The pass doesn’t guarantee that you’ll gain access to all of the airlines’ lounges, however, so you’ll have to check in advance to make sure. Top airline credit cards, AmEx Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve credit cards, and several other premium cards include Priority Pass membership.Īnother nice thing about the Priority Pass is that it includes many of the airlines’ own lounges, such as Air France’s airport lounges at JFK, O’Hare, and San Francisco. In addition to entry to traditional lounges, members receive a one-time per-visit credit of $28 – $30 toward food and beverage bills at participating airport restaurants and bars. Or you can buy a $99 membership, then pay $35 every time you access an in-network airport lounge. If you don’t travel that often, you can pay $329 for 10 free airport lounge visits, with additional visits beyond that costing $35 each. For $469 per year, you get free, unlimited access to all of the airport lounges in the network. What’s nice about Priority Pass is that you can choose from several membership levels. JetBlue also partners with American Airlines to allow Admiral Club members who are flying JetBlue to access AA lounges. Allegiant, Frontier, JetBlue, and Southwest do not operate their own lounge programs, though JetBlue partners with programs in Montego Bay and Kingston, Jamaica. WestJet arranges lounge access at its major terminals. Of the airlines based in North America, Air Canada, Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, and United currently operate lounge programs, with one or more locations at each major airport they serve. Airline club memberships also give you access into alliance lounges, including the Star Alliance and Oneworld airlines, which will help a lot if you’re traveling internationally. If you fly one airline exclusively, however, an airline membership is still something to consider. Those perks are mostly gone now, with road warriors finding more flexible ways to gain access to airport lounges (see the “Elite Status” and “Credit Card” sections below). It used to be that all business travelers worth their salt carried a lounge membership card with their preferred airline, often purchased on their company’s dime. Related: The 10 Best Flight Search Sites for Booking Cheap Airfare Invest in an Airport Lounge Membership Some only offer access to passengers flying within that country, so check before you buy. Admission to these airport lounges typically ranges between $30 to $60 (with a few outliers to the north and south), and most of them restrict the amount of time you can spend there. If you’re traveling internationally, check out Lounge Pass, which sells day passes to hundreds of airport lounges worldwide, including several at London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports. (As of recently, Delta no longer sells single-day airport lounge passes to the general public.) Keep in mind, however, that most of these airline passes are limited to U.S. Alaska Airlines sells day passes for the airline’s lounges for $60, while American charges $50 and United charges $59 per day. Several airlines sell day passes to their airport lounges, allowing you to relax in comfort without a long-term commitment. How to Get Into Airport Lounges Jacob Lund | Adobe Stockįollowing are seven ways that savvy travelers can get into airport lounges, even if their tickets read “coach.” Buy a One-Day Airport Lounge Pass When you’re the one sinking into a cushy armchair instead of clamoring for a seat at the gate, you’ll be glad to have airport lounge access as a respite from the usual airport irritations. But for the rest of us stuck in the back of the plane, there are ways to gain access to these comfy inner sanctums without shelling out thousands of dollars for an upgrade. Following a legal challenge in 1966, though, the lines switched to annual paid memberships.Įntrance to most airport lounges usually comes free for those carrying a first- or business-class ticket (and often, for economy-class flyers carrying an active military ID). The no-fee airport lounge membership system was by invitation only. Lounges were first launched in 1939 by the then-giant airlines as facilities for VIPs and recognized frequent flyers. At the very least, they can give you sanctuary from the concourse noise and hubbub. With amenities like free Wi-Fi, drinks, snacks, and glossy magazines, airport lounges feel like the answer to most of your travel annoyances. While you’re waiting out a long layover, nothing seems more enticing than an airport lounge.
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