Airport Lounges – Are They Worth It?

I was recently airport hopping and thought it would be nice to have access to comfortable lounges there, so I looked into various options for joining airport lounges.  If you only fly on one airline, then a membership to that airline lounge is probably all you need.  However, I was traveling on various airlines, so I needed a different option and found the American Express Premier Card and Priority Pass.  Read on for details about each lounge I visited as well.

American Express Premier Card

If you are traveling a lot, it seems that the American Express Premier card is the best option because there are many extra travel perks.  It costs $450/year, and gives you access to a large number of various airport lounges around the world.  However, it does not give you access to the United Airlines Clubs, and I live in Denver, so I just cannot live without United Airlines Club access….

Priority Pass

I ended up purchasing a Priority Pass.  I got the Standard Plus Membership (the middle level) for $224, which gives me 10 entries into airport lounges around the world – the exact same list as the American Express card, but also the United Clubs.  After 10 visits, it costs $27/visit.  There are cheaper and more expensive options a well.

You can take a limited number of guests into the clubs (exact number varies by club), but they will most likely have to pay $27/person/visit.  The United Clubs allow 2 free guests.

Overall Lounge Experience

At a minimum, the lounges give you a quiet and comfortable place to relax while waiting for your flight.  They all seem to have outlets for charging electronics, free WiFi, drinks, and snacks.  Nicer lounges have nicer food options, free alcoholic drinks, TV, meeting rooms, showers, work areas, etc.

Denver United Club

This club has free Wi-Fi, light snacks (crackers and cheese, fruit, trail mix), coffee (latte machine!) and juices, newspapers, TV’s.  It has comfortable seating and great views.

Washington-Dulles United Club

It is pretty much the same as the Denver United Club.  We were there in the afternoon, so we were also able to take advantage of the free cocktails.

Zurich Airport

On my first visit, I was at the lounge between the A and B concourses.  I was here in the morning, so it had pastries, yogurt, cereal, fruit, latte machine, juices, and champagne.  It also had free WiFi, but newspapers were supposed to stay in the club.

The Panorama Club on the E concourse was not quite so nice.  It had free WiFi, but just croissants, fruit, coffee/tea, and juices for breakfast.  They started lunch at 10:30am, which is a bit better with soup, small sandwiches, a selection of cold salads, and a noodle dish.

Nairobi Airport

The Nairobi lounge was not as nice as the other places, but I have decided that all I really need is a outlet and WiFi, so I was happy (the vodka-tonic helped).  There were lots of comfortable leather chairs, light snacks, soda, and self-serve bar.  I guess it is just the decoration that was lacking, and maybe the large Maasai warrior statue at the front door scared me a little.

London-Heathrow Airport

This club in Termal #1 was okay but not as nice as the one in Terminal #4 (I almost missed my flight there once because of all the free food).  Free alcoholic and soft drinks, light snacks and yummy soup, plus free WiFi.

Frankfurt Airport

The only club I could use in Frankfurt was in the B Terminal, and my gate was in the Z Terminal, which might as well been in Warsaw.  It was just too far away (walking + train), and I would have to go through security again, so it just wasn’t worth it.

The Frankfurt Airport has a lot of outlet options in the general waiting area plus 30 minutes of free WiFi.

Narita Airport

I didn’t actually go to this club on this trip, but I have been there before, and it is worth mentioning.  If you go, make sure you get a beer – take the frosted glass out of the cooler below the beer machine, set the glass in place, and watch as it tilts the glass, pours the beer, and puts the perfect head of foam on top.  Then just add the free sushi.

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