OAG Travel News

You will never know how relaxing it can be to get away from the stress of a busy airport terminal, until you have experienced the comfort and convenience of an airport or airline lounge.

Take the International Terminal (Terminal D) at DFW Airport for example. Although it is a state-of-the art facility, it can get very busy and chaotic with people scrambling to catch a flight or sitting around in a crowded boarding area. Most of the good seats are taken or you are rubbing elbows with the person sitting beside you; people talking loudly on their cell phone and there is a large group of rowdy teens that picked the same day as you to travel. All the while you are trying to make sure you keep your laptop bag close to you. Forget about pulling your laptop out, checking and replying to your emails or focusing on the presentation you are trying to finish.

On the airplane the seats are even more cramped and you have much less privacy than at a terminal. Plus you can’t have your laptop on during takeoff or landing, so if you have a 30 minute or 1 hour flight it might be inconvenient to turn it on, see if your seat has an outlet and try to crawl under your seat to plug it in while everyone around you is trying to get into their seats and get settled.

That is why an airport lounge is a convenient, calming and effective solution. At a lounge you have spacious and comfortable seats and seating areas. Your fellow loungers know why you are there and are respectful of your presence by making the least noise possible; it’s like an unspoken code. You usually have internet access and tables where you can comfortably work on your computer, some even have conference rooms and showers. Most lounges offer free drinks (some offer free alcoholic drinks) and snacks so forget about paying $2 for a coke or the microwave food during your flight.

For those who have membership to an airline lounge, I’m sure the large amount of money spent to have access is worth the investment. But what if you are flying with a different airline or, as many businesses have scaled back on travel spending, you no longer fly business or first class?

Since 1992, Priority Pass has been providing a great solution. You can now have access to all the peace and quiet you need to be productive at over 500 airport lounges worldwide, and it does not matter which airline you fly or your class of ticket. You simply pay a low annual membership fee and you have access all year to all of the participating lounges. There are three levels of membership to fit your needs and budget, with the highest level providing unlimited lounge visits (guests visits are just US$27 per person, per visit for all plans).

So next time you travel make sure you have a Priority Pass and come experience the best seat the airlines have to offer but don’t always tell you about. You will be surprised by how relaxed and stress free you are and everyone will be impressed with the awesome presentation you finished “during your flight”.

Have a great trip!