Priority Pass Lounges Are Crowded — Try These Other Options

In theory, airport lounges offer weary travelers an escape from busy terminal gates and restaurants. But what if the lounge is just as crowded as the gate?

Priority Pass provides its members with access to one of the largest airport lounge networks in the world, but access is relatively easy to gain and has led to issues with overcrowding at some locations.

While it is popular, thankfully, Priority Pass isn’t the only lounge option out there.

What are Priority Pass lounges?

Priority Pass is an airport lounge network with over 1,600 lounges and experiences worldwide. You’re likely to see a wide range of airport lounge and amenity brands within the Priority Pass network, including Air France Lounge, Minute Suites, Club Aspire, Lufthansa Business Lounge, and more.

What you’ll find in a Priority Pass lounge varies widely from brand to brand, but you can assume that most brands that present themselves as lounges will have amenities like Wi-Fi, televisions, food and drink, and seating. More targeted Priority Pass airport experiences like Be Relax Spa — which can be found at multiple major airports — likely won’t have all the amenities you’d find in a general lounge but offer more specialty services like massages.

While amenities like seats and Wi-Fi can likely be found throughout the airport, complimentary food and drinks often make a lounge visit worth it, as airport food prices are notoriously high. If you do a lot of air travel involving long layovers, accessing airport lounge amenities could help you save money.

To see what lounges and experiences are available at the airports you frequent, click “Find lounges and more” on the Priority Pass website.

How to get into Priority Pass lounges

You need Priority Pass membership to access Priority Pass lounges. If a lounge is full, you might be asked to wait until there’s space available, even if you have a membership. You typically need to show your membership card or Digital Membership Card, available on the Priority Pass app.

Priority Pass offers three tiers of paid membership:

• Standard: $99 annual membership that allows you and your guests access to Priority Pass lounges for $35 per person.
• Standard Plus: $329 annual membership that offers you 10 free visits per year. After your 10 free visits, it’s $35 per visit. It’s also $35 for each guest you bring in.
• Prestige: $469 annual membership that offers you unlimited free visits to Priority Pass lounges. You can bring in guests for $35 per guest per visit.

If you want to avoid paying directly for membership, it could be more cost-effective to get a credit card with Priority Pass included as a benefit. Most credit cards that offer Priority Pass benefits provide you with a Priority Pass Select membership. In fact, the prevalence of Priority Pass lounge access as a card benefit is believed to be one of the primary reasons so many lounges now face issues with overcrowding.

Priority Pass guest access

Priority Pass guest access policies vary from membership tier to membership tier, from lounge to lounge, and from credit card benefit to credit card benefit. What that means for you is: Read the fine print.

Before you book a lounge with your traveling companion, make sure you know what it will cost and whether you’re even allowed to bring a guest.

Are Priority Pass lounges usually crowded?

It’s become the general consensus among airport aficionados that Priority Pass lounges are too dang crowded. The culprit? Travel credit cards, possibly. See, what was once an exclusive benefit on specific premium travel credit cards has become an increasingly common perk on many different cards at varying fee levels.

Why are Priority Pass lounges so crowded?

Priority Pass was founded in 1992 by a traveler who observed premium ticket holders enjoy the benefits of different airport lounges while he was stuck suffering the experience of waiting at the terminal gate. The founder wanted to offer an affordable way for frequent travelers to access similar airport lounge benefits and improve their travel experiences.

And, for some time, Priority Pass led the way in providing members with enjoyable lounge experiences. Priority Pass was once a benefit reserved for a few top-tier travel credit cards, including the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® and The Platinum Card^® from American Express (enrollment required).

High annual fees likely kept many travelers away from these cards, but over the years, more cards with lower fees have added Priority Pass benefits. Even the $0 annual fee U.S. Bank Altitude^® Connect Visa Signature^® Card comes with four free visits per year.

Alternatives to Priority Pass lounges

If you’re ready to leave Priority Pass behind or simply want more lounge options, consider a few alternatives, such as using another lounge network or program. Some of the best travel credit cards offer airport lounge access that isn’t necessarily through Priority Pass.

Centurion Lounge

The Amex Centurion Lounge network has long been considered an upgrade over Priority Pass, but without as large of a footprint. Many of these lounges are spacious and typically offer elevated food and beverage options. The Centurion network, which includes Escape Lounges, has over 40 locations worldwide and limits access to these cardholders:

• Amex Platinum (including business and corporate versions)
• Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Business American Express Card
• The Centurion^® Card from American Express

Chase Sapphire Lounge

Chase is set to open multiple airport lounges over the coming years. Some are full-service lounges branded Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club, while others are smaller spaces or partnerships with existing lounges. They can be found in these locations:

• Austin (AUS) — open now (Sapphire Terrace, not a full lounge)
• Boston (BOS) — open now
• Hong Kong (HKG) — open now
• Las Vegas (LAS)
• New York City (LGA) — open now
• New York City (JFK) — open now
• Philadelphia (PHL)
• Phoenix (PHX) — open now
• San Diego (SAN)
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) — open now (partnership with The Etihad Lounge)

Chase Sapphire lounge access is granted to the following:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve, J.P. Morgan Reserve, The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card primary card members, and authorized users who have activated their complimentary Priority Pass membership.
• Sapphire Reserve and J.P. Morgan Reserve cardmembers may bring up to two guests per Priority Pass Membership card, per visit, for free, and additional guests for $27.
• Ritz-Carlton card members may bring unlimited guests at no charge.
• Priority Pass members receive one complimentary visit per calendar year.

Note that there is no complimentary access for Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card users.

Capital One Lounge

Capital One has airport lounges in Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Washington, D.C. (IAD), and Denver (DEN), with lounges in New York (LGA and JFK), Las Vegas (LAS), and Washington, D.C. (DCA) on the way.

These lounges are open to any traveler for a $90 fee per visit. These credit cards also offer specific lounge benefits:

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Business: Free unlimited access for you. Extra guest visits are $45 per person, per visit.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Two free visits per year and then $45 per visit. Guest visits are $45 per person, per visit.
• Capital One Spark Miles for Business: Two free visits per year and then $45 per visit. Guest visits are $45 per person, per visit.

Effective Jan 1, 2025, the Venture and Spark cards will no longer offer complimentary access.

Airline lounge memberships

Many major airlines have their own lounge networks you can join. Here are the costs for some of the more popular lounge memberships:

Keep in mind that certain premium fares, such as first-class or business-class tickets, could get you into different airline lounges as well. Additionally, having elite status with a certain airline might provide airline lounge benefits.

Access policies vary so widely across lounges that you should always check whether you indeed have a chance of getting let in before banking on a visit.

FAQs

Bottom line

There’s no getting around the fact that airport lounges no longer carry the air of exclusivity they once did. Yes, Priority Pass lounges are often busy, but they could still be a better option than waiting for your flight at the gate — it’s not like the terminal isn’t crowded either.

If you want to open up more lounge options, consider other airport lounge networks that might not be as busy as Priority Pass. Depending on your typical travel routes, different lounges could offer you more flexibility and benefits. Check out these credit cards with lounge access.

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