Airport lounges, please post your experience, how to get to the lounge, if it was worthy of the visit, and if you had to go through security again...

[rickandcindy23]

@TUGBrian If we could make this a stickie?

I will start. We only have Priority Pass through Chase and Amex.

SJC (San Jose, CA) has two lounges, and the one called The Club at MCO has food and beverages, and a lot is grab and go, but you can also order some items. The access is easy from Southwest gates to the one we visit each time. It's a walk from security, but it's worth the walk and no reentry of security. Great coffee, pop/ soda machines, and they have some hot entrees. My favorite thing about the lounge is I can put my feet up. They have chairs with ottomans. Such a great benefit, and it's a huge lounge, so we never get turned away. There are also nice clean restrooms and lots of tables and quiet areas to work, if you need to.

DEN (Denver) has a restaurant, Sweetwater Mountain Taphouse and it's way down the B concourse past the United gates but before the International gates, and it's a walk from the center area. Denver is unique in that you can get to any of the concourses by train and the train is after all security. The restaurant has some decent salad choices and some hot foods as well. They have food and beverages in the case in the entry and we could grab food, but that food is now no longer included and is apparently provided by another company, so you really have to allow time to sit and order food before your flight.

The B concourse is United, the C concourse is Southwest, A is Alaska and Frontier (mostly). So the train goes to A, then B, where you would exit and walk to the gate for the lounge. The train is in the middle of the airport, so it's very convenient to get back, and it runs every 2-3 minutes (and is always so full when we go).

SFO (San Francisco) has two great restaurants that we have tried. We liked both of them. Yankee Pier is in Terminal 3, and they also have San Francisco Giants Clubhouse. They were both very easy to access, especially when you have lots of time to enjoy a restaurant. We stay at the Hyatt in the airport before flying back to Denver after Hawaii and don't usually fly back to Denver until after 3 PM. Lots of time to enjoy one of those two restaurants.

We used to have a great restaurant in Denver airport, but it is no longer a Priority Pass because apparently the servers were not getting tips. Be sure to tip the servers at the restaurants.

MCO (Orlando) has a great lounge with very limited snacks but quiet areas and an area for little kids, but our grandkids didn't go into that area. They had hummus and veggie plates, which Rick did not impress Rick at all, and a few bags of crackers and chips. You can order by scanning the code on the table. The grankids loved the animal crackers. I enjoyed the coffee.

 

[Luanne]

The best lounges I've been in are the United Polaris lounges in Dulles and Chicago. My daughter loves them because they have showers. We didn't use the sit down restaurant in either one as we didn't really have enough time, but did use the buffet. These lounges were available to us as we were flying United Polaris class.

 

[jmhpsu93]

If you travel enough, lounge membership is worth every penny. I have AMEX platinum with a membership in Priority Pass. This link shows everything you have access to as an AMEX platinum member:

American Express Global Lounge Collection® Programs & Partners - American Express Global Lounge Collection® Programs & Partners

global.americanexpress.com

PHX has an AMEX Centurion lounge in Terminal 4. You can get to all of the terminals behind security but it's a looooong walk. It's really nice and usually crowded.

MCO has the lounge in Gates 70-99. Only take the right-hand train back because if you take the left one you'll exit outside of security and have to go through again. Don't ask me how I know.

CUN has two in Terminal 4 right next to each other...one takes Priority Pass and the other AMEX. The AMEX one (Mira) is much bigger and nicer, and usually less crowded. I can get into both so I choose that one. Not sure about going from Terminal to Terminal as they are far apart (not walkable) and not designed to transverse between the them.

BDL is the airport I fly into for work the most. It has a lounge (Escape) in Terminal A where the Southwest and Jetblue gates are. They take AMEX members. It's nice but small and often a wait list to get in the afternoons/evenings especially later in the week. All gates are behind security so you can move freely.

