Are you a frequent flyer? How much time do you spend on average between check-in and boarding flights? Does your credit card entitle you airport lounge access?
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Traveling can be a tiring experience, with hundreds of hours wasted at airport terminals.
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Been able to access and use the facilities at airport lounges can be productive for business travelers when they fly in or out of an airport.
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I have access to airport lounges through my loyalty with Dhiraagu, my telecom company, which offers a free Priority Pass membership as a perk. Priority Pass has access to over 1,200 airport lounges across the globe.
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Access to airport lounges makes traveling more convenient and exciting, as for me, I am able to spend my time before flights working with reliable internet and enjoying a cup of coffee or food.
Airports are crowded places with lots of noise and activity, with travelers rushing through different terminals, gates and checkpoints that can go from smooth to a standstill in seconds, unless they get into an airport lounge. But, airport lounge entry comes with a price and the benefits are well worth the cost.
Airports are crowded places with queues, long distances to walk, immigration controls, security checks and the inevitable flight delay.
Provided by airlines and third-parties, airport lounges offer services from comfortable chairs and tables, food and beverages, free newspapers and magazines, free Wi-Fi and internet access, shower rooms, preflight spa treatments, and more importantly, a tranquil area to wait for your flight—whether you want to get some sleep or desk work done. While most airline lounges are only available for its frequent fliers, first class and business class passengers, Priority Pass provides lounge access at many airports around the world through its membership plans.
Star Alliance Lounge at Rome Fiumicino Airport.
Priority Pass is the world’s largest independent network of airport lounges and offers airport lounge access for wherever your travel takes you across the globe — NO matter what your airline or class of travel is. They do not operate their own lounges, but provides convenient access to over 1200 airport lounges in more than 500 cities across 130 countries. Moreover, as combined with the Priority Pass app, members could access exclusive retail, dining, spa and sleeping options at selected airports.
Priority Pass has 3 membership plans to choose from, Standard, Standard Plus and Prestige.
Priority Pass sells memberships directly: $99 per year for Standard plan, which charges $32 per lounge visit; $299 per year for Standard Plus, which includes 10 free lounge visits; and $429 per year for Prestige plan, which provides unlimited lounge access. A postage and handling fee of $10 per membership applies for non-Hong Kong residents. Unlike the Priority Pass offered through credit card perks, guest access fees are charged through all three membership plans. But, is this service really worth it? Don’t worry, I have crunched the numbers and done the difficult work for you.
To be very honest, the standard membership plan doesn’t make much sense to me, because the annual membership fee is $99 and apart from this, you still have to pay $32 every time you visit the lounge during the one-year subscription period. However, if most of your trips are work or business related travels, and require more than 10 lounge visits over a one-year period, I would recommend the Prestige membership plan, you probably will not need to think twice about using the lounge because you pay a flat annual membership fee of $429 for unlimited lounge access. But then again, the Standard Plus for an annual membership fee of $299 + the postage and handling fee of $10 for an average of $31 per lounge visit for a total of 10 lounge visits for one year is a little steep.
There are also discounted rates for Priority Pass membership through its affiliates and partners that change from time to time (Based on eligible countries and promotions period). But for now, you can avail Priority Pass discounted membership through the links below:
- Standard membership at $74 for the first year with $32 per lounge visit fee (For 25% discount, click here).
- Standard Plus membership at $239 for the first year with 10 free lounge visits (For 20% discount, click here).
- Prestige membership at $364 for the first year with unlimited free lounge visits. (For 15% discount, click here).
You still need to do some math though! How frequent do you need to access an airport lounge? OR, How many airport lounges have you visited during the past one year? Your answers sum up the type of Priority Pass membership you’re looking for, or whether you actually need one.
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