TPG readers' favorite airport hubs around the world
A while back, we asked our TPG Lounge readers to share their favorite airport hubs around the world, the ones they prefer to fly through whenever they aren't able to fly nonstop. Here’s a look at some of our favorite answers. (Some responses have been lightly edited for style and clarity).
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Favorite hubs in the U.S. and South America
Whether it's the food, the music or the ease of getting around in a hurry, our TPG Lounge members had some great reasons for choosing their top U.S. airport hubs.
"Philly (PHL) for my Vino Volo stops, to get points and great wine! Sign up for their app and you also get free tastings. Also love Atlanta (ATL). There are always other flight options if something wonky happens, a great Delta Sky Club lounge in Terminal B and great walking between terminals [so you can] skip the tram." — Megan C.
"I try to go through Dallas (DFW). When there isn’t weather affecting the operation, it is just a true pleasure. It's a world-class airport with modern, amazing food and shopping options as well as views of the tarmac from the terminal. DFW is the USA’s best airport." — Andrew D.
"Delta girl here. Detroit (DTW) or Minneapolis (MSP). DTW because it was my home airport for many years until I moved and I feel at home at the Delta terminal my Dad helped build. MSP because I’m also very familiar with it and it’s got a lot of great shops and restaurants. DTW wins because the Delta lounges are nicer and less crowded." — Regina P.
"Anything with a United Polaris Lounge. I try to keep it to San Francisco (SFO)." — Mark F.
Related: The best credit cards for airport lounge access
"Seattle (SEA). Having three Alaska Airlines lounges and minimal delays makes for a great experience." — Ocean H.
"When I’m flying with Southwest, I like to go through Nashville. I’m not a big country music guy but I’ll still take a layover with live country music over the same old." — Jeremy S.
"As a United flyer, I like Denver (DEN) because barring delays, it yields the shortest cross-country time when no direct flight is available between San Francisco (SFO) and Charlotte (CLT)." — Jean-Francois R.
"Houston (IAH), Dallas (DFW), Philadelphia (PHL), Atlanta (ATL), Miami (MIA) or Hong Kong (HKG). The Centurion Lounges are great!" — Michelle N.
"Depends where I'm going. If it's Central or South America, then El Salvador International Airport (SAL) because the connection times are short, the airport is easy to navigate and you don't have to clear customs on a connection unlike in Mexico City (MEX) or Panama City (PTY)." — Christopher B.
The best hubs in Asia and Europe
SIN and ICN each scored major points with our TPG Lounge audience, while HKG earned a nod for its epic lounges. Here are some of their other top picks in Asia and Europe.
"Seoul (ICN) has great amenities: movie and nap areas, free showers, free city tours, a Korean art and culture area and of course, Korean food. What's not to love?" — Myron L.
"Singapore (SIN) hands down. I can spend a whole day in there." — Johnny Z.
"Hong Kong or Taipei when I’m heading to or from San Francisco. Singapore is great, too, but it does lengthen the flying time for me since I live in Cebu, Philippines." — Emily C.
"From Los Angeles to Asia, I like Hong Kong (HKG), Taipei (TPE) and Tokyo (NRT). Good lounges and shopping." — Peter H.
"Incheon (ICN) in Seoul. Great lounges and a lot to do. I really enjoy South Korea so I don’t mind taking an extra day or two on a layover." — Shawna J.
"Hong Kong. That Centurion Lounge is pretty hard to beat no matter what class you’re flying in." — Ethan S.
Related: The best ways to fly business class to Asia using points and miles
"Hong Kong (HKG) or Singapore (SIN) ideally. Even if I can’t get into the cities, which are both great, the airports are fantastic." — Ross H.
"Seoul (ICN) has lots of places to sleep for free, tons of Priority Pass Lounges, a hotel in the secured area, a few cheap hotels near the airport and they don't stamp your passport if you decide to leave the airport!" — Itamar R.
"Dublin. I am all for clearing customs before arrival." — Justin L.
"Amsterdam (AMS). There's a casino, a free museum and lots of interesting sightseeing." — Ti N.
"For flights from Chicago (ORD) to South Africa (JNB/CPT), I prefer Zurich (ZRH) because of the really easy transfers and awesome SWISS lounges. Frankfurt (FRA) is good, too, because of the great airside Sheraton for layovers over eight hours as well as easy flights on Lufthansa and South African Airways. Frankfurt is better for daytime layovers than Munich (MUC) because it's just 12 minutes by S-Bahn to downtown Frankfurt, whereas Munich is over 50 minutes away." — Bjorn S.
Related: The best ways to get to Europe using points and miles
Why choose just one?
Some of our TPG Lounge members didn't have just one favorite airport hub, but listed several they preferred to fly through all over the world.
"Chicago or Houston. Super easy to navigate and the people are always so nice! I've never had a bad experience at either. In Asia, Singapore or Narita. In Europe, anywhere in Germany — their airports are amazing!" — Shan P.
"Depends on where I’m going. Minneapolis if traveling [I'm traveling around the] U.S. — it’s clean and efficient. Internationally, I’d connect in Madrid, Istanbul or Singapore any time, preferably with long layovers so I can get out into the city a bit." — Brett C.
"Houston because I can drive home from there if a connecting flight gets messed up. Chicago and Newark for the United Polaris Lounges. I choose which of the three based on the weather at the time of year I’m flying. Overseas, I just avoid Paris and prefer Munich or Zurich over Frankfurt because of ease of transfer. I do get my exercise though at Frankfurt!" — Lara H.
"After my last experience in Dallas (DFW) with Global Entry and facial recognition, which took under five minutes, I’m not sure I’ll ever choose another U.S. port of entry. That was excellent! In Asia, you can’t go wrong with Hong Kong (HKG) for the lounges." — Debbie C.
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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. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
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.
Rewards Rate
| 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. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
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.