MSP has and Escape lounge as well,. in Terminal 1 where I DON"T fly out of. It's a hassle to take the train over there and back but they let you go through security...just make sure you have enough time to go through it again on the way back.

 

[rickandcindy23]

SEA (Seattle) has two lounges, but we mostly fly First Class out of SEA and use the Alaska Board Room lounge before our flights. They have great lounges with Starbucks coffee machines and pancakes. Rick laughs at me with the pancakes because I won't eat anything but a single protein pancake at home, but give me an old-fashioned pancake or two, or three, and I am in heaven.

 

[davidvel]

Enjoyed our free visit to one of the United lounges at LAX this summer prior to our flight to Kauai. A few adult morning beverages, breakfast buffet, and brought some muffins and fruit out to the kids on a plate with no objection from staff. A great start to a week+ in Hawaii.

I would estimate $50+ in equivalent value each not even accounting for the quiet atmosphere, but probably would not have indulged as much if paying cash.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Enjoyed our free visit to one of the United lounges at LAX this summer prior to our flight to Kauai. A few adult morning beverages, breakfast buffet, and brought some muffins and fruit out to the kids on a plate with no objection from staff. A great start to a week+ in Hawaii.

I would estimate $50+ in equivalent value each not even accounting for the quiet atmosphere, but probably would not have indulged as much if paying cash.

Do you have the United card? I have considered the card but the fees have stopped me. I had the application all filled out once, and then backed out of it.

 

[Luanne]

Enjoyed our free visit to one of the United lounges at LAX this summer prior to our flight to Kauai. A few adult morning beverages, breakfast buffet, and brought some muffins and fruit out to the kids on a plate with no objection from staff. A great start to a week+ in Hawaii.

I would estimate $50+ in equivalent value each not even accounting for the quiet atmosphere, but probably would not have indulged as much if paying cash.

Dh and I both get "free" passes to the United lounges through our credit cards. We usually use them at SFO prior to a flight to Maui.

 

[Luanne]

Do you have the United card? I have considered the card but the fees have stopped me. I had the application all filled out once, and then backed out of it.

I know you didn't direct this question to me, but I will answer. Both dh and I have Chase United Explorer cards. The yearly fee is $95 and it gives us each 2 lounge passes per year, one free checked bag on all flights and also pays for our Global Entry.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

We have had to let a number of United credit card lounge passes expire. Partly Covid but also when we wanted to use the regular United lounge at several airports they were turning away passes due to overcrowding.

United Polaris Lounge in SFO is not overcrowded and really nice. We have used that prior to international travel in business class. It has a sit-down restaurant and many quiet places to relax.

Agree on the SFO restaurants. We also tried the Mustards restaurant in Terminal 2 when we flew out of Term 1. A bit of a walk through the center of the SFO parking lot and a pass through security is required so plan plenty of time. Mustards had good food but over priced. The burgers alone consumed most of the priority pass budget so have water instead of a beer.

United LHR lounge is huge and has showers. Lots of good food too.

I wanted to try the Denver lounge but it is a hike past the train station at B at the end of the concourse.. We decided we didn't have enough time to eat and make it back to concourse C for southwest.

 

[buzglyd]

In Houston IAH there is a Landry’s restaurant and I think a sports bar. Landry’s isn’t that great but it’s $28 per person so it’s a nice benefit.

San Diego has the Airspace lounge which is nice and PGA Tour grill.

Los Cabos has VIP lounge which is nice but it’s always packed. Same with Cancun.

Tampa has a restaurant that‘s pretty decent.

LAX has a few restaurants. SNA has nothing. PHX and AUS have nothing.

I’ve been in the MCO Club Several times when flying Alaska which is next to Southwest gates.

This is all Priority Pass with my Sapphire reserve. I gave up my United card a few years back because the United clubs are always so packed and don’t offer much. Back In the day United Clubs were great and even offered high end wines for free. Now you have to pay for the good stuff.

