Priority Pass Lounge Access - Worth It? (Spoiler - yes!)
Over the years I have spent a lot of time in airports. A LOT of time. Before I started travelling for work, I had heard of the executive/frequent flyer lounges, and wondered what they were like. Then I got a Priority Pass membership, and everything changed.
Where I live in the summer, traffic is a constant concern. Airport passenger volumes keep increasing too, making arriving at the airport early the smart choice. Oh, I have all the ways to speed up my travel - priority check in, known traveler membership, valet parking. Even so - I don’t want to be running through the terminal, hoping to catch my flight. So I arrive early. But what to do with all the time at the airport? Hang out in a lounge, that’s what!
Priority Pass gets you access to an entire network of lounges. Unlike airline specific programs, you do not have to be flying with any particular airline. If the lounge is part of the Priority Pass program, show your card and your boarding pass, and you are in. In Toronto Pearson Airport, there is an Air France - KLM Lounge. It is part of Priority Pass. So are the various Plaza Premium Lounges in the airport. Flying back from Cancun? Try out the Mera Business Lounge. Passing through Tel Aviv Airport - recover in the Dan Lounge. There are so many lounges available to Priority Pass Members that you will seldom find yourself without access.
So what can you expect to find in a Priority Pass affiliated lounge? My favorites - comfy chairs, free WiFi, and snacks and drinks. The FAQ from Priority Pass lists the following perks -
• Access to over 1300 airport+ lounges worldwide in over 130 countries
• Complimentary refreshments including alcohol in most lounges
• Space to work or wind down before your flight
• Free Wi-Fi and handy charging points in most lounges
• Comfortable seats and quiet spaces
• Conference rooms, showers and other facilities in selected lounges
• Access to exclusive retail, dining, spa and sleeping options in selected airports
So you get to the airport, after fighting traffic, or maybe enduring a crazy taxi ride, you wait in the long lines of check in and security, and now you are still two hours early for your flight. You could wander around the terminal, buying wildly overpriced items. Or you could just sit by the gate, in the increasingly crowded waiting area. For me - the choice is easy. I go to the Priority Pass lounge, relax, do a little work, have a snack, a drink, and download content to my tablet.
In December 2018 a new perk was announced - Priority Pass membership now comes with discounts at various retailers in airports. Make sure you have the app installed on your smartphone (at most lounges you can use this app to get access, even if you didn’t bring your physical card). On the app you will find the discounts available - and they might be just what you want to make your trip special. The press releases announced “In addition to accessing world-renowned lounges and dining options, Members can now enrich their pre-flight experience through specially negotiated offers at hundreds of dining, spa, retail and airport services.”
If any of this has made you consider a Priority Pass membership - I have a deal for you. Click on the link below - you will get a discount on the membership. And yes, it helps me out too. I have been a Priority Pass member for years, and it is a membership I am happy to promote.
