I love an airport lounge! I even get to airports especially early because I know I can head the lounge, set up my laptop, pour a glass of bubbles, smear a teeny scone with jam and whipped cream, and relax.
One of the draw cards for me staying so loyal to Air New Zealand is because Koru (Star Alliance) Lounge access is a perk of being Gold or Elite.
But not every airport offers Star Alliance Lounge access, and sometimes we aren’t flying a Star Alliance plane. Then what!
Here’s the best way to enjoy lounge passes all over the world, in fact 1700 lounges and other things like airport spas. I’ve done some comparisons below to see if it’s actually worth it.
Introducing Priority Pass.
I first heard about Priorty Pass with some US bloggers as we all headed through the airport in Phuket heading for Bangkok after a conference, me thinking I would just sit at the gate with the other plebs. But no! They had Priority Passes, and what’s more they had the Prestige and could guest people in. (I don’t think that’s free any more)
So I’ve just joined it too. In fact I like it so much, I asked if I could be an affiliate to tell my readers about it. And they’ve signed me up (I still paid for my pass!) *but that does mean I will make a small commission if you sign up from my link, at no extra cost.
Here’s where and how Priority Pass works:
You can buy one of three levels: Standard, Standard Plus and Prestige.
The Standard Pass is US$99 (NZ$170), and then you pay US$35 for each lounge use. The Standard Plus card gives you 10 free lounge visits. Guests are $35 each. And the Prestige one includes all lounge visits for a year. Guests are $35.
It’s not just airport lounges too. Some of the passes offer discounted meals and spas in some airports. The lounges do vary. Some are great, some are not!
There are currently 3 membership plans available:
1. The Standard membership plan has an annual membership fee of US$99. Then a US$35 charge will apply per person, per lounge visit.
2. The Standard Plus membership plan has an annual membership fee of US$329. With this membership, you as the member receive 10 complimentary lounge visits per membership year. These visits only cover you as the member. Should you enter the lounge with any guests, a US$35 charge will apply per guest. Once your complimentary visits have been used, a US$35 charge will apply for your visits as well.
3. The Prestige membership plan has an annual membership fee of US$469. This membership plan provides you as the member with unlimited lounge visits. Should you enter the lounge with any guests, a US$35 charge will apply per guest per visit.
You should book your lounge acccess in advance too, as once they are full you’ll be sitting at the gate with a coke in a paper cup.
So is the Priority Pass worth it?
Lots of airport lounges sell passes for anywhere from $30-$60, without any annual membership fee. So you’d need to be a frequent lounge visitor, like upward of 20 times a year, to really get your money’s worth.
For example in Auckland Airport, the Priority Pass gives access to the Strata Lounge. (Air New Zealand’s old international lounge for those with long memories). Non-members can buy access to the Strata Lounge for a four-hour stay for NZ$69 (approx US$40).
At LAX there no lounges, but you can use your pass for some spa treatments at Be Relax including a 30-minute massage valued at US$38.
In San Francisco Priority Pass gives you access to The Club SFO in Terminal 1. To book it without a Priority Pass membership is US$75. Totally worth it if this is your main airport.
At JFK Airport there are several lounges to choose from, plus the Be Relax Spa (same as LAX). The Lufthansa Lounge is only available to Priority Pass members and those flying in the eligible fare class on Lufthansa.
Plus exclusive access to Primeclass Lounge, which is only available to Priority Pass members and eligible AMEX and Mastercard holders. As well as Turkish Airlines Lounge, Air France Lounge, KAL Business Lounge, VIP One Lounge (which is landside, so remember to make time to go through security).
Check out Priority Pass