There’s no reason to panic, though this sets a strange precedent that could eventually have major implications…
In this post:
Priority Pass location limited to “paid” members
Priority Pass is the world’s largest network of independent airport lounges. Priority Pass doesn’t operate lounges, but rather monetizes them, as the company sells memberships that offer access to all kinds of lounges.
Priority Pass sells memberships directly, though you can also get a membership through all kinds of premium credit cards. I would assume that in the United States, a vast majority of Priority Pass members get their membership through credit cards, rather than through purchased memberships, since it’s a much better value.
Anyway, a couple of days ago I wrote about how ROAM Fitness at Baltimore Airport joined Priority Pass. The terms listed on the Priority Pass website indicated the following:
Only Cardholders who have purchased a Priority Pass membership – Standard, Standard Plus or Prestige – are eligible for access to ROAM Fitness.
I initially wondered if this was a glitch or something, but I’ve confirmed that it’s not. Indeed, this Priority Pass location isn’t available to those who have a membership through a credit card, but rather only to those who outright purchase a membership.
It’s possible that other lounges have this restriction as well, though I’ve never seen it before. This sets a very strange precedent among those who have unlimited Priority Pass visits.
Everyone gets access to Priority Pass lounges, but Priority Pass experiences (restaurants, spas, etc.) now essentially have three tiers of memberships:
- Paid members have access to all lounges and experiences
- Those with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card (review) have access to all lounges and most experiences, including Priority Pass restaurants
- Those with The Platinum Card® from American Express (review) and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (review) (Rates & Fees) have access to all lounges and no experiences
What’s Priority Pass’ motive for this change?
A single new Priority Pass location being excluded from the credit card program isn’t a huge deal. After all, there are 1,300+ Priority Pass locations. However, I can’t imagine the intent is to have just one location with such a restriction, since that would make no sense.
I don’t want to be pessimistic, but this is definitely something I’ll be keeping an eye on going forward. What I’m curious about is what exactly Priority Pass’ motive is with this change. Here’s my general understanding of the economics of Priority Pass when it comes to memberships issued through credit cards (and please correct me if I’m wrong):
- Lounge operators are paid a certain amount by Priority Pass per visit (I’d guess in the range of $20-25), and it doesn’t matter if the visitor is using a membership through a credit card or one purchased directly
- The credit card company is paying Priority Pass in some way that reflects the number of visits that members make; I’m not sure if it’s a fixed amount per visit, a sliding scale, or what
Priority Pass memberships issued through some credit cards offer access to lounge “experiences,” while other memberships don’t. I assume for those that don’t, it’s because the credit card company wants to cut costs associated with Priority Pass.
With that in mind, what I can’t figure out is why we’re now seeing a Priority Pass location excluded from the credit card program altogether. Why is Priority Pass willing to give someone with the Chase Sapphire Reserve a $28 credit at a Priority Pass restaurant, but not offer them access to this gym?
Bottom line
At least one Priority Pass location is now only open to those with a paid membership, and not anyone who acquired a membership through a credit card. I can’t help but be a bit concerned that this will spread to more locations, and I’m not sure what exactly the logic is.
What do you make of this Priority Pass development?
Stay away from Priority Pass.. DO NOT BUY THEIR PASS !!!
Priority Pass is lately useless, and considered a ripoff. Many lounges turn people away because what they considered "busy and overbooked" access time. My PP pass is through a credit card. I would never buy a PP pass under any circumstances.
Citi Prestige also works. Update post.
This has been the case for a year or two already in the UK with Amex Plat (where we pay a much higher fee for fewer benefits!). A couple of restaurants permit use but most are excluded. Weirdly LoungeKey cards from HSBC still include many of them!
American Express has the new Centurion lounge opening up at DCA. I think it may have actually opened. Flying out in April, will see if it lives up to its name.
The two restaurants at sfo t3 no longer offer the $26 dining credit as of a few weeks ago. A sign at the front of them says it's not available to those with memberships through cap one or amex.
I'm a amex plat cardholder and I largely do not include priority pass as a benefit. Is it technically there? Yes. But it's completely trash and useless. I haven't used a priority pass lounge in over 2 years. Useless.
I’ve tried to use Priority Pass at several airports as well and have been told that they do not accept the Pass offered with the American Express Hilton Aspire card. It seems to be a big fraud and American Express should stop their relationship with Priority Pass altogether.
Priority Pass is virtually useless in the US. Airlines like Alaska Air & United used to honor them but that has changed..
Just another example of how useless a credit card PP membership can be. Everyone knows that most of the time you visit a PP airline partner lounge they have a blackout times that make it very unlikely you will ever get in.
It's only $25 for a day pass, so don't sweat it if your PP isn't accepted.
Thanks for the useless comment, Money Bags!
Sandy....Do you have to be mean and jealous? It appears that they were trying to help others out and in no way did it appear that they were trying to shove their status in your face.
