Tag Archives for austin.
Austin airport’s long-planned credit card lounge did not disappear just because Southwest appears to have taken the original West Infill space for its own “Project Oasis” lounge. The airport now says it still plans a bank lounge RFP — and is weighing space in the new Concourse B, the current Concourse A, or possibly both, meaning Austin could end up with two credit card lounges on top of new clubs from Southwest, American, Delta and United.
Southwest Airlines has never had airport lounges, but a new Austin permit suggests that is about to change sooner than expected. A 20,000-square-foot “Project Oasis” lounge buildout appears tied to Southwest and targets completion by March.
Austin is building a six-gate remote terminal on the west side of the airfield, with passengers bused over from the main terminal and only limited concessions inside. City officials say Concourse M is for overflow, diversions, and construction relief, but with the airport already tight on gate space, the bigger question is which airlines may wind up using it for regular flights.
Delta has already made clear it wants Austin to become a major growth city, with more gates, more lounges, more flights, and even Seoul in its sights. After adding flights to American’s Miami hub it is now adding Phoenix. As American is distracted by its fight with United at Chicago, Delta is encroaching on American’s hubs.
Security lines at Austin-Bergstrom stretched outside the terminal before dawn Friday, and plenty of travelers assumed the partial government shutdown was already disrupting screening. That wasn’t it. The real problem was a predictable surge from Spring Break and the tail end of South By Southwest colliding with slower TSA procedures and an agency that still does a poor job staffing for obvious spikes in demand.
American Airlines just announced plans for a new 12,000+ square foot Admirals Club at Austin-Bergstrom, and it’s not just bigger — it will be the carrier’s first lounge with an outdoor terrace. The club will sit on the west side of the terminal, right where American’s gates are concentrated, and the airline says it will offer elevated design, full kitchen facilities, and views of downtown Austin and the airfield.
Delta Air Lines just committed to a huge expansion in Austin, exclusively revealed here for the first time—planning not one, but two new lounges, including a massive Sky Club and a separate premium Delta One lounge. Here’s what we uncovered about Delta’s ambitious plan at the airport.
Spirit’s first class was cheaper than extra-legroom coach on American, Delta, or United — and it was the only way for my whole family to sit together. The booking was a headache, but the flights themselves were surprisingly good, and the math made the decision easy.
Hyatt Regency Austin has completed its renovation, with modernized rooms, a redesigned lobby, an upgraded market, and a suite-upgrade approach that’s unusually generous for a Category 4 property. It’s still one of the best ways to use a Category 1–4 certificate, especially during peak Austin events like SXSW, where cash rates can top $750 while award nights run just 18,000 points.
Delta is preparing to launch Austin–Miami service as part of its massive expansion in Central Texas, a move insiders say is designed to “emotionally bruise” American Airlines.
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 »
