Review: US Airways Club Tampa

"It smelled like someone just got off an American first class flight where they had the cheesy omelet, went number two, and then died… last year." I am loving the humor, Ben!

Thanks for the review, I'll be trying this lounge in about 4 weeks.

Some of the furniture there is in serious need of update too. Many of those little round tables at the seating area that overlooks the tarmac have chunks of wood veneer missing.

Finding the bartender in early afternoon is frequently a challenge as well.

But all in all, it is a nice oasis at TPA and I hope it stays.

Wow, is that an old photo, or is there still a plane in America West paint job at Tampa airport?

Flavia coffee machine 101: you press the button next to the screen for what kind of thing you want to make, and the door pops open and you put the coffee packet in (the end of the packet with the little nub on it goes up). Then you close the door and it makes the coffee.

🙂

@ Greg -- It's one of US Airways' "retro jet" planes.

From your photos, the lounge looks great. Airy and spacious - something that is seriously missing from even the 'best' lounges nowadays that you read about or even visit.

Sometimes reading this blog during lunch is a mistake!

you're not missing much with that coffee. it's the same junk that my office uses.

Ben - was departing on a US Airways flt from TPA-CLT LAX in F and was told that the lounge can only be accessed while flying Business or First internationally or if you have Citi Executive AA Card. Was told the exact same thing at the CLT lounge as well. Not sure if this is a change in policy or I just got bad agents at both club lounges.

@ Macworld -- That is indeed correct. With US Airways, transcon first class in and of itself doesn't get you lounge access.

Have to admit I never saw this type of coffee maker yet either but youtube is your friend (considering you probably will stop in Tampa now more often). Here is a sample video and there seem to be plenty more:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSJn3CjxLQ0

bwahahaha at the Coffee Machine story.

Lucky, have you had issues at the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport? I couldn't figure out the Tassimo machines they have in the rooms. A month after my last visit, I went to the local " Media Markt" where they had one on display and asked an agent to show me how it works! 🙂

@ wonkachocolat -- Hah, can't say I've ever used it. Have only used the machine in the club lounge, which is easy to use.

yep, american domestic lounges only have sad food.
have you ever tried the klm lounges in amsterdam?
they have a great selection of real, fresh food!

@marian
And jenever, don't forget that key fact.

Have you ever been to Amsterdam or flown KLM flights?

The Skyteam Lounge at LHR T4 is awesome in the food department. They normally have 3 choices of hot meals in the evening. Curries, Italian dishes, even Roast Beef and Potato Salad. Definitely the best Skyteam Lounge I've ever visited. (Taipei has awesome Dim Sum)

Lounge 52 has good food in A'dam Schiphol. But Lounge 25 (Schengen) less so.

@German Packet: Frankly I would have gone with the video that was shorter, less corny, and had less nausea-inducing camerawork:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p54mwGwYs4o

But that's just me I guess.

"It smelled like someone just got off an American first class flight where they had the cheesy omelet, went number two, and then died… last year."

^ Perfect description with great humor.

"The lounge food spread in the morning isn’t especially impressive, with oatmeal, yogurt, and mostly stale bagels."

^ It has become so rare to see fresh and tasty food in most airport lounges that I'm often left wondering why they bother having any food at all. Even the generic chain restaurants in the main terminal area are vastly more appealing, and that's saying something.

I am glad there's a US Airways Club that's better than a woeful tiny club in Phoenix. That place was so small, had terrible wi-fi (public wi-fi was faster!), and was overall so depressing I am still wondering how they have an audacity to charge $50 for a day-pass.

@ Lucky - is there a domestic airline that has consistently good lounges or is it hit-or-miss? Enjoyed Delta's lounge in Seattle but not sure if that's an exception.

I had a different question: I was at JFK last night (Wednesday) around 9pm and saw a small Qatar airlines plane (pretty sure it was an A320) on the tarmac. Does their government use them for VIP or what might be the story you think?

@ Ronnie -- Hmmm, Qatar only has 777 service to JFK. Are you sure it wasn't just on the tarmac in a distance and possibly that plane? I know the Royal Family is known to take Qatar Airways planes on shopping trips, but only ever widebodies to the US...

@ Ivan Y -- I think Delta lounges are definitely a step up from American, United, and US Airways lounges, though not by that much. They they are slightly better, I think.

@ Lucky - perhaps Delta's Seattle lounges are nicer than average as part of their strategy to destroy Alaska.

Ah Tampa my home airport. Nice to see the other side, I'm a Delta flyer out of E concourse. Never really visit the other ones often but I do have a flight scheduled in a coupe of weeks flying US Airways. Thanks for the lounge tour!

@ Lucky: they keep the "food should taste good" tortilla chips & salsa by the bar (not with the rest of the snacks). works in a pinch...better then the bagels.

Also, from what i've seen in the afternoons, the gal that works the bar also restocks the snacks and does some table busing as well. not sure if the morning bar tender has similar responsibilities...

Strange to see no HSBC or other ads on aerobridges.

Ben, I'm so glad you mentioned the missing bartender. I thought it was just me being impatient and always having to hunt her down in the back. I'm dying to know what she is doing back there all day.

They just need to have a little self service fridge with soft drinks by the food, and I'll be happy.

@lucky - I didn't know they still had any planes in retro paint jobs - I'll have to keep an eye out!

@ Greg -- Yep, I think they just have one or two commemorative liveries for each of their old ones.