Priority Pass members have access to a few additional British Airways lounges in the United States as of today. More lounge capacity is always a good thing, if you ask me…
In this post:
Priority Pass members can use four British Airways lounges
Four British Airways lounge locations in the United States now belong to Priority Pass, with limited hours. Priority Pass members now have access to the following lounges:
- The British Airways Lounge Newark (EWR), daily from 8AM until 2PM
- The British Airways Lounge San Francisco (SFO), daily from 5AM until 11:30AM
- The British Airways Lounge Seattle (SEA), daily from 5AM until 10AM
- The British Airways Lounge Washington (IAD), daily from 6AM until 2PM
I don’t believe the San Francisco and Seattle lounges have ever belonged to Priority Pass, but the Newark and Washington ones definitely have in the past. In each case lounge access is available for up to three hours, and you can bring up to two guests. You can be flying any airline when using lounges, as long as you’re able to clear security in the terminal.
Note that other British Airways lounges in the United States, including those in Boston, Chicago, and New York, aren’t joining Priority Pass.
This is a logical move for British Airways
Priority Pass pays lounge operators when members visit their lounges. Lounges run by airlines often have to strike a balance between wanting to maximize revenue, while also not wanting to dilute the experience for their own passengers.
British Airways’ approach here is sensible:
- British Airways is opening up its lounges earlier than it otherwise would, in order to generate incremental revenue from Priority Pass members
- During these hours, I’d expect a significantly scaled back food & beverage selection compared to what British Airways would offer its own passengers
- This is basically free money for the airline, as lightly staffing the lounge and offering basic food & drinks won’t cost much, while a lot of revenue can be generated; the only other downside is the long-term wear & tear to lounges from more people using them
Many premium credit cards offer Priority Pass memberships nowadays, so lots of people have lounge access. The challenge is that there isn’t nearly enough capacity at some airports. Therefore I’d consider it to be a huge win-win if lounges expand their hours to welcome Priority Pass members, since it adds capacity with little downside.
Bottom line
Four British Airways lounge locations in the United States now belong to Priority Pass, which is an exciting development. Members can now use lounges in Newark, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington. In each case there are fairly limited hours, as Priority Pass members can’t access these lounges over similar hours to when British Airways travelers could access these lounges.
If you have any upcoming travel out of these airports, be sure to keep this opportunity in mind.
What do you make of British Airways lounges in the United States joining Priority Pass?
(Tip of the hat to Head for Points)
Did this end already? PP does not show the BA Chesapeake Lounge in BWI anymore….
Terrible lounge. Limited access hours and nothing offered during the PP hours
It would be nice if Admirals Club members could access the SEA lounge when taking the 6:20 AM flight to ORD that has been operating from the S concourse.
I do get 10 Priority Club visits per year from my Hilton AMEX Aspire card, so I will try to access the BA lounge on my next trip.
My wife and I just visited the BA Lounge on Monday 20th June before our AA flight. It was nice to enjoy a few pastries, sip on our mimosa (made by me), a decent machine latte, friendly staff, all at 6:30am. They also served the typical inexpensive items, chips, yogurt, soda, waters, wines, juices, and a few decent bears among the many they had on offer. It's not the closest walk. but, it was near...
My wife and I just visited the BA Lounge on Monday 20th June before our AA flight. It was nice to enjoy a few pastries, sip on our mimosa (made by me), a decent machine latte, friendly staff, all at 6:30am. They also served the typical inexpensive items, chips, yogurt, soda, waters, wines, juices, and a few decent bears among the many they had on offer. It's not the closest walk. but, it was near empty and nice.
We happened upon it because the AF/KLM lounge was closed for the day according to a handwritten sign on the door.
Which airport?
Would be nice to see BA also open its SEA lounge ahead of their 1:35pm departure to LHR– as nice as the Alaska lounge is, would be lovely to enjoy an afternoon glass of champagne before the overnight flight...
Seems the inverse may be happening as well, using MSY as an example.
No AA/Oneworld lounge there, but there is a PP lounge that recently extended its hours until past 9pm, when BA's MSY-LHR departs.
