Priority Pass gives you access to 1,300+ lounges around the globe. While most of these are traditional airport lounges, we’ve also seen some unique concepts introduced, ranging from airport restaurants to airport spas. We’ve just seen a new concept added to the portfolio, in the form of an airport gym… but there’s a major catch.
In this post:
ROAM Fitness Baltimore Airport joins Priority Pass
ROAM Fitness at Baltimore Airport (BWI) has just joined Priority Pass:
- It’s open from 6AM until 6PM daily, except Saturdays, when it’s closed
- Priority Pass gets you access to all features of the facility for a calendar day, and it also includes a combination of beverages, snacks, or similar products from a set list, which you can find at the front desk
- It’s located next to gate D1, though it’s also available to passengers departing from different concourses
- A visit includes complimentary rental workout gear from lululemon, Brooks running shoes, lockers with charging ports, and showers with Malin+Goetz toiletries
- Priority Pass members can only bring one guest with them as part of their guesting allowance
- This is only available to those with paid Priority Pass memberships, and not those who have memberships through credit cards; so this isn’t available to those who have a membership through the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card (review), The Platinum Card® from American Express (review), or the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (review)
What are ROAM Fitness airport gyms?
Just for context, I first wrote about ROAM Fitness back in 2017. So far Baltimore is the first airport to get one of these facilities, though there’s a further one coming to Philadelphia in the coming months.
ROAM Fitness Baltimore is 1,175 square feet, and offers cardio equipment, stretching space, free weights, medicine balls, stability balls, a TRX system, and yoga props. For what it’s worth, ROAM Fitness ordinarily charges $25 for a day pass, which seems reasonable when you consider that it also includes showers.
This is a pretty cool concept, since there aren’t many opportunities to exercise at airports (well, aside from getting in steps by just walking the terminal). Personally I’m a bit surprised that this concept seems to be working at Baltimore Airport. You’d think that this would be most successful at a major international hub, though admittedly that’s also where space is typically the hardest to come by:
- There aren’t many transit passengers with long connections in Baltimore; many people do connect on Southwest, but the airline is known for its heavily banked schedule and short layovers
- I can’t imagine arriving early in order to exercise at the airport, rather than using the fitness facilities at a hotel, or at the gym one regularly uses; I suppose if you have an evening flight and you have to check out of your hotel, maybe this makes sense
- I can see this being popular with airline employees, who often have long layovers, and/or might be on reserve and just hanging out at the airport
I also can’t help but wonder what the capacity of this gym is, realistically speaking. It looks like at most two people could comfortably do weights, and then you also have a few cardio machines. Then there’s a stretching and yoga area. It seems to me like the revenue potential here is fairly limited compared to other airport business concepts, though I’m always happy to see entrepreneurs trying something different.
Bottom line
ROAM Fitness is the only airport gym concept in the United States, and it’s exciting to see that this has now joined Priority Pass. So far there’s only one location in Baltimore, though it’s expected that another one will open in Philadelphia in the near future.
The major catch is that this is only available to those who buy a Priority Pass membership with cash, and not those who get a membership through a credit card. That’s a very negative development.
If you have a paid Priority Pass membership and are passing through Baltimore and want to do something healthier than nibbling on packaged snacks and cheese cubes in a lounge, this is a great alternative. Heck, this could even be useful if you’re just looking for a shower.
What do you make of the concept of airport gyms?
I would guess they got a good deal on rent. Also, an airside connector between the A/B/C side and the D/E side is still in the plans (along with a new control tower), but until then, it should not be that difficult to reclear. I don't think I've ever waited more than 5 min in the precheck lines, and I suspect crew are more the target than passengers. That said, given hotel check-out times, I...
I would guess they got a good deal on rent. Also, an airside connector between the A/B/C side and the D/E side is still in the plans (along with a new control tower), but until then, it should not be that difficult to reclear. I don't think I've ever waited more than 5 min in the precheck lines, and I suspect crew are more the target than passengers. That said, given hotel check-out times, I can see a use case for killing time at an airport gym if meetings are done early, but space isn't available on an earlier flight. An airport gym is certainly not useful for originating traffic.
You are going to need to be in shape if you are going to Baltimore. How fast can you run?
Ugh, no. This facility is only available to *PAID* Priority Pass members. It is NOT available to Venture X card holders (unless they've also purchased a Priority Pass membership somehow.)
There are effective three tiers of Priority Pass now -- no "experiences" included, some experiences included, all experiences included.
So far as this not being at a hub... when I travel for work my meetings often wrap up early and if I can't get on an earlier flight I find myself killing time before my flight home. I'd love to be able to knock out my workout instead of just killing time on my laptop in a lounge.
It seems very visible from the outside, including the lockers. I think I would feel a bit funny doing a workout in front of everybody.
There’s a full gym at LAS T1 although landside. They have sleep rooms too. Pretty cool place, but once again, the hotel gym is more practical unless you need deadlifts in your life.
There is a pay-for-use gym in the B concourse of DXB.
Ben, to clarify, this concept has been part of Priority Pass for 5ish years. Previously Priority Pass only offered a discount (20%) on entry, but great to see that it is now complimentary access!
Just to clarify, this is only accessible from the D/E concourses which are not connected to A/B/C post security. If you're flying in/out of A/B/C you will have to leave the secure area, go through D/E security and then do the same in reverse to back to your flight. So technically accessible from other concourses but probably not worth it unless you enjoy BWI's legendary TSA agent "charm". About 99% of Southwest flights are in the A/B/C concourse.
I've always wondered why airports don't have more gyms, both for stopovers and if you arrive too early to the airport and have an hour or so to spare.
Being able to do a 10-15k run before a flight makes so much sense in terms of tiring you out for a good sleep during the flight or even to burn some calories before you stuff yourself with food during the flight...
I get your point but I would perish after a 10-15k run
Doesn't have to be 10-15k...everyone has their own pace.
More the case that it's nicer to get moving instead of sit in a lounge and pig out and pig out more on a flight.
It always puzzles me how little gyms gets used in hotels as well.