An experienced points hacker, Erin is Alex’s partner-in-crime and contributes to Upgraded Points with in-depth guides and relationship management. Erin’s work has been cited in multiple major publicat...
Edited by: Jessica Merritt
A long-time points and miles student, Jessica is the former Personal Finance Managing Editor at U.S. News and World Report and is passionate about helping consumers fund their travels for as little ca...
& Kellie Jez
Kellie’s professional experience has led her to a deep passion for compliance, data reporting, and process improvement. Kellie’s learned the ins and outs of the points and miles world and leads UP’s c...
46 comments
A P
July 28, 2018
In actual use, this has little benefit. They advertise all these lounges, but when you go to them you are told they are not accepting PP customers due to ‘capacity constraints’. However, those constraints don’t exist if you buy a pass directly from the lounge or have another membership. PP customers are the lowest tier and are often turned away even during hours advertised as available. Buyer Beware!
Jeff Brownson
July 28, 2018
@AP, Although what you are saying is sometimes the case, it is usually in fairly crowded lounges located within the US. Alaska Air Lounges come to mind and they are actually leaving the program in Seattle because they weren’t able to accommodate PP guests with any regularity.
I have never had an issue getting in to a foreign PP lounge and have used them in 30+ countries over the past several years. In addition, the restaurants do not limit PP access. If they have tables available, you can sit and eat.
It can be frustrating when you are expecting a lounge and can’t get in, but I would urge you to keep trying, especially when traveling internationally. Some of the foreign PP lounges can be quite nice.
Randy
February 25, 2019
As of April 19, The Club at PHX will no longer accept PP.
Erin Miller
February 26, 2019
Hey Randy – thanks for the heads up! We try to do an update on this piece 1-2 times a month and check priority pass’s official list of inclusions for accuracy! We’ll be updating when it’s no longer available! 🙂
Paul
March 01, 2019
Amex HHonors Aspire and Ascend both offer complimentary Standard Plus PP access.
FactorLoads
May 02, 2019
Thanks for sharing this article. This is a very helpful site. I think that this will definitely help me be able to get a membership.
Kristen
June 22, 2019
Thank you for this information, but I find this article confusing. It states that there seem to be no differences between the select and the standard plan, but then later states that with the standard plan visits are $32, but then later again states that it’s good to have select because visits are free. And select is not shown in the picture of the three plans to buy. It appears select is a card benefit only. I wish that the two would have just been kept separate from one another–maybe in two different articles, or just clearly delineated…
Erin Miller
June 22, 2019
Hi Kristen… I can see how you’re confused. We’re going to remove the sentence where we state we can see no advertised difference, as you’re correct, the standard plans require a sign-up outside of receiving the membership through a financial institution.
Select isn’t shown in the photo of the memberships you can buy, because you can’t buy it. We state in the article: “Priority Pass Select is the membership plan/card you’re given when you receive your membership through a U.S. financial institution (e.g. your bank account or a credit card).”
The rest of the information should be accurate here. Hope this helps!
Jenna
June 23, 2019
This article was very helpful to me. Thanks for sharing it!
Gary
June 30, 2019
I’m still trying to find a Priority pass lounge that is available to me. My recent and future round trip flights include… PHX-SFO,..ORD-PHX,…PHX-MSY,…PHX-MKE. Come on,…..nothing in Phoenix? Even at an airport with a lounge location, it can be in another terminal….. ( ORD,…SFO )
I’ll keep looking…..
Catherine Luther
July 01, 2019
Hi Gary,
Yes, unfortunately the only airport in your list that accepts priority pass is O’Hare, at the Air France and Swissport lounges in Terminal 5.
BobG
July 12, 2019
Since you acknowledge that Priority Pass will stop providing access to its restaurant locations, you should remove those locations from your list, or at least note that they will be unavailable starting August 1. This decision was enough to make me drop my AMEX platinum Card which includes Priority Pass as a benefit.
Christine Krzyszton
July 15, 2019
Hi BobG. Priority Pass access to lounge alternative restaurants is still currently available beyond August 1st, just not for Priority Pass Select Membership that comes with American Express issued cards.
Max T.
June 26, 2022
Is this just for Priority Pass membership with Amex Platinum? How about Priority Pass from Chase Sapphire? Does it still include Priority Pass restaurants (as of today June 2022)? TIA
Christine Krzyszton
June 26, 2022
Hi Max. Priority Pass Select Memberships that come with Chase-issued credit cards still include benefits at participating restaurant locations and Minute Suites.
Max T.
June 26, 2022
Got it – thx Christine! Same question as my Amex regarding bringing guests to the lounge… do multiple Priority Pass cards allow me to bring more guests to a Priority Pass lounge? TIA
Christine Krzyszton
June 27, 2022
Unfortunately you can only use one Priority Pass card per visit, according to Priority Pass Conditions of Use: “If Customer has multiple Programme memberships, Customer is responsible for presenting the correct Means of Access to the Lounge or Merchant staff for admittance, and may only use one such Programme membership per visit.” Thanks for reading and for your questions, Max.
Jenn
September 09, 2019
I am finding more and more restrictions on lounge access. I just accessed the lounge in SFO this morning and was initially told that they do not accept arrivals, but she did let me in as an exception because the lounge was empty. After approx. an hour, I was approached in the lounge and told that there was a 1 hour maximum stay on arrivals. I’ve been in this lounge many times, but never heard that. The lounge was empty at that time also, so it wasn’t an issue of overcrowding. Just a heads up.
Katie Seemann
September 09, 2019
Hi Jenn,
Thanks for sharing your experience. Not allowing access for arrivals or limiting your time if you’re coming in on an arriving flight (without a connection) isn’t uncommon. It’s too bad they didn’t let you stay though since the lounge was empty.
