Airport lounges, the flyer’s respite for unlimited food, drink and Wi-Fi, closed when COVID-19 hit, an early casualty of the pandemic. Now they are reopening in the United States, but experiences vary — many have returned to full capacity while others remain shuttered or lack full service.
Who’s open?
There are roughly 250 lounges in U.S. airports, according to Zach Griff, who researches the industry for The Points Guy travel website. Some are operated by airlines and others are independently owned and managed. American Express has its own set of clubs for premium credit card holders, and its competitors, Chase and Capital One, are entering the market with their own offerings.
An array of entry options welcomes flyers, depending on the lounge. Guests might pay a daily or annual fee to gain admittance, or enter as a purchaser of a first-class ticket, or receive access as a perk that comes with specific credit cards. The lounges vary from basic windowless spaces with Wi-Fi and snacks, such as Swissport Lounge at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, to beautifully decorated clubs displaying works by local artists, rotating area-inspired cuisine and featuring views of the runways, such as the Alaska Airlines lounge at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Those catering specifically to international flyers, such as the United Polaris and British Airways lounges, are more likely to be outfitted with showers, napping pods and other amenities to help travelers prepare for or recover from long flights.
Lounges at U.S. airports for mainly domestic routes began reopening in the spring and summer. American Airlines reopened 27 of its Admirals Clubs over Memorial Day weekend. All Delta Air Lines Sky Clubs reopened by early July. Thirty-two United Airlines clubs were scheduled to be open by Labor Day, with the final six opening later this month. About 40 of the 52 independently owned and operated lounges in the U.S. Priority Pass network have reopened. Hours of operation…