6 ways airport lounges are improving — and one way they definitely aren’t
To promote safety and well-being, airlines are making numerous changes to the travel experience.
Planes are getting cleaned more regularly, seats are being blocked and boarding procedures are being modified to avoid crowding. But there's one element of the ground experience that's going to look quite different, and that's airport lounges.
We spoke with Sodexo, one of the world's largest operators of airport lounges, for a behind-the-scenes look at how these exclusive enclaves are going to change due to the pandemic.
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The buffet is still there...
It's just not self-serve. Though some lounges are closing the buffet in favor of single-serve, pre-packaged items, many lounges operated by Sodexo will continue to serve prepared foods.
At The Club lounges, there's a dedicated buffet attendant who takes your order, plates the food and delivers it to your seat. The bar is also open as normal, though the server stands behind a plexiglass protective shield.
The Club operates 19 lounges across the U.S., many of which will be reopened by the end of July. You can access them by purchasing a day pass, though all accept Priority Pass memberships too. Priority Pass memberships are a benefit of many of our top credit cards.
Related: Everything you need to know about the Priority Pass program
Masks aren't necessarily required
This comes down to the club you're visiting, as well as local government restrictions.
For instance, all travelers entering Delta Sky Clubs are required to wear a face mask, regardless of the club location. The same can't be said about The Club locations.
Masks are highly encouraged when you're not eating or drinking. But unless there's a government or airport restriction requiring them, mask-wearing won't be enforced.
Related: TPG face masks available for a limited time
Overcrowding could be a thing of the past
Airport lounges suffered from overcrowding in the years leading up to the pandemic. There just wasn't enough space for lounges in airports and demand far outpaced supply.
Now, overcrowding could become a thing of the past. Travelers haven't yet come back in pre-COVID numbers (we're a far way off), so you don't need to worry about crowding just yet.
Time will tell what'll happen when a vaccine is available, but social distancing is here to stay in the meantime. You'll find decals around the reopened lounges to help guests practice social distancing.
Related: Why I skip the lounge and head straight to the gate
Entering is a breeze
This one was a long time coming, but it's getting accelerated due to the coronavirus. In Europe and Asia, you can enter many airport lounges simply by scanning your eligible boarding pass next to an automatic gate.
I have yet to see that in the U.S. But now, we're seeing touchless registration systems pop up across the country. All The Club locations now operate with such a model, and I've got to imagine that it's going to expand to other lounge networks.
American Express and Delta were both at the forefront of the digital lounge entrance revolution. Amex acquired Lounge Buddy and already started deploying a faster check-in experience, while Delta now allows you to pair your eligible credit card in your digital wallet for speedier entry.
I'm sure we're going to see lots more innovation on this front in the coming months.
Related: Best credit cards for airport lounge access in 2020
Upgraded air purifiers
There's lots of talk about HEPA air filters on planes. But did you know that some airport lounges also have a similar air filtration system?
According to Sodexo, most airports have high-quality air handlers that process the return air through a three-stage pleated, HEPA and charcoal filtration system. In locations where The Club has access to the air handling unit, they are upgrading existing air filters to MERV-13 — the highest achievable filter that removes most bacteria and viruses from the air.
Expect it to be squeaky clean
The entire end-to-end travel experience will look a lot different in the pandemic world. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.
In fact, as airlines across the globe double down on their cleaning efforts before and after flights, customers have noticed how clean their planes have been.
The same applies to airport lounges. Expect the kitchen and other high-touch areas to be sanitized throughout the day. Likewise, seating and table areas will be wiped down regularly.
Finally, you'll find lots of hand sanitizing stations available in every corner.
Related: How to thoroughly disinfect your airplane seat
Shower at home
As much as I love the Lufthansa rubber ducks, I likely won't be collecting any in the near future.
That's because they are given out to first-class flyers who use the shower facilities in the lounges. And showers are, unfortunately, going to closed for quite some time.
Across the board, we're seeing airport lounges reopen without their shower facilities. In most cases, these closures include other high-touch amenities, like spas, family rooms and phone booths.
It'll be interesting to see what happens with Amex reopens the Centurion Lounge network, since many of these lounges differentiate themselves by their top-notch amenities.
Related: The 8 do’s and don’ts in an airport lounge
Bottom line
Airport lounges are going to look a lot different when you're ready to travel again.
That's not necessarily a bad thing, either. Expect them to be a lot cleaner, and much less crowded than before. Unfortunately, some of the amenities will be closed, but that's a small price to pay for a safer visit.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.