Comparing airline club lounges: price and accessibility

Airport oasis: the Delta Sky Club

By Mark Chesnut

Whether you’re looking for a quiet place to relax at the airport or somewhere to get business done in between flights, airline clubs can be the closest thing to an oasis of calm at the airport. Here is a sample of what you can expect to pay at the major airline’s lounges — and what you can expect to get for the money (elite-level members of an airline’s frequent flyer program often can take advantage of a reduced club membership fee; rates listed).

American Airlines Admirals Club
Price: $500 annual membership, $50 day pass valid at multiple lounges. If the One-Day Pass holder becomes an Admirals Club member within 30 days of use of the One-Day pass, $50 may be applied toward a new annual membership.
What’s included: Free alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, light snacks, Wi-Fi.

Continental Presidents Club
Price: $475 annual, $50 day pass; discounted price for books of 10 passes.
What’s included: Free beverages, light snacks, bar service, WiFi, local phone calls, fax machines, photocopy machines.

Delta Sky Club
Price: $450 annual, $50 day pass (valid when flying any airline).
What’s included: Free WiFi, cocktails, snacks.

United Red Carpet Club
Price: $475 annual, one-time pass $39 online or $50 at the door. One-time passes can now be used at any Continental Presidents Club worldwide.
What’s included: Free WiFi, beer, wine, spirits, soft drinks, breakfast and afternoon snacks.

US Airways Club
Price: $450 standard annual membership, $50 day pass, $120 for 90-day membership.
What’s included: Free WiFi, beer and wine, beverages, snacks.Airlines Outside the United States
For many non-U.S. carriers, access to lounges is based on the class in which you’re traveling, frequent flyer status or whether you hold a certain brand of credit card, as opposed to a pay-as-you-go plan.

Air Canada’s approach most closely resembles its U.S. counterparts. While access to the carrier’s Maple Leaf Lounges is free to passengers traveling in Executive First and Executive Class with proof of status as Air Canada Super Elite and Elite members, (as well as travelers holding certain credit cards), economy ticket holders can purchase lounge access at any time up to 24 hours before their flight for $30 to $55, based on fare category paid.

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Mark Chesnut is a travel writer, editor and publisher of LatinFlyer.com, which focuses on business and leisure travel to Latin America.

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