benefits

• Membership Fees: Compare the monthly costs.
• Enrollment Fees: Many gyms have a one-time sign-up fee.
• Annual Fees: Some gyms charge a yearly fee.
• Value: Does the new gym offer better value for your fitness goals?

Commute and Location

• Convenience: Is the new gym easy to get to from home or work? This is a big factor for regular gym attendance.

Wrapping Up Your Gym Membership Choices

You cannot use your City Sports membership at LA Fitness. They are distinct companies. Does LA Fitness accept other gym memberships? No, not from rival chains.

Your best path to using LA Fitness, if you are a City Sports member, involves either:

1. Getting an LA Fitness guest pass for a short trial.
2. Joining LA Fitness as a new member, possibly opting for an LA Fitness national membership access plan if you want multi-club gym membership benefits.
3. Exploring if you qualify for fitness center shared access programs through your employer or health insurance, which might include both gyms in their network.

Always remember to check your current gym’s cancellation policy and thoroughly review any new gym’s membership terms. Choosing the right gym means finding one that fits your budget, location, and fitness goals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Can I just show my City Sports card at LA Fitness and get in?
A1: No, you cannot. City Sports and LA Fitness are separate companies. Your City Sports membership card will not work at LA Fitness.

Q2: What is the easiest way for a City Sports member to try LA Fitness?
A2: The easiest way is to get an LA Fitness guest pass. You can usually find these on the LA Fitness website or by visiting a club. These passes let you visit for a few days for free.

Q3: Does LA Fitness offer national access for its members?
A3: Yes, many LA Fitness membership plans offer national access, also known as multi-club access. This allows you to use your LA Fitness membership at any LA Fitness club in the country. Be sure to check your specific membership type.

Q4: Are City Sports and LA Fitness part of the same parent company?
A4: No, City Sports and LA Fitness are owned and operated by different companies. They are not part of the same group or network.

Q5: Can I transfer my City Sports membership balance or time to an LA Fitness membership?
A5: No, you cannot. There is no system to transfer membership value or time between City Sports and LA Fitness. You would need to cancel your City Sports membership and sign up for a new LA Fitness membership.

Q6: Are there any programs that allow me to use both City Sports and LA Fitness?
A6: Your direct City Sports membership does not allow this. However, some third-party fitness programs, like those offered by health insurance plans (e.g., SilverSneakers, Renew Active) or corporate wellness programs, might include both City Sports and LA Fitness in their network. You would use the program’s ID, not your gym’s membership card.

Q7: Does LA Fitness accept gym memberships from other chains if they are part of a partnership?
A7: Generally, LA Fitness does not accept direct gym memberships from other competing chains, even if there are broad gym chain partnership agreements in the fitness industry. True partnerships for shared membership access between direct competitors are rare. Access typically comes from third-party networks, not direct gym-to-gym recognition of memberships.