Are airport lounge worth the cost?

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dn7309

Senior member
Dec 5, 2012
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I rarely travel but I've been hearing people I work with opening an American Express Platinum card to get access to airport lounges to make their travel layover easier. Have any one here used an American Airlines or Delta Skylounge that want to give a mini review? I usually use the Military USO lounge which have wifi and computers and sofas and that was good enough for me.

We're all in the military so our annual fee are waived. But the thought of opening another credit card makes me cringe because I have four open already. None of them have an outstanding balance and having another one might kill my credit rating.
 
kranky

kranky

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
21,019
156
106
Another card won't cripple your rating, but IMHO it's not worth paying the annual fee just to use airport lounges unless you fly a lot and use airports with lounges. But there are other benefits that might factor in to your decision.
 
Ns1

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,599
126
As long as it costs nothing then yes.

In all seriousness it depends. Worth it if you drink or travel internationally and might be worth it for the wifi depending on airport.
 
Anubis

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,712
427
126
tbqhwy.com
Ns1 said:
As long as it costs nothing then yes.

In all seriousness it depends. Worth it if you drink or travel internationally and might be worth it for the wifi depending on airport.
Click to expand...

ive yet to be in an airport that does not have free wifi
 
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Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
126
If you have to ask, probably not. I think they're mostly 'worth it' for people who don't mind spending that much for a bit of extra comfort. There's a market.

In a way, airline travel has been one of those 'equalizers' for the more wealthy, having to put up with a lot of the same things as everyone else - but less and less.

Put aside private jets - now these lounges help, and preferred security checks help, and of course expedited boarding and so on.

Ever see those guys waiting with signs on names on them at the exit? Another way some have less hassle travelling.
 
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Exterous

Super Moderator
Jun 20, 2006
20,553
3,713
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dn7309 said:
I rarely travel but I've been hearing people I work with opening an American Express Platinum card to get access to airport lounges to make their travel layover easier. Have any one here used an American Airlines or Delta Skylounge that want to give a mini review? I usually use the Military USO lounge which have wifi and computers and sofas and that was good enough for me.

We're all in the military so our annual fee are waived. But the thought of opening another credit card makes me cringe because I have four open already. None of them have an outstanding balance and having another one might kill my credit rating.
Click to expand...

Highly dependent on where you go. Delta lounges are slightly less crowded now that they have clamped down on how many people can enter for free but the food and drink offerings are slim. Basically some free snack options (pretzels, celery, carrots, crackers etc) along with free soft drinks and some cheap alcohol (Not that I don't partake for afternoon\evening flights) The Centurion lounges are quite good with full meal options, better alcohol and massage options but they are few and far between. If you hit DFW, LAS or LGA then its a very nice benefit. If not then...well thats not really a benefit. I never seem to be able to transit DFW when the bar or masseuse is available :( You get priority pass which can be nice but again varies by airport and might ahve restictions based on who you are flying with or be inconveniently located in a distant concourse. Both tend to have shower options which some enjoy but my flights usually mean thats not a consideration.

I've never been in a USO lounge but the sky lounges aren't really anything special so I imagine there isn't much benefit there. If you travel internationally then there might be more of a benefit. I've noticed the Priority Pass lounges are notably better than the normal concourse experience in international locations and that international lounges can be much better than domestic ones

All that said I don't hold the platinum card for its lounge access. I fly Delta and Southwest a lot and frankly don't miss the domestic lounge access much when I fly Southwest. Still...if its no annual fee instead of $450 then its probably not a bad option. They have medical evacuation coverage, $200 airline credit (which usually covers a gift card purchase), provide SPG gold membership, sometimes Hilton gold, lots of various spend X here and get a Y credit opportunities (ex: spent $50 at amazon and get a $10 credit), access to Amex Fine hotels and resorts ($100 meal credit, 4 pm late checkout, 12pm checkin, room upgrade, often for the same price or less than the hotels rack rate) Good customer service and National Exec membership (National is incredibly easy to deal with for car rentals although their pricing is hit and miss)
 
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K1052

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
51,142
43,237
136
Amex plats don't get Admirals Club access any more...AA shifted that benefit to a new Citi AA card.

I have both a full Admirals Club membership and an Amex Plat card which generally gets me into most places. If you fly a lot it can be worth expense particularly if shit goes down (like Friday) since I have better access to AA agents without waiting in lines in the concourse or on hold with AA. The quality of the the clubs themselves varies quite a bit depending on how recently they were built/renovated. Some are great, a lot are ok, and a few are terrible.

