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’re now also seeing airport gyms added to the portfolio (one was added back in March, and a second has been added now), but with a major catch.
In this post:
ROAM Fitness airport locations join Priority Pass
ROAM Fitness now has two locations, at Baltimore Airport (BWI) and Philadelphia Airport (PHL), and both belong to Priority Pass:
- The Baltimore location is open daily from 6AM until 6PM, except Saturdays, when it’s closed; the Philadelphia location is open daily from 7AM until 7PM
- The Baltimore location is located in Concourse D, next to gate D1; the Philadelphia location is located in Terminal F, near the information desk
- 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
- 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) (Rates & Fees)
What are ROAM Fitness airport gyms?
Just for context, I first wrote about ROAM Fitness back in 2017. So far the company has opened gyms at both Baltimore Airport and Philadelphia Airport.
ROAM Fitness Baltimore is 1,175 square feet, while ROAM Fitness Philadelphia is 1,250 square feet. Both studios offer 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 these gyms 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 there are currently two locations, in Baltimore and Philadelphia.
Both gyms belong to the Priority Pass network. The major catch is that these gyms are 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 negative development, as it’s a fairly new exclusion.
If you have a paid Priority Pass membership and are passing through Baltimore or Philadelphia 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've used this gym at BWI before while connecting from one Southwest flight to another, since I had a three-plus hour layover. Using the gym required a bit of a walk and re-clearing security in a different terminal but was do-able. You can sometimes find discounts using Groupon - I paid $25 for two entries.
That’s so exciting about BWI. Nice airport. The gym should get lots of use with the city having plenty of professionals from places like JHU, Peabody, not to mention all the students transporting back and forth. Excellent locale for PP!
There should just be one level of Priority Pass membership... maybe two. If they want to strike some custom arrangement with a credit card company, they should present it as a different product entirely, not some unpublished tier.
How many do you think there are? What unpublished tiers?
While I think the Pat's whine is silly, there are at least 3 different kinds of Priority Pass cards. "unpublished" is in Pat's head.
Paid memberships like the one that would get this gym benefit.
PP cards from credit cards that get restaurant benefits.
PP cards from credit cards that don't get restaurant benefits.
I have a 3 hour layover in PHL next month—inbound from Europe. I’d actually seriously consider paying the $25 just to shower in the Flagship-less hellscape.