beverage offerings) and lack the amenities (showers and so on) which are found in more modern lounges in the US and world- wide. For many regular domestic travellers, they are not a pleasant experience, especially in comparison with international lounges operated by the major global carriers from Europe, the Middle East and Asia. BA’s Concorde Room lounge at T5 won the accolade for best airport lounge in last autumn’s annual awards from readers of BBT’s sister magazine Business Traveller. Virgin’s Heathrow Clubhouse came second. But some US airlines are fighting back.
policy changes that reduce business class travel. The per-visit cost is significantly reduced compared to buying individual lounge passes – for example, around £15 compared to £35 at Heathrow T5. And the provider does negotiate corporate discounts on memberships, dependent on volumes.
COMMON GROUND
While common-use lounges have wide appeal in Europe and Asia, there is signifi- cant potential for their development in the US and Canada, too. This has provided an opportunity for MAG to export the Escape concept to the US, opening its first Ameri- can lounge last December at Minneapolis- St Paul airport. And this summer it opened a US$2 million, 2,700sqft lounge at San Francisco’s Oakland International airport, where Norwegian started direct flights to London Gatwick earlier this year. MAG’s Rosemarie Andolino, CEO of its
US operations, is not surprisingly bullish about the potential. “Common-use airport lounges are still a new concept in North America and we look forward to working with more airports there to improve passen- ger amenities, especially lounges,” she says. American Express is another newcomer to the non-airline airport lounge market, opening its first Centurion-branded lounge at Las Vegas airport in 2014, with six more following in the US – the latest opened recently at Houston airport. There are also four lounges open outside the US: Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo and Delhi. Access is free to Amex Platinum or
28 BBT JULY/AUGUST 2016
Centurion cardholders, although those holding more modest (green) Amex cards can still get in by paying a US$50 fee. Driving Amex’s entry into airport lounges is the fact that many US domestic airport lounges are often crowded, need serious updating (including their food and
There is significant potential for common-use lounges in the US and Canada
United Airlines last year ended its deal with Priority Pass to allow its members access to its 49 airport lounges, mostly in the US but globally as well. Instead, United allows passengers flying with its Star Alliance part- ners the option to pay US$50 for entry at the lounge door, or US$550 for a one-year membership to its United Club programme. At the other end of the scale, probably the ultimate ‘elite’ lounge at present can be found hidden within Etihad Airways’ new New York JFK T4 lounge, which opened late last year when the airline started its A380 service from New York to Abu Dhabi. The guest (or guests) staying in the aircraft’s luxury three-room suite – known as The Residence – can enjoy similar privacy in the airport lounge: a private suite comprising a living room bathroom and prayer
room – all
hidden behind a ‘secret door’. But it’s probably the least you can expect when paying US$32,000 (about £22,000) for a one-way ticket.˜
HOW TO ACCESS ALL AREAS...
— The easiest way to getting into a lounge – and in some cases it may be the only way – is to sanction business or first class tickets. But note that on domestic flights in the US, first class tickets do not guarantee lounge access.
— Take advantage of status upgrades with airline loyalty programmes, such as Silver and Gold on BA’s Executive Club, or Sapphire and Emerald with Oneworld alliance partners, as they also can ensure access to lounges even without premium tickets.
— Companies should be aware that their corporate credit cards may give access to lounges via membership of Priority Pass/Lounge Club (both owned by Collinson Group) or similar schemes, such as Plaza Premium.
— Consider offering travellers lounge access cards as part of your travel programme to mitigate stringent policy on premium travel – and look to negotiate corporate discounts. But note lounge access with these is not always available when lounges are busy.
BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM
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