How to Get into a VIP Airport Lounge
It feels great to know you have booked the cheapest airline tickets, but wouldn’t it be even better knowing you could relax at a cushy airport lounge during that long layover? Surprisingly, you do not have to have a first-class ticket on hand to get into a lot of airport lounges.
Some airports offer independent lounges which are not affiliated with an airline. Airspace Lounge has a location in the Baltimore airport (BWI) that costs $17.50 to $45 for day passes. Airspace plans to eventually open up to 75 locations around the world. The Lounge at JFK Terminal 4 in New York costs $40 for a four-hour stay. Los Angeles (LAX) is home to the independent ReLAX Lounge, located in the international terminal. Prices are $15 for an hour, $30 for three hours, or $50 for all day.
If you do not have an American Express Platinum Card, but would like access to different airline lounges, you can join Priority Pass, which is the largest independent airport lounge access program. The standard membership of $99 grants lounge access for $27 per visitor pass. Standard Plus ($249) gives you 10 free visits, with subsequent visits costing $27 each. Prestige membership is $399 and gives you unlimited free visits to airport lounges in the Priority Pass network.
The following chart shows FareCompare readers how to gain access to lounges associated with airlines in the U.S.
| Airline | Lounge? Y/N | Access Options |
| Airtran |
No |
N/A |
| Alaska Airlines
Board Room |
Yes |
Day Passes available for $45. Gold 75K Mileage Plan members get discounted memberships of $295 per year (versus the regular cost of $450 per year) |
| American
Admirals Club |
Yes |
|
| Continental Airlines
Presidents Club/United Club |
Yes |
* Includes $50 initiation fee for new members |
| Delta Airlines
Sky Club |
Yes |
|
| Frontier |
No |
N/A |
| JetBlue |
No |
N/A |
| Southwest |
No |
N/A |
| United Airlines
United Club |
Yes
|
* Includes $50 initiation fee for new members |
| US Airways
US Airways Club |
Yes |
|
| Virgin America
Clubhouse |
Yes |
First Class and Flying Club Gold members: Free |