Agree with the comments. The space is small and they want to handle overcrowding and this is a good way to do so. I assume there is some way to determine how the card was issued (e.g. paid, Amex, Chase, etc)
I have a Priority Pass membership through Chase Sapphire. Going to cancel card because it is worthless. 2 hours to burn in the Charleston Airport, got on the waitlist, Never got in. Same thing in Dallas with 3 hours to burn. We looked at their club while waiting, it was a dump. After waiting for an hour, we went to a restaurant instead. Nothing at LAX viable with two hours at International terminal. Not sure gets priority, but it sure as hell isn’t their customers.
100% agree - I'm in the same situation with Chase Sapphire. The Priority Pass membership is completely useless now. Few clubs honor the membership now, and those that do severely restrict the hours of access, so odds are when you try to enter one of the few clubs that still accept the card, you'll be turned away.
I bet this is a confusion by management between chase and amex cards.
If this becomes the norm it's no more Platinum Amex for me. The hit and miss Hilton benefits and travel insurance aren't really worth the membership. That with a pointless Harvey Nichols and the overseas meal thing makes it much harder to use for me.
It seems that the whole PP strategy is to collect from credit card companies, and not pay to lounge operators.
*Eventually* the credit card companies will cotton on, and stop paying, but that will take a few years, during which PP books profits and the executives cash in bonuses.
PP then collapses, and why should the executives care?
Typical morality of too many businesses nowadays.
My wife and I are traveling through LAX and MSP airports this summer and checked on PP lounge availability. All we get is "Airport Takeout" service with no apparent discounts. If this is the new PP, I'm done with Chase. Anyone else experience this?
Terminal 1 of MSP gives access to the PGA Club where one can use a $15 voucher toward either food credit at the restaurant or toward a golf game.
But didn't I 'pay' for my PP membership through my AMEX or Chase or other Annual Fee?
When is a payment not a payment. When it's delivered via a credit card?
Entitlement issues again.
But didn't I 'pay' for ..... through my taxes?
Try drive away with a police car using that excuse.
You didn't pay for your Priority Pass. You paid for your credit card. How the banks use your annual fee is not your entitlement.
Wrong. The perk was promised.
The Citi Prestige card still gets access to PP restaurants as well.
Chase ritz and US bank priority pass also give restaurant access. update post.
which US Bank credit card gives PP restaurant access?
thanks!
I wanted to comment that this happened to me during my honeymoon last September where in IAD, British Airways lounge wasn't accepting Priority Pass holders from credit cards. We weren't able to use that lounge, so we went to Turkish instead. I think this will become a trend soon if it hasn't already, though I'm hoping that time was a fluke.
Were they only blocking PP members from credit cards or just all PP members? It's completely normal for all PP members to be blocked out of a lounge at certain times of day, especially an airline lounge. They allow PP users to enter at times when they don't have a bunch of business-class and frequent flyers from their own airline needing to use the lounge, so it allows them to generate some revenue from otherwise-dead...
Were they only blocking PP members from credit cards or just all PP members? It's completely normal for all PP members to be blocked out of a lounge at certain times of day, especially an airline lounge. They allow PP users to enter at times when they don't have a bunch of business-class and frequent flyers from their own airline needing to use the lounge, so it allows them to generate some revenue from otherwise-dead times of day. Many of these have hours stated on the PP website and app when PP users won't be allowed in, though they can also exclude them at other times if they're already busy.
The lame and nearly empty British Air lounge has limited hours for Priority Pass at Dulles but the much better Turkish Airline lounge is nearby. BA lounge has some rabbit food and drinks but the Turkish Air has a food spread and bar.
How about the obvious one: most of us who are getting PP though our credit cards are only interested in the lounges? And thus cutting off the experience aspect doesn't bother us in the least. It's a lounge benefit, and it is delivered via Priority Pass. If there were another vendor and they changed and it gave the same result (i.e., I get lounges when I'm traveling), no one would care. You're confusing the vendor with the product.
You failed to consider people getting Priority Pass is interested in "Priority Pass" not just lounges.
You're confusing what is the product.
I found, based on where I fly out of, I get more benefit out of the restaurant benefit than lounge access. Lost that since I have the Venture X. For some it depends on what airports they transit. It certainly made the cost proposition of the card easier to reconcile when I could charge $56 per visit to the restaurant each visit for my wife and I.
Was at PDX yesterday and sign out front of Capers said “not available to AmEx and CapitalOne cardholders.” So no $28 meal for me as I canceled my CSP.
Oh well
SFO has similar signs at their PP restaurants.
This also happened to me. I wrote The Points Guy to share this information. He said that the venues would have no way of knowing how you received your Priority Pass but apparently they do.
I'm in the PDX airport often, and I have a PP membership fully paid on my own. For a relatively small airport, there are two Capers restaurants and Westward Whiskey that you can access with a paid membership only. You're correct. No credit cardholders are allowed entry anymore.
Interesting I was declined access at a priority pass location in Osaka, Japan. The reason they gave was that it was due my Amex credit card.
Wow, that sucks! The website doesn’t indicate that at all. Did they have a sign?
Are you referring to the 2 PP restaurants at KIX or the Card Members Lounge? Can you clarify?
Correct @Jennifer.
You heard it here first here.
New scanners can now tell if your membership is from Amex, and to the extent from other credit cards.
