Priority Pass

In the past I’ve been frustrated with the crowds at Gatwick and the idea of the peace and quiet of an airport lounge is very appealing. Not being in the position to afford Upper Class tickets, I have been looking at the alternatives and saw the links at the bottom of this forum for Priority Pass, does anyone have any experience of this membership? I have found access to the Serviceair lounge at LGW for around the same price as the entry level Priority Pass membership so don't really see the benefit. Any comments gratefully received!!

Tim

[Pete]

I have Priority Pass and find it very useful, since not all (in fact, not that many) lounges allow pay-at-the-door.

Pete

Cool, i guess its probably of more benefit at the other end of your journey where you might not have been able to pre-arrange a lounge. No substitute for the pukka Virgin suite though!

[Pete]

Yes, and then there's always the situation were an unexpected delay means you might have a few hours to kill. Plus it's useful when you're with friends and want to treat them to a bit of pampering before the flight.

Pete

[Decker]

It's also nice to have a choice - when I fly back from BRU I can use the BMI Diamond Club Lounge on my Au Status Match but I prefer the common lounge. So last Friday I went into the Diamond Club Lounge to grab a UK paper and then headed back to the common lounge for entry with my PP card.

If you have a NatWest Black card then you get a top priority pass membership card automatically; i.e. no entry fee for cardholder. However, the annual fee is about £250 a year. Not a good deal you may think since that if more expensive than the top membership fee to priority pass.

However, there is no additional charge for a supplementary card. Guess what - supplementary card holder also gets a top priority pass membership card. Now - that annual fee looks a like a good deal provide there are 2 of you to share the account.

For what it is worth, you also get free Green Flag car recovery and home emergency insurance.

There is a minimum income level to qualify though.

I have found the priority pass card useful from time to time. At Nice Airport, BA business class ticket holders do not get access to the lounge - only BA Au or Ag card holders. However, a priority pass card gets you in.

[fozzyo]

Some travel insurance firms will offer Priority Pass as an extra add-on. For example I buy annual insurance from Columbus and I know they have it as an extra - not sure if it saves money over buying it seperately. I usually go in as a Guest of Mr F as he is FC Gold and PP card holder.

If you fly a few times a year it is worth it, the lounges are nice, usually quiet, relaxed and you can get some drinks and nibbles. I'd also check the airports you are likely to use, for example the terminal at JFK didn't have a PP lounge last time we were there, someone who has one may be able to clarify this.

Foz xx

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by KenJohn

If you have a NatWest Black card then you get a top priority pass membership card automatically; i.e. no entry fee for cardholder. However, the annual fee is about £250 a year. Not a good deal you may think since that if more expensive than the top membership fee to priority pass.

However, there is no additional charge for a supplementary card. Guess what - supplementary card holder also gets a top priority pass membership card. Now - that annual fee looks a like a good deal provide there are 2 of you to share the account.

For what it is worth, you also get free Green Flag car recovery and home emergency insurance.

There is a minimum income level to qualify though.

I have found the priority pass card useful from time to time. At Nice Airport, BA business class ticket holders do not get access to the lounge - only BA Au or Ag card holders. However, a priority pass card gets you in.

Top level of Priority Pass - Prestige Level is actually £259/year.

If you do a search on the forum you will find a few threads on Priority Pass and the benefits.

Thanks,
Richard

Sure JFK still doesn't have a PP lounge, or if it does its the Korean Air lounge in T1. Still now AU the Clubhouse beats anything there anyway.

Got my PP included with Amex and its unlimited usage a year, the top level. Found it really useful although not sure I would pay for it.

Unfortunately Coventry Airport didn't have a PP lounge. In fact I've been in PP lounges that are bigger than Coventry Airport.

Dean

[fozzyo]

I'm still having flashbacks to Coventry Airport. *shudder*

[RichardMannion]

I remember having to go through Luton airport once, and using the lounge there. I think I can quite comfortably say, my en-suite at home is bigger than the lounge there - but then it was downright empty on one of the busiest days of the year (24th Dec). There was me and a journo covering the Madonna wedding in Scotland and we made the place look full.

Thanks,
Richard

I think the Diner's Club card also allows use of lounges, albeit at a price but not as great as the Priority Pass card or Natwest black card.

Cheers,
VS045

Priority Pass is good if you fly frequently. Can be very frustrating in some of the US airports though, where specific airlines essentially own the terminal - take AA at ORD for example. The only lounge will be the AA Admirals Club. PP will not get you in there.

Agreed.. it is very useful, even in smaller regional airports. Luton is a fine example.. the lounge isn't very big, but there's free beer, and free internet.. and peace and quiet. Which is much more pleasant that wandering round and round the departure lounge, browsing aimlessly around the shops and getting frustrated at the kids who keep running into you with their chocolate covered hands..

And it really becomes valuable in delayed=flight situations, where you very much need a quiet place to chill..

Has anyone tried the PP lounges at JFK T4? I doubt I'll ever make it to the clubhouse, so having somewhere else that may have a chair more comfortable than the concrete seating at JFK may be a good idea to try.

TIA.

[Bazz]

If you fly two/three or more times per year and you don't have access to lounges through your class of travel or a FF program then annual membership of PP starts to make sense, less than that it doesn't really cost justify.

We have enjoyed membership for some years now through Amex and found it a real life saver.

Thanks Bazz,

A few of my flights a year are from JFK so I was just wondering if the lounges there are worth trying? Oasis and The Lounge are the ones I believe that are landside.

[Bazz]

The Oasis

Opening Hours: 04:00 - 23:30 daily.

Conditions: All immediate family members can enter the KLM Lounge with the cardholder, but the number of persons who are not immediate family will be limited to two (2) at any one visit - Non-smoking.

Lounge Facilities: Air Conditioning, Alcohol Available, Fax Internet/Dataport, Newspapers/Magazines Available, Refreshments Available, Showers Available, Telephone Television WiFi Available.

The Lounge

Opening Hours: 04:00 - 02:00 daily.

Conditions: Maximum 4 hour stay - Children under 12 years are admitted free - Non-smoking - Cardholders are required to provide their Passport to the Lounge staff for the duration of their visit to the Lounge.

Lounge Facilities: Air Conditioning, Alcohol Available, Conference Facilities Available, Disabled Access Fax Flight Information Monitor Newspapers/Magazines Available, Refreshments Available, Showers Available, Telephone Television WiFi Available.

Hope this helps?

Thanks again Bazz, I did see the list, but just wondering if anyone had been in them and had any comments.

[Bazz]

Not used them myself, used to be able to enjoy CH access courtesy of Centurion, Grrr. [n]