In this post I wanted to share my take on the current value proposition of a Priority Pass membership, including discussing the basics of what this airport lounge network is, how you can get a membership, and whether Priority Pass is worth it.
Continue reading: Is A Priority Pass Airport Lounge Membership Worth It?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
"As someone with oneworld Emerald status, Star Alliance Gold status,"
Didn't you also have Elite+ from FB?
Does having top tier on all 3 alliance something to brag?
It's an interesting point noting that sometimes priority pass lounges are just the better option based on preferences. Another example beyond those listed is the Aena (the Madrid airport authority) ran lounges at MAD - which most people agree have far superior food than the Iberia lounges
Another scenario is when you live at a secondary airport. These are the airports where you are far more likely to find contract priority pass lounges and far less likely to find worthwhile airline or credit card lounges. My home airport is SJU which may be the only tier 1 US airport without an airline branded lounge.
Simple questions: 1) How often are you traveling? 2) How often do you *not* have access to an airline lounge? 3) Are there even Priority Pass lounges in the airports you frequent? Outside the US, fine. Inside the US, lots of luck. For me, I travel extensively and it is a very rare occasion that I'd ever need a Priority Pass lounge. Indeed, give me a travel credit card without a Priority Pass membership . . . and lower the annual fee.
Priority Pass lounge and the Plaza Premium lounge both at DFW, need an upgrade. But the lounge employees are wonderful people. and the beverages are free. At DFW the food is mediocre.
Ben's comment about a nicer alternative is fair. Perhaps, I've just been lucky with airline-run lounges.
I am curious which lounge memberships people feel are still worth it, considering chronic overcrowding, as well as overall quality of service/food/amenities. While Delta seemed to have best overall quality in recent years, it appears they also suffer the most with lines and overcrowding, making it less useful and attractive. While none feel “exclusive” anymore, which are still worth purchasing?
Anyone care to rank current US lounge networks? Genuinely curious.
I wouldn't pay for a standalone Priority Pass membership and would only get one if it was included in a premium credit card.
I've had too many instances where I am at an airport which had a Priority Pass lounge which was in a completely different building than where I was departing or the airport just had no Priority Pass lounge at all. For long haul flights, I'm usually flying in J or F and I have access to an existing lounge and having a Priority Pass would just be useful for lounge hopping. I'm one who would prefer getting into a lounge and staying put rather than hurridly rush around to hit multiple lounges if I don't have time. If I do get out of the hobby and start flying long haul only in Y with no lounge access, then I may reconsider.
I have an AC Membership through the Citi Executive card (or whatever it's called, the card is black) and that's enough. Sorry, crowded, dirty, loud lounges aren't much of a experience beyond sitting at an unoccupied gate. The AC can help with rebooking during irregular ops and that's the primary benefit.
My 2 cents - I have PP with both my CSR and Amex Platinum. I get value from them in that there are a number of lounges I otherwise wouldn't have access to however I WOULD NOT pay for PP. I live in CLT and typically stay in the Centurion Lounge but if flying out of Terminal A I will hang out in "The Club CLT" w my PP membership. Also, flying out of IAD, even though in business class and have lounge access, I like to stop in some of the other lounges where I can get in w PP. Also some international airports don't have airline specific lounges and I'm not always flying J or F.
Cutting out the restaurants really didn't impact me since I only used them 2-3 times a year. IMHO PP is worth exactly what I pay for it but it does come in handy at times.
Unfortunately, these days with people's short attention, asking then to do a bit of research is like asking then to perform their own colonoscopy. It really depends on how you value lounges and where you mainly fly. If you fly through Lax, there is nothing for you worth your time. Jkf has done nice pp but it's generally restricted to time and very crowded. I would never pay for a membership. It needs to be from a cc because I don't value a lounge at more than $25-$30/visit. But thats my valuation.
Paying for a Priority Pass membership directly is, IMHO, a complete waste of money...not when you can get various levels of membership for "free" as part of have X, Y, or Z credit cards. Like you, I have PP membership with my Citi Prestige Card. Typically, I only fly in Business on international long-haul flights, so lounge access is often limited , and PP has come in handy while traveling within Europe or Asia.
Domestically, I have AAdmirals Club (and Alaska Lounge) access through my Citi AAdvantage Executive card. But if I'm not flying on AA or AS (MVP Gold/oneworld sapphire), I'm usually in a PP lounge.
I guess it is, the environmental destruction your travels made possible is definitely something worth savouring .
