Are Priority Pass Lounges Worth It?

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Flying can be stressful, especially when dealing with issues like flight delays, crowds, and expensive food and drinks within terminals. 

One way to make travel more relaxing, though, could be to use airport lounges, such as through a Priority Pass membership. 

Priority Pass partners with a network of over 1,400 airport lounges and even offers discounts at certain airport restaurants.

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What Is Priority Pass?

A Priority Pass membership gets you access to over 1,400 lounges and airport experiences around the world. You can also access discounts at some airport restaurants, spas, and gaming centers. 

Rather than operating its own lounges, Priority Pass partners with a network of other lounges, some of which are airline lounges, and some of which are from other companies that operate lounges.

There’s typically a wide assortment of food and drinks within the lounges, often with some alcoholic beverages included.

They also generally have strong, free wifi, making them a good place to get work done.

Other perks include:

• Online duty-free shopping access up to one month before your flight.
• In-app booking of private airport transfers (transfers still have fees).
• In-app access to 50,000+ car rental locations at preferred rates.

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Are Priority Pass Lounges Usually Crowded?

While having lounge access can be great, lounges do get crowded at times, especially during peak travel periods and at busy airports. 

But it really depends on when and where you’re traveling.

And regardless, even if they are crowded, they’re still often enjoyable.

“I’ve run into a few crowded lounges, but never ‘full’ lounges,” says Pamela Holt, travel expert and host of “Me, Myself & The World: The Art of Solo Travel” on Amazon Prime Video.

“I observed on my last visit to a very crowded Priority Pass lounge that the staff was excellent at keeping the space clean, quickly turned over the space of exiting passengers making room for the next traveler, and keeping the refreshments fresh and overflowing.”

You might be able to improve your chances of finding a non-crowded lounge if you travel during off-peak times.

“Most airports and lounges are busiest during workday hours, so planning flights and lounge access after 5 or 6 p.m. can optimize your quiet time,” says Holt. 

“However, if that is not an option, or you plan to access lounges during peak holiday travel times, consider pre-booking your lounge access ahead of time.”

For a relatively small, separate fee that varies by location, you can pre-book guaranteed lounge access at select Priority Pass locations.

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What Happens If a Priority Pass Lounge Is Full?

If a Priority Pass lounge is full, you might be able to wait to get in (the exact time depends on factors like the flow of guests in and out of a lounge). 

But if the lounge is no longer accepting guests, there are still ways to make your airport experience more enjoyable.

“Believe it or not, some airports have designated quiet zones where you can find a little peace and quiet to read a book, listen to a meditation app, or, my favorite, take a nap,” says Holt. 

“I recommend downloading the airport’s mobile app to find these hidden airport gems and, as a bonus, some airports provide real-time information about crowd levels,” which clue you into the busy sections of an airport to avoid. 

How to Reserve Priority Pass Lounge Access

If you want to reserve Priority Pass lounge access, you can pre-book your spot at certain locations. Just pick the time you want to visit the lounge, and Priority Pass will usually hold it for 30 minutes. 

You can typically access these lounges up to three hours before your flight.

To book, visit the Priority Pass website or mobile app and search for lounges at the airports you’re traveling to/from. 

Click on a lounge and, if reserving access in advance is an option, you’ll see “Pre-Book” as one of the choices. 

Or you can find a list of lounges with pre-booking capabilities on Priority Pass’s website. 

You’ll need to enter information such as the time and date you want to visit, your flight details, and pay a small fee. For example, The Club MCO lounges in Orlando have a $7 pre-booking fee.

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Is a Priority Pass Membership Worth It?

The value you’ll get from a Priority Pass membership depends on how often you travel and whether you frequently fly in and out of airports that have Priority Pass lounges.

If you fly a lot and your main hubs have them, then it could be a nice perk for your travels.

“I’ve optimized my membership to avoid short hotel stays – a welcome cost savings, as well as had the opportunity to completely refresh with a luxurious shower at the Plaza Premium Lounge in Hong Kong,” says Holt.

There are three main membership tiers:

• Standard: $99 annual fee; $35 per visit; $35 per guest visit
• Standard Plus: $329 annual fee; 10 free visits then $35 per visit; $35 per guest visit
• Prestige: $469 annual fee; unlimited free visits; $35 per guest visit

Or, depending which credit card you have, you may already have Priority Pass access.

For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, and The Platinum Card® from American Express — as well as many others — all have Priority Pass included as a benefit.

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Even for occasional travelers, buying one-time access might be worth it.

“If you travel less often, consider a day pass — a great option to optimize your budget,” says Holt. 

“But be sure to do the math and make sure that your total spend does not inch its way up to the membership cost. In the end, it might be more worth it to take the plunge and buy the full-year membership.”

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FAQs

What credit cards get me Priority Pass lounge access?

Several credit cards provide free Priority Pass Select memberships, though these can change over time, so be sure to check the fine print. 

Some of the top credit cards that come with Priority Pass lounge access include:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
• U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite

What airports have Priority Pass lounges? 

Priority Pass offers access to over 1,400 lounges and airport experiences. Some of the big-name airports that have them include Dubai International Airport, London Heathrow, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, San Francisco International Airport, and Singapore Changi Airport.

Can I bring guests into the Priority Pass lounge?

Typically you can bring guests into a Priority Pass lounge for a fee of $35 per guest, though some credit cards with Priority Pass memberships give you free guest access. 

Check the guest policy of your membership and the specific lounge you want to access for more details.

TL;DR: Should You Get a Priority Pass Membership?

Weigh the cost of a membership against what you might otherwise spend at an airport. 

Also, compare Priority Pass to the cost of gaining access to other airport lounges. Depending on which airports you use frequently, you might not be in places with Priority Pass options. 

In that case, you might choose another lounge, like The Centurion Lounge through American Express. Or, you might decide to skip lounges altogether and find a quiet place in an airport to relax.

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Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.