Here, a sampling of top airline lounges in the United States, drawn from first-hand experience, along with input from frequent fliers and industry insiders. “In Europe, it was never a membership club, but for the flag carriers, a premium cabin experience and a part of the journey.”īut while the ambience at many domestic airports may feel more like a bus terminal on a bad day, at most major gateways, there are a few havens that retain a sense of glamour. airlines misread what the lounge was,” says Henry Harteveldt, cofounder and travel analyst with Atmosphere Research Group. In other moves to ease overcrowding at popular spots, some airlines have added limits on the number of hours travelers can spend per visit, as well as on how many guests they can bring. American Airlines has a more exclusive Flagship First product for those holding first-class and some business-class tickets, and United is making a major investment in Polaris lounges for international first- and business-class passengers at its domestic hubs. airlines are moving to more of a two-tiered system so their best customers will also get that VIP feel: Delta Air Lines, for example, has announced a new line of Delta One lounges exclusively reserved for those traveling in the carrier’s long-haul first-class cabins, with the first one slated to open in 2023 at New York’s John F. The bar for admission is typically higher at the lounges operated by foreign flag carriers serving the United States, which often restrict entry to first- and business-class fliers or travelers with elite status. In addition to popular credit cards, apps such as LoungeBuddy, which was acquired by Amex in 2019 and helps users locate lounges, and membership programs like Priority Pass have made it easier to pay for a day pass at select airport lounges, depending on availability-if you can find a facility that still offers this single-visit perk. There is also a growing network of credit card–branded lounges, including Amex-branded Centurion and Escape lounges, forthcoming Chase Sapphire lounges, and Capital One–branded lounges, which serve as added benefits for traveling cardholders. Several credit cards, including the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the American Express Platinum, come with Priority Pass Select membership, which gives travelers access to a network of lounges once they activate their membership. If you don’t have elite status with any of the airlines, there are numerous other ways that you may be able to gain access to an airline lounge. But even if you’re not exactly alone, there are still ample perks in these elevated waiting rooms that often make them very much worth the barrier to entry. Unfortunately, the larger crowds make the experience feel a little “less glamorous Hollywood party,” according to Michael Williams, a frequent flier and men’s style influencer from the website A Continuous Lean. And now, airport lounges are filling back up again. Crowding inside these terminal sanctuaries was a persistent problem even prior to the pandemic, dating back to 2016, when credit card companies started issuing travel-friendly plastic that allowed many more people to get past the velvet rope. Pretty much any lounge beats sitting around in the main airport terminal.Įven so, if you’re looking for a quiet spot to escape the mosh pit at the gate, you may find you’ve got plenty of company. Besides, it had already taken me several minutes to secure a table at a very crowded airport lounge. #HOUSTON CENTURION LOUNGE FREE#It was a minor inconvenience to make room for my own bowl of free chow. With my napkin for protection, I gingerly pushed aside the half-full bowl of tomato-cheddar soup and hummus plate the last occupant had left behind.
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