The Amex Plat is handy for Priority Pass lounges and the Centurion Lounges at LAS and DFW. They are significantly better than any of the other domestic lounges. Actuall tasty food and free premium alcohol go a long way with me. I probably will never use the one at LGA since it is outside security and they have a pretty decent Admirals Club. My Amex Plat is mainly my backup card if I have to make some super unusual purchase and not get my card denied/deactivated (looking at you Citi) so I'd be carrying it anyway. There are other benefits of the card which are explained above also.

In short it's worth it if you're on the road a lot.
 
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K1052

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
51,142
43,237
136
JEDIYoda said:
If you look up both those places.....they either have or will have very soon free wifi...
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Being trapped in the central terminal at LGA without internet or lounge access probably qualifies as cruel and unusual punishment under the 8th Amendment. They can't rebuild that place soon enough.
 
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Exterous

Super Moderator
Jun 20, 2006
20,553
3,713
126
K1052 said:
Being trapped in the central terminal at Transiting LGA without internet or lounge access probably qualifies as cruel and unusual punishment under the 8th Amendment.
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FTFY :p

I forgot a great benefit of the Platinum: $100 Global Entry credit. I don't know if something already exists for military but this is a great program to bypass the customs lines and security lines with Pre-Check. Its made the TSA almost tolerable. A slight request though - if you get it please memorize the differences. Its only a 'fast lane' if people remember what steps make it fast :)
 
K1052

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
51,142
43,237
136
Exterous said:
FTFY :p

I forgot a great benefit of the Platinum: $100 Global Entry credit. I don't know if something already exists for military but this is a great program to bypass the customs lines and security lines with Pre-Check. Its made the TSA almost tolerable. A slight request though - if you get it please memorize the differences. Its only a 'fast lane' if people remember what steps make it fast :)
Click to expand...

Departures are a horror show at LGA. I've never gotten trapped but close, been favoring JFK lately...even if there is a price differential. Who doesn't like bathroom lines like you are at an MLB game when at the airport?

Global Entry (and Pre-Check) are fantastic. It usually takes me longer to get my boarding pass then to get through Pre at SFO.
 
Svnla

Svnla

Lifer
Nov 10, 2003
17,986
1,388
126
I travel outside the US a lot and my AE Platinum card did help with lounges in numerous international airports. I would not pay $450 annual fee just for the domestic lounges.

OP, if you just want to check out the lounges, you can pay a 1 day pass and see if the lounges are worth the money.
 
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dirtboy

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
6,745
1
81
The Platinum card has it's benefits, but it's not worth the $450 annual fee if you only plan to use it for an occasional access to airport lounges.
 
RossMAN

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
78,866
367
136
kranky said:
Another card won't cripple your rating, but IMHO it's not worth paying the annual fee just to use airport lounges unless you fly a lot and use airports with lounges. But there are other benefits that might factor in to your decision.
Click to expand...

I agree with the financial guru.
 
Black Octagon

Black Octagon

Golden Member
Dec 10, 2012
1,410
2
81
I think it's worth it. I travel just enough to have the status level above minimum (with Staralliance) and this gets me lounge access for most economy flights I take. Gotta maintain that status by continuing to fly enough with the right airlines, but the lounge access is an incentive to do so so it works out

Even if I didn't have enough miles for this I would probably purchase a lounge scheme like Priority Pass. Airport food and drink is so expensive that most of it can be made up in lounge meals and booze. And that's apart from the advantage of unwinding before the flight
 
GTaudiophile

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
29,767
33
81
Depends on the airline/alliance/hub. Best is to get them for "free" with status.

I was flying back from LHR in mid August, right after the new "Queen's Terminal" opened. My UAL flight had tech issues, so I spent the 4-5 hour delay in the United lounge. I experienced both breakfast and lunch buffets, had wifi, bathrooms, showers, etc. Most definitely worth it.

Edit: The best ROI on lounges occurs if you are least StarGold on Star Alliance. You have access to so many lounges in so many countries. I will add at the CPH lounge is also quite lovely but can't say the same for VIE. Then again, VIE provides a simple, quiet place with some food and that is sometimes all you need after jet lag.
 
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shortylickens

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,080
136
for being free the USO is damn good. But not every airport has one.

If you fly a lot I guess those clubs are worth it. The common areas at airports are shit.
 
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