$35 per visit is never ever worth it given than you can very easily find a snack/coffee for $35 in the airport and then find any empty gate area to sit in. And then on the very rare occasion of long layover just pay alacarte lounge entry.
Lounge memberships are only good if already there as a card/status perk
Priority pass is a complete rip-off! I just flew from Honolulu where there are two PP lounges -- one doesn't even serve any food or drinks, and at the other (the "Plumeria Lounge") once I showed my PP card they told me to sign up on the wait list for an hour or more wait, even though the lounge wasn't that crowded and there were at least two dozen seats available. The front desk person then told me that they prioritize the Hawaiian Airlines passengers because PP is "complementary." It was a complete waste of time finding the lounge and walking to it, and I ended up spending $30 at Starbucks since I needed to eat lunch before a 5 hour flight on Southwest and didn't have hours to wait.
Priority pass membership seems to be best suited to the occasional economy passenger travelling in Asia! India and Nepal have some of the best lounges. Good options at Singapore Changi also.
I am not sure I understand their pricing. Is the per visit fee cheaper if you have the $99 membership, otherwise, why not just pay....I agree it is much more economic with a credit card.
Los Angeles (LAX) which is the 5th busiest airport in the USA doesn't have a priority pass restaurant or lounge. So if you invest effort to be a member make sure it is useful to you.
In Asia and Europe the experience is great, unlike the US. Compared to US, Asian and often European lounges are a lot better in terms of environment, food, drinks, etc.
I travel in Europe mostly, in large and small airports. I have been extremely impressed, almost shocked, at how great they are in comparison to the US experience. And locations in small airports too, not just hubs.
The only weird experience has been in the UK, where much of the year you will not likely get admitted without reserving in advance, which you have to pay to do. It was a big surprise. The UK lounges themselves have been fine to great.
If you travel internationally at all, you should rank United Club membership highest. I believe it's the only one of United/American/Delta that receives recognition by other alliance members for their own lounges. That means you can be flying any Star Alliance carrier worldwide and receive access to their lounges, even on an economy ticket.
Domestically, I've found American Admirals Lounges to be slightly nicer, but United Clubs to have more convenient locations. Can't comment on Delta.
I was trying to check in to the Chase lounge at LGA on Friday morning. When I handed over my CSR card, they guy wouldn't take it. This is a Chase Sapphire lounge right? I asked. He said oh, we can't check you in with your CSR card, we're not allowed to touch them for security reasons... you have a Priority Pass card don't you? I did - but WTF?
HNL is my home airport, and I'm surprised at how busy the Plumeria Lounge has gotten. I never had to wait before. But last week, my wife was #35 on the waitlist and never got in before her flight. I went this past Wednesday morning (~9:15AM) and got in without a problem. But, a waitlist started around 10:30AM. There are tables and areas of the lounge that are reserved for Hawaiian business/first class passengers since it is technically a Hawaiian Airlines lounge. People seated in those areas were gently asked to move elsewhere.
HNL is my home airport, and I'm surprised at how busy the Plumeria Lounge has gotten. I never had to wait before. But last week, my wife was #35 on the waitlist and never got in before her flight. I went this past Wednesday morning (~9:15AM) and got in without a problem. But, a waitlist started around 10:30AM. There are tables and areas of the lounge that are reserved for Hawaiian business/first class passengers since it is technically a Hawaiian Airlines lounge. People seated in those areas were gently asked to move elsewhere.
My wife recently flew from ICN T1 and both PP lounges were full with waitlists (not counting the Asiana Business lounges since that seems restricted to flights for certain airlines). Placed on a waitlist and never got into either of them.
On the Chase website it does say that you need to use your activated Priority Pass card that is linked to your Chase eligible credit cards to enter the Chase lounges. Not exactly sure what they do it that way. With AMEX you can get in their lounges by showing them your AMEX platinum card. I guess to each its own.
I travel a lot in Central America and South America, where my Admiral's Club membership rarely does me much good. Priority Pass is great to have, though the cards that I get that offer it keep dropping that perk!
So few credit cards still let you use Priority Pass Restaurants that it's almost not worthwhile blogging about. I think Chase made a mistake. They should have raised the cost of the card for the CSR and factored in the cost. They should just do a real premium card instead of making their portfolio weaker.
Don't Priority Pass lounges in the US exclude passengers who are flying on Basic Economy tickets?
