The Airport Lounge life… You can lounge it too!

Disclaimer: Any information in this article is based on the products at the time the article was written and is the opinion of the author. Products, services, and pricing will change. Any links for credit cards are referral links and when used will give the referrer a bonus of points or cash. Generally the referral links have the same offers that are available without the link.

Airport lounges always seemed to be so unattainable that I just never really looked into them, assuming it was beyond my social status and available cash. One time I thought about buying access to a specific loung when I had a long layover, but the $40/pp one time cost didn’t make sense at the time. Now I know better. Airport lounges can be free if you have the right tools.

Are lounges really all that?

Yes and no. I have been to about 12 different lounges to date (not a lot) utilizing Priority Pass which we get free from one of our credit cards. Each lounge was completely different. One lounge, Honolulu Hawaii, was the worst I have been to. They had a bottle of water and a small salty snack. That’s it. The chairs and wifi were fine, but there was no added benefit except being away from the crowds.

In the Bahamas, the chairs weren’t great, it was a little crowded, and the food by appearance wasn’t that amazing, however, the taste of the food was really good. A full meal, not just snacks, was available with options for vegetarian and gluten free. Again, not beautiful, but definitely functioning.

In the San Jose California lounge, there’s a handful of food and drinks you can order from wherever you sit. Just scan the QR code and place your order. They are small plates but pretty good. A small array of small food items are available to just pick up and consume including muffins, apples, juice, coffee, and sodas. Breakfast is just ok, but it’s free and there’s enough to make it worthwhile to pop in instead of standing in line to pay for food. Lunch and dinner were pretty good, but be prepared for small portions, think of them as appetizers.

Breakfast options at San Jose International Airport: The Club SJC A8

I think the best one we have been to is at the KLM lounge in Houston terminal D. That food was amazing. We didn’t order drinks, but just drank water (we don’t like to drink when flying). Didn’t matter, there was delicious soup, Swedish meatballs, pasta, salads, and more. We were stuffed.

So, is it worth it? If it wasn’t free, I probably wouldn’t pay for it unless I was a frequent traveler. But, since we get it for free with a credit card, the benefit is definitely there.

1st class and business class usually get access

Depending on your airline, your 1st or business class ticket might gain you access to one or more lounges. For example, business class on an Air France flight will get you into either the Air France or KLM lounges. United First class will get you into the United Club. Access can depend on the airline, airport and status.

Priority Pass Lounges

Priority Pass is a membership that allows you entrance into a network of lounges. They range from Air France, KLM, to other regional lounges. In addition, many of the airports have mini suites which give you 1-2 hours in a private room with a desk, TV and futon/chair. Great for a long layover to get out of the busy noisy airport. Some of the airports have game lounges for all those gamers out there. And then, some of the airports without lounges will offer cash off of your lunch/dinner at a specific restaurant.

Priority Pass lounge access can be paid for with a yearly membership, or you can get a free membership through one of your credit cards.

Best credit cards for lounge access

The Platinum Card from American Express ($695/yr): This is the premium card that gets you access to the largest selection of lounges. This card gives access to the card owner plus 2 guests. If you are after one card that gives you the best travel benefits and lounges are at the top of your priority list, this is the card you should look at. Learn More->

Capital One Venture X Rewards Card ($395/yr): Another strong option as this gives you two lounge plans plus you can bring up to 2 guests. The other added value is each additional card holder (up to 4 more) has their own lounge access just like the main cardholder. That is a pretty good added benefit. Learn More->

Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550/yr): The CSR is one of the top travel cards and can be very beneficial if you can utilize all the credits and freebies. Access to Priority Pass lounge only and is for the cardholder plus 2 guests. If lounge access is what you are looking for, this card isn’t it. However, the benefits of transferring points to travel partners, $300/yr travel credit, free Dashpass, free 1 year Instacart+, free 2 years of Lyft Pink, statement credits with GoPuff, $100 Global entry statement credit, and lots of travel protections. Learn More->

The Business Platinum Card from American Express ($695): The sister card to the personal Platinum AmEx card, this one does not offer the same benefits as the personal card. Again, lots of other benefits, but for lounge access it is limited to 2 lounges (vs 6 with the personal card). You are able to bring 2 additional guests with you. Learn More->

Hilton Honors American Express Business Card ($95): If you don’t travel to more than 10 airports a year (5 round trip), this is the cheapest option to get lounge access (this is the one I did). In addition to lounge access, you are upgraded to Hilton Honors Gold status. The passes are limited to you and one guests 10 times a year. So far this year, I have used 3 out of my 10 access (one was wasted on HNL airport). Learn More->

Lounge reviews:

As I visit different airport lounges, I’ll post the reviews in this section. As of the date of this article, there aren’t any reviews written.

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