First look: Inside Chicago Midway's first-ever airport lounge, The Club MDW
For the first time in its 96-year history, Chicago's Midway International Airport (MDW) will be home to an airport lounge.
On Wednesday, Airport Dimensions will open The Club MDW, a 3,265-square-foot lounge that'll become the latest outpost in The Club's growing network.
The space will be open daily from 4 a.m. until 10 p.m., and it'll be available to anyone flying from MDW.
Travelers who carry a Priority Pass will enjoy free access to The Club MDW, and day passes will also be available to all Midway passengers with a valid departing boarding pass for $50.
"The fact that this is the first shared-use lounge in Midway's 96-year history, we needed to do something special. ... So the fact that we could be the first is really special and a proud moment for us," Chris Gwilliam, vice president of global business development for Airport Dimensions, said in an exclusive interview with TPG.
The lounge itself is located at MDW's Central Market, at the intersection of Concourses A and B. It was designed to draw inspiration from Chicago's art deco and midcentury modern architecture styles, and, as such, it features eye-catching design elements. These include what look to be monochromatic tones and arched walls.
In addition to the design, the lounge also features photography by two renowned local artists, Mark Hersch and Angie McMonigal. These pictures of Chicago's urban landscape further the local touches that The Club built into this space.
"It's been uniquely designed; it's a one-of-a-kind design. You won't see that design anywhere else," Gwilliam said.
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Other highlights include various seating options, from seats designed to unwind to more productivity-inspired workstations. The Club says that 90% of seats in the new lounge are equipped with power outlets.
The Club partnered with a few local food-and-beverage outlets for the dining options. This includes offering craft beers from Revolution Brewing and Two Brothers Brewing Company, alongside spirits from Chicago-based Koval Distillery. Meanwhile, the lounge menu reflects the city's vibrant culinary scene on the buffet.
The lounge's focal point will be the bar, where travelers can enjoy complimentary signature cocktails, such as the Chicago Fizz and the Southside.
Of course, at just about 3,300 square feet, I imagine the space will get extremely busy. There are seats for only 76 passengers, and given the popularity of the Priority Pass program, I envision that the line to enter the lounge will get quite long, especially during peak departure banks and during irregular operations.
Plus, Midway is primarily served by Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines, and both budget carriers don't operate any of their own lounges.
"It's fair to say we would've liked more space, and hopefully, in the future, who knows, we might have a chance to grow," Gwilliam explained.
So, while it's undoubtedly exciting for MDW to get its first airport lounge, I wouldn't necessarily count on being able to visit the space during your next trip unless you happen to pass by during a quiet period.
To manage the waitlist, Airport Dimensions is investing in technology.
"We've introduced a system called WaitWhile, which allows people to digitally manage if there isn't available capacity at the time. And then we can text people while they go off and enjoy the concourse," Gwilliam said.
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