The AENA lounges are pretty solid. I have been to 2 or 3 of them at MAD, the Schengen one at BCN plus the one at BIO and maybe another one I can't quite remember (VLC?), they're all very civilised spaces even when they're busy and they make a real effort when it comes to the food.
I have one of the few card-based memberships that includes restaurants and non-lounge amenities. While I have access to and will opt for airline-operated lounges on virtually every flight I take, I will make use of non-lounge amenities very frequently. I'll do so again this week. For me, this feature alone is conservatively worth $400 per year.
I believe the memberships purchased directly from Priority Pass include restaurants and non-lounge amenities, as well as certain locations designated as "Grab-and-Go." Card-based memberships that include restaurants and non-lounge amenities do not include Grab-and-Go locations.
You get a lot more bang for your buck with a Priority Pass in Asia.
No one in their right mind would ever purchase a Priority Pass membership outright; but, if it comes with your premium credit card, you do tend to start to collect multiple Select memberships. Like, our sock drawer has about 10. This is why it's laughable whenever a new card product is announced, and the issuer has the audacity to 'celebrate' a PP membership. Psh.
It depends- I think I once did pay a nominal fee for the basic Dragonpass membership which allowed me to access lounges for something like £23 a pop. 85% of the time I can get in with my status and/or ticket, but it's quite handy to have a fallback option- I even used it once to visit the rather poor Aspire lounge at AMS as a way of avoiding the furry creatures in the KLM lounge*, the attendant went 'but you are in business class!' as if I had been mad for going in.
*I'm sure that someone will have seen mice in the other AMS lounges but at least I haven't.
But, why would you do Dragonpass if you already have Priority Pass? I really like Crown 52 (mice and all). Aspire 41 (and 26) are just fine, but can get crowded.
Good question - the answer is I don't have Priority Pass! The UK card market is very different to the US one and I don't see much benefit in paying Amex £600 or whatever for a platinum card which would only give me 1 point per pound, especially given that I have lounge access through airline status. I do have a paid VS card as they offer 1.5 point and that sort of cancels the fee out.
At first, Platinum £650 annual fee sounded better to me, then I realize it's the same $895 that we pay in the US (currency!) I see that Llyods and Halifax have that MC with PP for £180/year AF. And, Santandar has a MC with LoungeKey for the same amount. Eh. You do you!
I would definitely get the Lloyds card if I didn't have status- but it gives no points and just 0.5% cashback on most spending so you basically just get it for the lounge membership.
1990. The American version of the Platinum is far superior. Not only for points bonuses but also the lack of hefty foreign exchange fees found on the U.K. card in any non GBP transaction.
It would not make any sense. PP makes money based on the number of swipes at lounges that accept PP cards regardless of the ticket type. Basic economy tickets to international first class tickets shouldn’t make any differences then. It makes it convenient for those who want to do some lounge hopping. Also, with the sheer number of credit cards that come with PP memberships in the U.S. PP surely wouldn’t limit it to just the U.S.
Kyra lounges at HKG are good and the Oriental Club at TPE is good as well.
I have a PP card through Chase. Never have been able to use it as upon arriving at the club there always seems to be a reason PP members cannot use the club that day or that time. This has happened 8-10 times, all in Europe. Very frustrating.
Just FYI: visited both SAS and Eventyr Lounges this year in CPH and SAS lounge food and space was much superior compared to Eventyr. So Priority Pass has lost it's edge there.
NOPE!!!
@Lucky, the US Bank Altitude Connect is a great card to have as a backup, for occasional travelers, or for those who want to use non-lounge experiences (restaurants). It has no annual fee and includes 4 visits per membership year. If a couple each gets their own card, they can have lounge/restaurant access for 2 roundtrips. Is there a better deal for a $0 AF card?
Wide variance in clubs that will take Priority Pass, and while most (not all) of the international ones are pretty good, the domestic ones can be awful, overcrowded or simply cut off the number of Priority Pass members they'll allow in. The club in Pittsburgh was overcrowded, looked dirty and the food was so picked over and stale I wouldn't feed it to a dog. Some people, maybe, but never a dog.
The priority pass restaurants can be a worthwhile benefit of the membership. Unfortunately most of the credit cards don't include that Priority Pass perk. Maybe that is why the restaurants are too crowded.
SFO Alaska now takes Priority Pass with a $15 copay. While that sounds scammy, it made me realize I'd have to make 46+ visits in a year for me to justify the Citi AA Exec card AF.
Definitely is making me rethink my card strategy as my AFs come up this year.