 

[melissy123]

Did not realize the PGA Tour Grill had been added for San Diego. We usually fly southwest out of terminal 1 in San Diego and never seem to fly out of Terminal 2.
London Heathrow has restaurants available. We went to Big Smoke Taphouse. They were super nice and gave us food to go even though I think that’s technically not allowed with the Priority Pass.
In Mexico City, one of the lounges had included a free massage. Didn’t get a chance to use it but will keep it in mind.

 

[bnoble]

AMEX platinum

If you live in a Delta hub (I do) this card is almost a no-brainer. It’s not cheap but it’s easy to make it pay off. You can get up to three additional cards for an extra $150 and each cardholder has independent lounge access.

 

[buzglyd]

Did not realize the PGA Tour Grill had been added for San Diego. We usually fly southwest out of terminal 1 in San Diego and never seem to fly out of Terminal 2.
London Heathrow has restaurants available. We went to Big Smoke Taphouse. They were super nice and gave us food to go even though I think that’s technically not allowed with the Priority Pass.
In Mexico City, one of the lounges had included a free massage. Didn’t get a chance to use it but will keep it in mind.

I noticed it the last time I flew. We didn’t have enough time to sit down and eat so we just hit the lounge for a mimosa but I’ll keep it in mind now. Of course with the SW companion pass we’ll be in cruddy Terminal 1 a lot in 2023.

 

[rickandcindy23]

If you live in a Delta hub (I do) this card is almost a no-brainer. It’s not cheap but it’s easy to make it pay off. You can get up to three additional cards for an extra $150 and each cardholder has independent lounge access.

There is a Delta lounge in the Denver airport. Never have we been to that one, but I have considered getting the Amex Platinum for lounge access to use the Centurion lounge in DEN, and it's on the C concourse, which is almost entirely, if not entirely, Southwest, which is the airline we fly most often.

We don't really fly Delta much. There are not many flights on Delta out of Denver, so I am surprised there is a lounge.

 

[jd2601]

Denver Delta Lounge is nice but somewhat small. A very good place to relax prior to a flight. I was at DIA and flight cancelled with my son so I thought I would check out the Centurion Lounge. Looked much larger however there would be $50 charge for my son where he has access to the Delta lounge. Made for a good walk but ended back at the Delta Lounge.

 

[Luanne]

Last year when we flew to Maui from SFO it was when the vaccine requirement was still in place. We were able to do our check in and get our wrist bands at the United lounge. Made it so easy.

 

[jackio]

Last week we flew out of terminal 4 at JFK, and we visited the Primeclass Lounge as soon as it opened at 8 am. They were just setting up but it was pretty bare bones. I got an instant oatmeal cup. There were mini bagels, a coffee machine, beverages in a cooler, a few mini pastries, wrapped apples and oranges, but not much to speak of. I dont know if they brought out more as the day went on, but I would have been disappointed if I had paid to go there. We went on Priority Pass.

 

[buzglyd]

HNL has to Priority lounges. One of them is not worth it. Just a big room with chairs and water. The Orchid lounge is ok but it's a mile from everything. You actually take a wiki wiki bus to it if you don't feel like walking. It's got some ramen noodles, plain sandwiches and cans of beer and some awful wine. We still use it if we are there early enough. We even walk it sometimes just for the workout. Take the wiki wiki back to the gate area.

 

[bnoble]

HNL has to Priority lounges. One of them is not worth it.

I'm reminded of the "lounge" at OGG. Yikes.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I'm reminded of the "lounge" at OGG. Yikes.

That is a nothing lounge, but this last time they had a pop machine and a few items in a cooler. Not much to make it worthy of our time to get into it. The quiet was nice. I caught up on TUG news.

 

[Carolinian]

My favorite lounges are the British Airways lounges at Heathrow, which I could access during the years I had elite ff status on AA.