You don't have to worry about mistake charges in a non lounge location anymore, you will get denied immediately.
Because the want you to eat and drink, and not be healthy!
Now, seriously it probably is a space issue.
Yes - because if it was WIDE open to all the PP credit card holders, it would be crowded as hell. But years ago United Red Carpet Clubs were open to PP members who did NOT have PP through a credit card. So this isn't really anything new. But the problem this brings up is that it's never clear if your PP location is "in-network" or "out of network". It's becoming like US health insurance...
Yes - because if it was WIDE open to all the PP credit card holders, it would be crowded as hell. But years ago United Red Carpet Clubs were open to PP members who did NOT have PP through a credit card. So this isn't really anything new. But the problem this brings up is that it's never clear if your PP location is "in-network" or "out of network". It's becoming like US health insurance where some providers are in your network or not depending on which plan you have.
Chase Ritz cardholders still also get restaurant access
All the Ritz crackers to their heart's content
As you said this gym can only handle 2-3 people at a time. Not sure I’m seeing red flags, but who knows.
I was just at Lark Creek Inn at the San Francisco Airport (SFO) and they told me that they do not honor Priority Pass with American Express, but they do honor Chase.
Is that a restaurant? AMEX PP doesn't work at any restaurant.
Yes, it’s a restaurant in terminal 2
Right. That happened last year. CapOne Venture X also got restaurant benefits cut in January this year.
Not a comment about Priority Pass, but would like some info on Dragon Pass (which we get with our UK Nat West Black cc). Has been cancelled at some lounges, e.g Dan Lounge at Ben Gurion airport, Miami and Heathrow. Assume that Dragon Pass wouldn't pay the charges the lounges wanted. What's going on and any ideas please?
If a person is a Marriott Platinum Elite, one receives lounge access as a benefit. Except at its Ritz Carlton brand, at which only those who pay for lounge (club) access receive it. This might not be the perfect analogy but the key concept is that there's a carve-out. And, to Ben's point, is the gym a one-off carve-out or a sign of things to come? I haven't used a Priority Pass lounge in years...
If a person is a Marriott Platinum Elite, one receives lounge access as a benefit. Except at its Ritz Carlton brand, at which only those who pay for lounge (club) access receive it. This might not be the perfect analogy but the key concept is that there's a carve-out. And, to Ben's point, is the gym a one-off carve-out or a sign of things to come? I haven't used a Priority Pass lounge in years but I'd say that a broader set of carve-outs would create substantial confusion and dissatisfaction.
It's a small gym. The total footprint of the place is 1300 Sq. Ft. and I'm sure ROAM has concerns about PP members blocking out access to their actual paying customers. On the other hand I walk past this place often when flying through BWI and it's usually empty.
IMO best bet is probably to check in on this in a few months to see if the paid members restriction continues to exist. In...
It's a small gym. The total footprint of the place is 1300 Sq. Ft. and I'm sure ROAM has concerns about PP members blocking out access to their actual paying customers. On the other hand I walk past this place often when flying through BWI and it's usually empty.
IMO best bet is probably to check in on this in a few months to see if the paid members restriction continues to exist. In the meantime I'll try to stop by next time I fly out of the airport to get the thoughts of the staff on all this.
Maybe a capacity thing? How big is this fitness center and how much PP volume can it take?
Since the PP app when logged in to your account only shows the lounges you have access, the upside in a sense is that most people won't even know that their card is excluded, while the downside is someone going to the fitness center may see the PP logo and get the reject from staff.
I wonder...
Maybe a capacity thing? How big is this fitness center and how much PP volume can it take?
Since the PP app when logged in to your account only shows the lounges you have access, the upside in a sense is that most people won't even know that their card is excluded, while the downside is someone going to the fitness center may see the PP logo and get the reject from staff.
I wonder how many non-credit card paid members that have in the US. BWI not being a major international hub, prospective customers of this location mostly domestic members. The marketing channels they had have gone away and I don't think I've ever encountered an online ad for them. Maybe some associations and corporations buy these?
Maybe it’s more about limiting overcrowding rather than a payment issue
We did purchase the membership by paying high annual credit card fees so I don't know why there would be any exceptions.
No you didn't, annual fee for CSR is $550, priority pass prestige is $469, if what you said is true then the credit card company basically only get $81 ? They are not going to take a loss if majority of annual fee go towards priority pass, and thats why amex platinum cut out the restaurant part of priority pass network
I wouldn't say it's entirely unprecedented... it's why there are cards that say "Priority Pass Select". (I understand that was previously related to specific airline lounges.)
@ CT -- I understand they say "Select," but what other Priority Pass locations explicitly ban "Select" members?
I remembered like many years ago when United Clubs were still accessible to Priority Pass members, they excluded all “Select” members, and that’s what “Select” meant at that time - no access to airline lounges. But since United stopped accepting Priority Pass, “Select” technically had no difference than the standard membership. But I think Priority Pass kept that branding in case in the future there’s need to distinguish two types of membership - like this one.
United Clubs, when they took Priority Pass. Select members weren't admitted because United got into bed with Chase.
I don't there are any "paid" PP members.....maybe only 4 or 5 worldwide.