After a year of disrupted travel, flyers are yearning for a calm and relaxing airport experience. It’s time to escape the chaos of crowded terminals and finally opt for a VIP lounge instead. Read on for a step-by-step guide of how to join an airport VIP lounge to elevate your upcoming travels.
The Basics
Lounges are typically exclusive, luxurious spaces that offer an array of amenities, allowing travelers to escape the chaos of average terminals. Most lounges offer an abundance of comfortable seating options, charging ports, free food and drinks, a full-service bar, Wi-Fi, work areas, showers, and even sometimes spa services for travelers to indulge in. Airport VIP lounges are all unique, in design and offerings, depending upon the airport and airline.
Gaining Access: Credit Cards
There are multiple different ways travelers can gain access to an airport VIP lounge. According to experts, the most reliable way to gain entrance is through credit cards. Several credit card programs offer access to elite airport lounges. Check in with your preferred airline to see about potential credit card offerings you can apply for.
Some popular credit card offerings include:
- American Airlines Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard offers an Admirals Club membership, providing access to both international and domestic Admirals Club lounges, among others.
- Delta Airlines SkyMiles Reserve American Express card allows complimentary access to Delta Sky Club lounges.
- United Airlines United MileagePlus Club card offers access to all United Club lounges and Star Alliance affiliated clubs.
- The American Express Platinum card allows free access to Amex Centurion lounges, Priority Pass lounges and more.
Gaining Access: Priority Pass
Another way to join is by signing up for a Priority Pass membership. The membership provides access to several airport amenities and to 1,300 airport lounges, across airlines, in over 600 cities and 148 countries worldwide. The Priority Pass offers three different membership plans. The Standard membership is geared towards occasional travelers, while the Standard Plus and Prestige memberships are geared towards the regular and more frequent travelers, providing more lounge visits a year.
Gaining Access: Annual Membership & Day Passes
If you typically fly the same airline when you travel, you could join buy purchasing an annual membership offered by your preferred airline carrier. Some airlines even allow flyers to purchase the annual membership using frequent flyer miles.
For the less frequent traveler, select airport VIP lounges allow flyers to purchase a single-use day pass for access into the lounge. The price of a day pass typically ranges between $29-$50, depending on the carrier.
Regardless of the method you choose to get in the door, the VIP lounges and their unique amenities can be well-worth the investment. Get to know your preferred airline and airport lounge offerings to prepare for an easy and enjoyable holiday travel season.