The packed lounges come at a critical time for airlines. Business class lounges around the world can be standing room-only as corporate road warriors get back on planes, affluent flyers treat themselves to no-expense-spared holidays, and regular travelers pay for lounge memberships or premium credit cards that offer access to escape the hustle and bustle of airport departure halls. “I’m still trying to be socially distanced, but there’s no social distancing in there right now.”Įmerich’s experience isn’t unique. “It was packed, packed, packed,” she says. The All Nippon Airways lounge at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport was once an uncrowded refuge of calm for business travelers, favored for such perks as free made-to-order noodles, a private shower, and comfy chairs with views of the tarmac and planes taxiing.īut on a recent Tuesday afternoon while connecting flights at the busy airport, Paige Emerich, a United Airlines frequent flyer, had to circle through the lounge several times before she could even find a seat. This will include what is reportedly the world’s largest business class lounge – the Al Mourjan Lounge North, occupying a staggering 9,000m² (97,000ft², or around 2.2 acres) – plus six lounges dedicated to Silver, Gold and Platinum-grade frequent flyers travelling in economy.Īll this might sound like the very definition of a ‘first-world problem’, but airport lounges are becoming increasingly packed as post-pandemic travel surges in wave after unprecedented wave. Half a world away, Qatar Airways is easing the squeeze by tapping into the scope of its sprawling Doha hub to open four new lounges in a new wing of the terminal. Delta bans lounge access for staff and economy flyersĭelta Air Lines last year restricted Sky Club members from entering its lounges until three hours prior to their departure time.Īs the beginning of this month it halted the sale of Sky Club memberships to ‘non-elite’ travellers while raising the price for qualifying travellers from US$545 to US$695.įrom February 2, many frequent flyers will be barred from Sky Club lounges if they’re booked into economy on international flights, along with Sky Club members on ‘basic economy’ tickets.īut even that’s not enough: US blog View From The Wing reports an internal company communication in which Delta acknowledges the “lines out the door” of their clubs and high-ranking “360 and Diamond Medallion Members waiting for seats once inside.”Īs a result, Delta is also banning its own employees from the lounges when they’re flying on company business or a ‘non-revenue’ ticket. However, these changes apply only to US card holders a spokesperson for American Express tells Executive Traveller its Australian card members “are not impacted.”īut American Express isn’t alone in battling lounge crowds. There’ll be an exception made for high-spending customers who notch up US$75,000 per year on their Amex Platinum or Amex Business Platinum Card, and those holding a Corporate Platinum or Centurion card. American Express is clamping down on the generous guesting policy at its Centurion Lounges to leave more space for its Platinum and Centurion card holders.įrom February 1, American Express will axe complimentary guest privileges for most Platinum cardholders and replace it with a charge of US$50 per guest (the current arrangement permits two guests free per visit).
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