The best deal I had on lounges, however, was the benefit attached to the Diners Club branded corporate Mastercard I had while working full time in Europe. It had free access to lots of airport lounges and did not cost me anything either directly or indirectly.

 

[frank808]

If you travel enough, lounge membership is worth every penny. I have AMEX platinum with a membership in Priority Pass. This link shows everything you have access to as an AMEX platinum member:

American Express Global Lounge Collection® Programs & Partners - American Express Global Lounge Collection® Programs & Partners

global.americanexpress.com

PHX has an AMEX Centurion lounge in Terminal 4. You can get to all of the terminals behind security but it's a looooong walk. It's really nice and usually crowded.

MCO has the lounge in Gates 70-99. Only take the right-hand train back because if you take the left one you'll exit outside of security and have to go through again. Don't ask me how I know.

CUN has two in Terminal 4 right next to each other...one takes Priority Pass and the other AMEX. The AMEX one (Mira) is much bigger and nicer, and usually less crowded. I can get into both so I choose that one. Not sure about going from Terminal to Terminal as they are far apart (not walkable) and not designed to transverse between the them.

BDL is the airport I fly into for work the most. It has a lounge (Escape) in Terminal A where the Southwest and Jetblue gates are. They take AMEX members. It's nice but small and often a wait list to get in the afternoons/evenings especially later in the week. All gates are behind security so you can move freely.

MSP has and Escape lounge as well,. in Terminal 1 where I DON"T fly out of. It's a hassle to take the train over there and back but they let you go through security...just make sure you have enough time to go through it again on the way back.

There is also another The Club @mco at gates 1-29. We fly United a lot and some flights go out from that concourse.

SEA (Seattle) has two lounges, but we mostly fly First Class out of SEA and use the Alaska Board Room lounge before our flights. They have great lounges with Starbucks coffee machines and pancakes. Rick laughs at me with the pancakes because I won't eat anything but a single protein pancake at home, but give me an old-fashioned pancake or two, or three, and I am in heaven.

Priority Pass also has restaurants Brewtop Social (never been to this one) and Bambuza (OK pho). Trail Head Bar B Que bar has pretty good food but alas, no longer participates in PP.

Enjoyed our free visit to one of the United lounges at LAX this summer prior to our flight to Kauai. A few adult morning beverages, breakfast buffet, and brought some muffins and fruit out to the kids on a plate with no objection from staff. A great start to a week+ in Hawaii.

I would estimate $50+ in equivalent value each not even accounting for the quiet atmosphere, but probably would not have indulged as much if paying cash.

United has one large lounge near Gate 71 and that one is pretty good for domestic lounge.

Do you have the United card? I have considered the card but the fees have stopped me. I had the application all filled out once, and then backed out of it.

I find the United Club card valuable for lounge access. It is hard to use PP lounges and restaurants most times because of the time constraints between flights. I have visited 68 UAL lounges and brought guests to 56 lounges in 2022. So that $450 fee worked out to me paying $7 a lounge visit. I get that easily with an alcoholic drink and some food. The best domestic UAL lounge is at EWR by gate 122. New very large open space, barista made coffees bar, very well stocked alchohol bar and buffet. Plus this is the only domestic UAL Club with showers now.

 

[beejaybee]

Capital One Venture card w/ $95 yearly fee offers access to their lounge(s). Currently just the one by C22 at DFW is operational. I rate it more highly than the UA lounges we've visited thanks to our Chase UA card- DEN, CLE, ORD, EWR, SFO.

 

[mdurette]

We have PP via CSR.

Our home airport (PVD) Providence, RI has a restaurant, Priority Provisions. Always decent for food and drink before a flight. But, sometimes it can be hard to get in because most of the food service places in this airport never reopened after Covid.

 

[mdurette]

I’ve been in the MCO Club Several times when flying Alaska which is next to Southwest gates.

I can never find a lounge near Southwest gates at MCO. Where the heck is it? We fly SW all the time to MCO, would love to take advantage!