Lauren
November 03, 2019
I want to get Priority Pass for free. I think that this article will surely help me. I will definitely follow what you said. This is a very helpful site for business owner like me.
JASON MORGAN
December 04, 2019
I believe the Surpass PP is for 10 visits, not Member + 2 guests.
Jarrod West
December 04, 2019
Hi Jason,
Thanks for pointing that out! We’ve updated the post.
Brad Phillips
January 13, 2020
Terrible (lack of) selection for domestic terminals.
JOHN BERGMAN
January 17, 2020
Agree strongly and it’s a shame Chase Sapphire uses it as a marketing ploy.
Chris
October 15, 2020
Landry’s in IAH is no longer closed due to COVID-19, or at least it was open when we transferred through on our way to/from Orlando a couple weeks ago.
Jarrod West
October 16, 2020
Hi Chris,
Thanks for pointing that out! I’ve updated the post to reflect that they’ve reopened.
Chris Mardis
February 24, 2021
Maybe the next article should be “what Lounges are actually open”.
Due to Covid, almost every airport I hit, the lounges are closed. Except when I was in Seattle I think.
Jarrod West
February 25, 2021
Hi Chris,
We update this article regularly to update readers on which lounges have begun to reopen, so feel free to refer back before your next trip! Thanks for reading!
CR
March 08, 2022
Are there any other lounges or restaurants in LAX? There used to be restaurants before, but I guess they closed.
Jarrod West
March 08, 2022
Hi CR,
All of the locations featured in the post are what is currently available at LAX. We updated this page monthly so feel free to check back to see if any locations are reopened or added.
Matt
May 13, 2022
Are airline employees eligible to use a priority pass?
Jarrod West
May 13, 2022
Hi Matt,
I believe you can as long as you are not uniformed and working the flight.
Anthony
June 04, 2022
Just joined PP and am flying through St. Louis next month. Is the Wingtips Lounge there not a member of the network? It’s listed in the app. Thanks!
Katie Seemann
June 06, 2022
Hi Anthony,
Yes, Wingtips at STL is a Priority Pass lounge! We will be sure to get this post updated. Have a great trip and enjoy the lounge.
elmoxygen
July 11, 2022
PP with Sapphire: $500 annual fee + $100 for additional card – Lounge accepts 2 guests free.
PP now also available through the Venture X card – only $350ish cheaper than Sapphire and Additional cards are free – Same benefits of 2 free guests.
If you have more than 3-4 , hopping terminals and additional security at each terminal may be worth it to spend time between flights
Washington DC- Turkish is the best Lounge for food and drink. Lufthansa is dry, AF is so so.
Boston – Air France Lounge is Good
PIT/CIN/ATL – The Club is fine / Basic free alcohol, limited food since Pandemic, good seating.
Mini Suites are a waste with only 3 hrs free.
Lounges in Zurich, Frankfurt = Primeclass Lounges are better than others
DOHA, Dubai, Mumbai, Bangkok,
Stacey
September 13, 2022
Thank you for including the comprehensive list of Priority Pass Lounges — very helpful.
TomW
April 20, 2023
Sad that domestic lounge access is impossible. ORD Swissport has to be removed. G-map reviews are horrible. But my (authorized Cap1VentX user) kids are having a great time using PP lounges internationally. No issues getting in, great food and spaces, endless variety.
dawn
April 20, 2023
I’m confused. I have Priority Pass access but do I have to have flights on specific airlines to use in Washington Dulles? It doesn’t read well.
Jarrod West
April 21, 2023
Hi Dawn,
You can be flying with any airline when accessing Priority Pass lounges.
Dawn
April 20, 2023
I can’t seem to find a direct response to if AMEX Platinum will allow access to Star Alliance (United lounge). If you can confirm, I would appreciate it. Thank you.
Jarrod West
April 21, 2023
Hi Dawn,
Star Alliance lounge access is not offered on the Amex Platinum card.
jane.k
May 09, 2023
With PP Select, are you able to use your pass to gain entry to multiple lounges in the same day? For instance with routes with layovers – 1st lounge waiting for first flight, 2nd lounge waiting for connecting flight. Or can you use the restaurant credit and still gain entrance to a lounge? Thank you!
Chris Hassan
May 09, 2023
Hey Jane, yes, you can use your membership multiple times per day at the same airport and others.
Don Nguyen
September 06, 2023
I was recently rejected at 3 different airports on my latest August-September 2023 trip, and most importantly my home base airport which was San Francisco Int’l airport. At both lounges there at SFO, the China Airlines and KLM AirFrance lounges rejected me informing me they are not taking ANY Priority Pass customers but are still taking other airline passengers. I paid for my Priority Pass membership. I am completely disappointed that customer service refused to assist me and also having some visits left they didn’t even consider extending my 1 year membership for the lounge rejections I experienced.
I was also rejected at Bangkok airport due to crowded and full lounges.
Of course I will not be renewing my paid membership with Priority Pass and don’t recommend it.
Gregory Agen
September 17, 2023
Getting ready for a trip from Atlanta-Montreal-Dublin then Edinburgh-Hamburg-Atlanta. I have the Amex Platinum and your Priority Pass. I will be traveling with my wife and her 83 year old mother. Where and what lounges can I use at these locations, what do I need to present, and how much will it cost me? Thanks in advance.
Jarrod West
September 18, 2023
Hi Gregory,
You can view all eligible lounges by typing the airport in on this page at the American Express website. All you should need to present is your card, your ID, and your boarding passes.
Any thoughts or questions? Comment below!
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