Category Archives for Lounges.
The Virgin Atlantic lounge at Washington Dulles uses a QR code for ordering plated meals, and that code is given only to Virgin’s own passengers – and not to guests entering the lounge via American Express or Capital One credit card – creating two levels of service for passengers who are visiting. Is that acceptable? And is there a better way to handle the economics?
American Express has its Centurion lounges, and its smaller ‘Studio Partner’ longes which are Escape Lounges. Previously you could use an American Express Platinum card to access Escape lounges, but they’re now branded by American Express and more cardholders know about the benefit.
Like Centurion lounges, these Centurion Studio lounges have become more crowded.
The current ‘new design’ of American Airlines Admirals Clubs feel very institutional, from the lighting to the furniture. The perfect example of this is the A concourse club in Dallas which I think of as having hospital lighting. The smaller club in Charlotte follows this same motif.
Great news – they’re walking away from that design in upcoming new builds and renovations with a much more attractive template!
United Airlines appears to be planning a new club lounge concept in Denver for the ‘B East’ concourse addition there, between gates B61 and B63.
Delta now restricts access to travelers until 3 hours prior to their first flight’s departure. How is that working out to control crowds?
A correspondent shares that the renovations to the kitchen at the main Delta Sky Club in DTW has been completed, and that it features mostly new furniture with dividers designed to offer privacy. There’s also now outlets at nearly every seat “though some aren’t yet operational.” The four cubicles remain for now [as they do in Cincinnati], although cubicles aren’t part of the latest Sky Club design concepts. …The comfortable adjustable office chairs in each cubicle have been replaced by regular chairs that aren’t suitable for desks…the coat/jacket hooks at each cubicle were removed.. Still no snazzy phone booths or pods, as we’re seeing at other newly built or recently renovated lounges in the Sky Club system. Also, the bar is still the temporary staffed bar with only complimentary booze. No premium drinks here, which…
The main American Airlines Admirals Club has re-opened in Charlotte. It was closed for 6 months for renovations. And travelers are wondering what was even accomplished.
Delta’s Sky Clubs have been packed. Not only are they limiting club use to within 3 hours of flight departure (with one executive declaring Sky Clubs ‘aren’t a WeWork’) they’re testing fast track priority lanes for top tier elites to skip the queue to get into lounges.
I love the look of their new premium credit card design, but as far as their lounges go, when everyone has access nobody does.
There is “nothing planned” for re-opening LAX Flagship First Dining, but American is very close to re-opening the main Charlotte Admirals Club.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
