Posted on 10/06/2022 9:04:20 PM PDT by where's_the_Outrage?
Sometimes when almost anyone can get into an airport lounge, no one can. Here's what to know before you count on using this credit card perk.
Years ago, there were business travelers and there were leisure travelers, and nary did the perks of the high-flying former trickle down to the economy-focused latter. Airport lounges that offer cozy chairs, free buffet spreads and an open bar while you wait to board? Those were reserved for the business traveler in the tailored suit.
In recent years, the lines have blurred. The airport lounge slowly became not only a haven for the business traveler, but a luxurious treat for a growing number of passengers in all classes of service. That’s because those who hold certain credit cards can unlock access to airport lounges.
Here’s a look at how credit cards have fueled a huge surge in airport lounge visitors, and how that affects your odds of being able to visit one on your next trip — even if you have the right card.
(Excerpt) Read more at nerdwallet.com ...
One perk of the lounges used to be the best agents worked the clubs. I went to the agent to cancel my ticket for a refund and they said they didn't have that capability, I'd have to go to the main ticket counter, again WTF?
I then found out skyclubs were packed with Credit Card users, not like the Crown Rooms of the 80's.
I rarely travel by air, but since all the airport lounges went smoke free, I have little use for them.
Went I stopped in such lounges, I kept in mind not to drink so much than I would fall asleep and miss my flight, or worse yet, need to rush to the gate and board my plane in that condition. This was pre-TSA. The menus were usually good, albeit overpriced to their captive customers.
My wife and I have, as our guilty pleasure, visiting airport lounges.
It makes us look forward to a flight, and we get there early to have a meal.
I did a three week trip to Australia about six years ago...all business class. The plus-up I thought...would be the airport lounge (Frankfurt, Dubai, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane). With the exception of Dubai...the lounge business was a joke....mostly overcrowded, and marginally stocked.
I really like the Capital One Lounge at DFW Airport.
It’s sort of like being on a cruiser ship. Every activity has a room, to be taken ‘as is’. The plus side is I would sometimes have very good conversations with people I will never meet again. T’was still nice to meet them. Learn from them.
Good for you, take advantage of the perks.
But airlines are cutting back on these perks, for example Delta now says you must be on a ticketed flight within 3 hours of the scheduled departure time to get club access.
They then put out a caveat, lifetime can continue to enter anytime without a plane reservation as that was the condition when I bought the membership.
My wife and I have met several famous people at the Delta lounges in Atlanta.
Years ago I traveled on British Caladonia every 28 days to London and then on to Lagos. That was the old days. It was good. I enjoyed their lounge. The class of those in the lounge was good. It was very civilized.
Oddly I became a devout customer of British Caledonia due to Braniff Airlines going bankrupt. When I got to London Braniff Airlines had gone bankrupt literally while I was in the air from Lagos. I had no ride home to Dallas.
Caledonia in a stroke of brilliance honored those tickets and took us home. They received nothing from Braniff. Caledonia knew these were long haul repeat customers. Thus, Caledonia enjoyed my business class tickets for years.
British Caledonia no longer exists. British Airways bought them.
A friend of mine met Bruce Willis while waiting for a rental car shuttle at Albuquerque airport, and had a nice conversation with him. Of course, my friend is not impressed by much and stays cool in tough situations, which celebrities generally appreciate.
Around 1979, I was in a position that required lots of travel. My boss traveled the same. He sprung $200 for a LIFETIME pass to the TWA lounge. At that time, they were exclusive for business travelers and very nice.
That lifetime pass went POOF when TWA disappeared.
A few decades ago, newly married and living with my British husband in England, I always enjoyed the British Caledonian adverts on TV. Our favorite at that time, used The Beach Boys ‘California Girls’ music. It had passengers rolling down the baggage ramp to the carousel, where the beautiful and nattily dressed stewardesses would help them off the carousel and hand them their baggage. All to ‘I wish they all could be Caledonia Girls’ playing in the background.
Traveling used to be so much more fun……
We live in a highly technical world of specialists. Until the lock downs I flew 50 times a year with a hardhat strapped to my backpack. The big airlines now make almost nothing on flights and all their profit on credit cards and rewards programs.
I have noticed that the Delta lounges have been quite full lately, but I didn’t realize that it was because of credit card users.
I generally buy an annual membership with miles, and I’ve loved being able to sit down someplace relatively non-chaotic and take a break, especially between connecting flights. Most of the time people are working on their tablets, recharging their devices or reading a magazine and chatting. And the food at Delta lounges is usually excellent.
Help with rebooking and flight problems has also been great.
The Sky Club is one of the things I really like about Delta, so I hope they figure out a way to keep them good!
I was a commercial flight attendant for over 20 yrs then switched to flying corporate. I got to keep my miles with flying private from flying to the planes, which were positioned all over the world, and was quickly Platinum, Diamond and any other top tier classification with all airlines and hotels andI was upgraded all the time to First and Upper Class on the a/cs and better rooms at the hotels.
I would utilize the perk of being able to go to the lounges but found that they were filling up with ‘riffraff’- the very people I wanted to get away from when flying. Not businessmen but loud, obnoxious families and others who would pig out at the buffets or spread themselves out like they were at a redneck picnic in the hot July South in the Carolinas.
THE BEST lounge was the Virgin Club in one of the major airports - can’t remember which. Got a back massage, pedi and sushi to order.
Probably the Upper Class lounge at Gatwick—really great.
You were, in fact, cheating.....you had no intention of using that ticket. Why didn’t you just take him to a bar and PAY for his drinks??
Oh heavens!! Sooooo sorry you had to share a room with lesser people... Man talk about being a self righteous arse...
Im one of those dreaded credit card users ...
I enjoy the United Club ...
I’ve never been to an airport lounge so don’t have a clue. It appears from comments here that the United States is beginning to adopt the caste system mentality of India. Just wow.
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