I tried to enter the SEA BA lounge on Sunday and was turned away saying they did no accept Priority Pass. The lounge showed up in the PP app.
Yes，PP open hour is operated by other staff. BA staff refuse everyone unless you are eligible passenger of BA. They will refuse elite, business, and first class passenger of any other OW carriers. Opening hour for BA didn't provide any order service.
#Britishairways shows SFO Lounge opens at 1:15pm - 7:15pm. Not open at 5:00am per the #onemileatatime article for A1 SFO?
> British Airways Lounge San Francisco (SFO), daily from 5AM until 11:30AM?
As pointed out, the BA lounges closes at 2pm for PP. Only thing served is chips and cookies - so not much of a lounge other than a place to sit.
BA Lounge at IAD will even deny you when you are traveling on an International OW flight in business. When Cathay Pacific was flying from IAD to HKG nonstop for a couple of years - BA would not let you in until the...
As pointed out, the BA lounges closes at 2pm for PP. Only thing served is chips and cookies - so not much of a lounge other than a place to sit.
BA Lounge at IAD will even deny you when you are traveling on an International OW flight in business. When Cathay Pacific was flying from IAD to HKG nonstop for a couple of years - BA would not let you in until the last BA flight boarded. Even as Emerald they made it difficult. I was able to get in pointing out OW rules. However, if non-BA OW business they would let you in the dining area or some other areas of the lounge. Their food is only for BA passengers. They wait until their food closes and then let the next OW airline provide the food.
The BA lounge is a waste at IAD for PP. Best to go to Turkish, or even Air France - if they will let you in.
In other news BA announces that all Priority Pass passenger’s given admittance be charged a fuel surcharge upon entry regardless of carrier being flown.Full BA premium catering will include their unlimited pretzels and tap water.
For 100 dollars per passenger extra they guarantee you won’t have to wait in snaking lines around terminal to get inside lounge.
Once BAs own passengers are ready to enter Priority Pass customers must exit the lounge immediately...
In other news BA announces that all Priority Pass passenger’s given admittance be charged a fuel surcharge upon entry regardless of carrier being flown.Full BA premium catering will include their unlimited pretzels and tap water.
For 100 dollars per passenger extra they guarantee you won’t have to wait in snaking lines around terminal to get inside lounge.
Once BAs own passengers are ready to enter Priority Pass customers must exit the lounge immediately or be penalized
At SFO Galleries lounge today. Was closed until 13:45, actually opened 15 min late because the front desk staff was arriving late. No sign up that they were going to be open mornings. Staff might be surprised! Lounge hours as of today are still: 13:30-19:30. Nice lounge with huge windows.
When they belonged before, the IAD lounge had little but chips and sodas until they kicked out the PP holders and opened for Club World. (It was great for CW, I thought.)
Lucky: SEA BA lounge closes to PP at 1000h not 2200h. Check the PP website.
Of all of the other PP options at IAD that take Priority Pass (Turkish -(really great), Air France, Lufthansa, and Chef Geoff's), the BA lounge is exponentially the worst. I guess it's OK if all you want is a quiet place to sit and have ice water and peppermint candies while not being able to find anyone to help, but I kind of agree with Klaus. I've never flown BA but would avoid it all...
Of all of the other PP options at IAD that take Priority Pass (Turkish -(really great), Air France, Lufthansa, and Chef Geoff's), the BA lounge is exponentially the worst. I guess it's OK if all you want is a quiet place to sit and have ice water and peppermint candies while not being able to find anyone to help, but I kind of agree with Klaus. I've never flown BA but would avoid it all costs, as I'd be concerned that their inflight service is reflective of what I've experienced twice now in the IAD lounge.
"During these hours, I’d expect a significantly scaled back food & beverage selection compared to what British Airways would offer its own passengers"
Given the current state of affairs at the SEA BA lounge I can't imagine how they could scale back any further than the current offering during BA flights.
Too bad about not adding ORD. The Swissport lounge leaves a lot to be desired and it has been turning Priority Pass members away since PP lost access to the Air France lounge. Hopefully they can sign on another lounge in that airport.
