The Priority Pass program is a network of airport lounges (and, more recently, restaurants, bars, and even day suites) that allow access to program members. They can be airline lounges or locations with no airline affiliation.
The Priority Pass program has been around for over 30 years now. In 2005, we visited a lounge in Japan with a friend who had a membership. Lounges generally didn’t sell day passes back then, as access to these rooms was seen as an exclusive perk for frequent flyers. Today, the airlines see membership to the lounges and access to them as another way to generate extra revenue.
Here’s a description of Priority Pass from their website:
Since 1992, Priority Pass has been providing frequent Travellers with independent airport lounge access worldwide. Our network of lounges continues to grow from strength to strength today.
Over 25 years ago our founder watched premium-class airline ticket holders enjoying the exclusivity and tranquillity of their airport lounges, as he endured the chaos of the departure hall.
His answer was to create Priority Pass – a club that is simultaneously inclusive (affordable to all) and exclusively for those who value a little piece of civilization on their journey. In short, a place where you are always treated like No. 1, rather than part of the herd.
Since 1992, several have tried to follow our lead. But our determination to remain the No.1 choice has driven unrivaled investment in lounges, resources, processes, technology, and partnerships.
The result is that today Priority Pass still offers more lounges, in more cities, in more countries than any other programme. And it’s why every visit is defined by faster, easier access.
The program fizzled out during the Great Recession at the end of the 2000s as the major U.S. airlines closed lounges at less busy airports and stopped allowing access to Priority Pass Members. Our friend summed it up best when saying why he stopped paying for a membership:
As my travel declined I reduced my membership, and as their lounges reduced in number at each airport, I finally dropped them. For instance, when I first joined, both Delta and United had lounges in the program at MCO, but then only the United lounge was allowed for a time. Philadelphia used to have lounges at every terminal etc. Then there was only 1 in Phila. It came in very handy over the years but without lounges [for me to visit], it was an expense I couldn’t justify.
However, since then, the program has picked up speed and grown considerably.
How To Get a Membership With Priority Pass
You can purchase a Priority Pass membership from their website. They have three levels of membership:
- Standard – Membership fee $99/year. Member visit fee $35. Guest fee $35.
- Standard Plus: Membership fee is $329/year. The member gets 10 free visits per year, and then each visit is $35. Guest fee is $35.
- Prestige – Membership fee $469/year. Member visits are free. Guest fee $35.
Priority Pass enrollment has seen a resurgence, mainly due to the increase in popularity of premium travel credit cards. All major card issuers’ “luxury card” products offer a Priority Pass Select membership as a perk.
Club Aspire Lounge at LHR T5 – a Priority Pass Select location
Credit Cards that offer Priority Pass Select membership
- American Express Platinum (Personal & Business)
- Bank of America Premier Rewards Elite
- Capital One Venture X
- Capital One Venture X Business
- Citi Prestige
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- City National Crystal Visa Infinite
- Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite
- Ritz-Carlton Rewards
- U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve (4 free member + guest visits)
- U.S. Bank Altitude Connect (4 free visits)
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant AMEX Card
- Mastercard Black Card
- Mastercard Gold Card
- UBS Visa Infinite
The most significant difference between cards is that only a few still offer a $28 credit when visiting airport restaurant locations like Bobby Van’s at JFK, Chef Geoff’s at IAD and The Grain Store Cafe at LGW. The Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite, Citi Prestige, Emirates Skywards Premium, Mastercard Black & Gold card and UBS Visa Infinite are the only ones that state that they’ll cover restaurants.
All cards still include other airport experiences like the Minute Suites at Charlotte Airport.
All of these cards give the cardholder access to the lounges at no visit fee, but the number of guests you can bring with you for free depends on which card provides your membership.
A membership from American Express Platinum cards and the Chase Sapphire Reserve allows you to bring in two guests. The Citi Prestige allows two guests or immediate family members (spouse, domestic partner and/or children under 18). This can be a huge difference if you’re traveling as a family with multiple children.
The best card to have Priority Pass Select membership through is the Ritz-Carlton Rewards card because you can bring an unlimited number of guests into the lounge. I’m not sure what amount would be too much as the lounge will be paid for each person you bring.
Priority Pass Lounges
The Club at MCO – a Priority Pass Select location
Priority Pass has grown recently, adding many new sites to its network. You can search their lounge locations on their website or the Priority Pass App.
Some of these new partners are non-traditional for what was considered a “lounge” network. In Baltimore, Detroit, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, New York (LGA & JFK) and Dallas (DFW) airports, Priority Pass Select members can now access the Minute Suites. “Cardholders can use their lounge visit entitlement to use a Minute Suite for a 1 hour stay. 1 Minute Suite usage represents a single lounge visit within the Cardholder’s existing lounge visit allocation for which the Cardholder will, where applicable, be charged. Each subsequent hour of Minute Suite usage will be charged at a discounted rate of US$34 and payable directly to Minute Suites). Suites are suitable for up to 4 persons.”
Minute Suites at Philadelphia Airport – a Priority Pass Select location
These rooms are suitable for naps (they have a day bed that sleeps two), relaxing (suites include a Smart TV), or work (you have access to free Wi-Fi). If you’re paying cash, these rooms usually start at $48 an hour; getting one hour free and extra hours at $34 is a great deal.
Re-Growing Pains
As with any program experiencing a massive increase in membership, problems cropped up. The main issue was the overcrowding of lounges that welcomed Priority Pass members. Lounges can limit the number of Priority Pass members allowed access, and due to capacity limits, Alaska lounges have dropped out of the program.
We were able to get into the Wingtips Lounge at JFK with our Priority Pass card, but by the time we left, this notice was by the entrance.
Even our local The Club MCO location has reached capacity on recent visits.
Final Thoughts
At one time, I didn’t give a whole bunch of value to lounge access. It’s nice to have but not a necessity. With us writing for YMMV, lounge access has become more important when we want to work at the airport (these posts don’t write themselves). We appreciate a desk with plugs and reliable internet to take up the time during a two-hour flight delay. I don’t think I’d pay for a Priority Pass membership, but I view it as an enjoyable perk of having certain credit cards.
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