Priority Pass is the largest independent airport lounge network in the world, with roughly 700 affiliate lounges. Rather than purchasing lounge access with an airline directly, this is a way to have quite a few options globally without restricting yourself to one airline. The catch is that the major US lounge networks — American Admirals Clubs, Delta Sky Club®, and United Clubs — don’t participate in Priority Pass.
Several cards offer Priority Pass™ memberships just for being a cardmember, including the following:
- The Citi Prestige® Card: comes with Priority Pass access for the cardmember and up to two guests or immediate family
- American Express Platinum Card®: comes with Priority Pass access for the cardmember (Enrollment required)
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: comes with Priority Pass access for the cardmember (Enrollment required)
Personally, I love the benefit of The Citi Prestige® Card, as you can bring in two guests at no additional cost, so that’s my “primary” way of accessing Priority Pass lounges nowadays.
Anyway, Priority Pass is constantly adding new lounges, and they added three new lounges in the US in August which I think are worth specifically pointing out. Priority Pass members now have access to the following three Air France lounges in the US:
- Air France Lounge New York JFK, Terminal 1 (open daily 6AM until 2AM)
- Air France Lounge San Francisco, Concourse A (open daily 8:30AM until 8:30PM)
- Air France Lounge Washington Dulles, Concourse A (open daily 10:30AM until 10PM)
I’d say these are some pretty exciting additions:
- The Air France Lounge JFK was just recently renovated, and looks like the nicest business class lounge in Terminal 1, which is a terminal used by dozens of non-US carriers (it looks much better than the Korean Air Lounge, one of the other Priority Pass options in the terminal).
- The Air France Lounge San Francisco is the only Priority Pass lounge at the entire airport; it’s especially convenient for those traveling out of the A Concourse, which is used by several non-US carriers.
- The Air France Lounge Washington Dulles complements the British Airways Galleries Lounge, which also belongs to Priority Pass; the catch is that the British Airways Lounge only gives Priority Pass cardmembers access between 7AM and 2PM, making this a great option for afternoons.
The Air France Lounge Terminal 1 JFK will be a great addition to Priority Pass
Bottom line
The strength of Priority Pass seems to be the volume of lounges they have, as opposed to the quality. In this case we’re seeing three great US lounges added, which will in many case be the best options even for those who would otherwise have lounge access.
Do you plan on using any of the Air France lounges which have just joined Priority Pass?
(Tip of the hat to Points, Miles & Martinis)
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