Makes sense since none of these are AA hubs so in general they shouldn't have too many people per morning.
Why not the PHL lounge? Sits underneath the Amex lounge and I’m sure the Amex folks would appreciate because the lounge is too crowded.
PHL is a core AA hub so the lounges there will likely be busy enough serving OneWorld elites.
I don't think IAD ever left PP, and SEA has been listed for a few months now on the app.
On an aside, looks like BWI added the Chesapeake Lounge in Terminal E (I think this existed before COVID, and they might just be reopening)
Don't think Chesapeake Lounge/Club Chesapeake has been on PP for at least 5 years. It has been used exclusively as a BA lounge. But, it is also managed by the same company who runs The Club at BWI as well. So it could be a combination of The Club being closed for repairs and BA lounges being added to PP as the reason it has returned. In any case, I hope it stays!
Also, you...
Don't think Chesapeake Lounge/Club Chesapeake has been on PP for at least 5 years. It has been used exclusively as a BA lounge. But, it is also managed by the same company who runs The Club at BWI as well. So it could be a combination of The Club being closed for repairs and BA lounges being added to PP as the reason it has returned. In any case, I hope it stays!
Also, you are right. IAD has been on PP for quite some time. There are literally hundreds of videos on YouTube about accessing the lounge with PP for the past few years at least.
Whats unsaid is that for PP hours they clean out the lounge of food and drink and its bare bones compared to the evening hours
I wish this was open to the BA lounge in PHL. It's small, but very convenient and has a good drinks selection.
I guess people wanting PP use should be aware it's easier on earlier flights with international airline lounges.
I have a flight out of the SEA S Terminal this evening, so this piqued my interest.
BA Lounge hours for PP members are 5:00 - 10:00. That's morning only. So, there will be no overlap with the BA departures.
I guess I'm headed to the AS N Lounge after all. So much better than the The Club in S.
Indeed. This blog post shows access until 10 pm, but Priority Pass web site shows "05:00 - 10:00 daily". Should be edited to avoid confusion.
The Club is a bad joke.
As you say extra income for the airline without little effort, very much like VS lounges are now part of Plaza Premium and I noticed on the board outside the SFO lounge the American Express logo so I think certain AE cardholders have access. There was a different offering for passengers who bought access in that they only had complimentary local wines and beers and a paired down menu, they could pay for premium food and drinks though.
This is a scam and educated travellers like Ben should point that out:
British Airways lounges are not even accepting Oneworld Emerald customers from other airlines (AA) because supposedly overcrowded, and now they want to bring in the credit card peasants? Try to enter the ORD Terasse and they will block you even at 3pm with few people inside...
This is a scam because it is all marketing without delivering anything.
Are you sure about that? According to the terms, Emeralds can use BA lounges when flying on an OW airline.
Yes, I confirm, at least at BA Seattle Lounge. Staff say BA seattle lounge is not a part of One World. They refuse all passengers unless they hold BA broading pass. I believe it will happen at other airport.
"Credit card peasants" . Another severely entitled person thinks there better than everyone else. I'm sure you're not aware of how this statement makes you look. I'm sure your shortcomings are intertwined with your personality. Please stay home. Things are better there.
Yes, “credit card peasants” is very harsh. Especially when considering that this blog supposedly is mainly funded by promoting credit cards.
But what he was probably trying to say is that Priority Pass Lounge Access at least dilutes the Business class Lounge experience and exclusivity. And it may also lead to a reduced hard product (more crowded, less or cheaper food offerings).
The other downside is „negative marketing“. There is a risk that customers might now compare the BA/PP-Lounge-experience to a competitors Business-Class-Lounge experience, assuming that BA-Business-Class Lounges are not Good.
After all, the lounge is also a brand ambassador
For EWR and IAD these lounges are closing before any BA flights depart, but for the West Coast airports (SFO/SEA) there will BA flights departing during these opening hours. Not sure how they’ll (1) manage capacity or (2) whether they will offer scaled down F&B to Priority Pass travelers during that the overlapping windows…