Is this the best Priority Pass lounge in the country?
There's a lovely new addition to the lounge landscape in San Francisco: The Priority Pass lounge called "The Club" is now open at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). While the lounge is crowded and often has a line to get in, I'd argue it's still the best Priority Pass lounge in the U.S.
There are a ton of amenities, the staff is friendly and you'll find a good selection of food and drinks.
Here's what you can expect and why you should check it out the next time you fly out of San Francisco.
The Club location at SFO
The Club opened in June at SFO's Harvey Milk Terminal 1. Both times I passed by in October, there was a line to get in; however, it was only a five-minute wait when I visited before a recent flight to New York.
As you enter the lobby area on the terminal's main floor, you'll see a large staircase.
There is an elevator behind the check-in desks, but it was not working while I was visiting (except by request of those in wheelchairs). Instead, the luggage area near the elevator was being used for storage, so people didn't have to lug their bags up two flights of steps to the main lounge.
The staircase is a dramatic way to enter the space, but hopefully the elevator won't be offline for long.
The Club SFO is definitely the nicest Priority Pass lounge I've been to in the U.S.
Unlike most of the 20 clubs in the domestic Priority Pass network, this one is chic and well designed. A dramatic lighting feature frames the space. (Although, as you can see, it gets quite full.)
I had trouble getting photos that didn't make it look packed to the gills, but it didn't feel as crowded as it looked.
Around the corner from the main dining area, there is a long, gorgeous bar serving top-shelf cocktails, beer and wine.
The Club SFO entry requirements
Travelers with Priority Pass can access The Club SFO for free. Those with LoungeKey membership also get free entry. Priority Pass and LoungeKey are owned by the Collinson Group, The Club's parent company.
Many of our top recommended credit cards include a Priority Pass membership. The Club SFO sells day passes for $75 each. On my visit, I simply presented my Priority Pass card to enter.
As previously mentioned, The Club SFO is regularly crowded. In fact, there were lines each time I walked by the space. However, the lounge does have a partial solution to waiting in long lines: a QR code-based waitlist. You can get added to the waitlist when the lounge is at capacity and receive a text when it’s your turn to come in. You’ll need to scan a QR code at the entrance, which may include a short wait, to use the system.
All the amenities, though, may make it worth your time.
The Club SFO amenities
The Club SFO has some of the best amenities you'll find at any domestic lounge at SFO. My favorite feature was the little seating area at the top of the staircase with a "first-of-its-kind microclimate fireplace," according to the lounge. It uses water vapor and fancy lighting to mimic a real fire. Plus, the space never got completely full.
There's also a nice area for snoozing, a feature The Club SFO calls a "rest zone." Unfortunately, a shortage of lounge chairs means you won't always be able to get a spot; there are just four chairs in total, all facing a gorgeous lighted wall feature. During my stay, there was one brief moment when the room was empty.
Additional seating areas include various workspaces, individual sofa seats with high walls and individual quiet rooms off to the side marked "privacy" that some folks had turned into nap rooms.
There were dozens of small seating areas, most filled with passengers killing time before their flights (including one passenger who turned two chairs into a makeshift bed).
Views were not the best feature of the lounge, although you could see some planes through a few windows in the distance. There were views of the terminal walkway below.
The lounge has a wellness center, but you'll need to ask for access. It was locked up during my stay. The small room is equipped with two Lululemon Studio Mirrors, yoga mats, yoga blocks, gym towels and water.
Finally, the lounge has three small "luminescence" rooms that you can reserve for 20-minute intervals. They come with adjustable lighting and temperature controls. I was able to reserve one for a quick meditation and to escape the hustle and bustle of the main lounge.
All the reservations for the lounge can be made through an app that you access via a QR code.
Note that you'll need to pay $25 to use the showers. There are three in the lounge, including one that is fully wheelchair-accessible. It's nice to have the option, even if you do have to pay for the pleasure.
I spent the $25 during a more recent visit and it was a nice feature to have especially since the nearby Alaska Airlines Lounge doesn't have showers (though the American Airlines Admirals Club does)
I appreciated that each shower had a rainfall showerhead and a shower wand. Amenities were by the German cosmetics brand Babor.
The bathrooms were clean and tiled with fun phrases like "standing room only" at the men's urinals. There was even a diffuser to keep the bathrooms smelling clean.
The lounge also offers a lactation room for nursing mothers.
Wi-Fi at The Club SFO was lightning fast — possibly the best I've ever found at any lounge. As you can see below, download speeds came in at 284 Mbps and upload speeds at 248 Mbps. Wow.
There were also plentiful outlets throughout the lounge.
The Club SFO dining and bar
The lounge bar was a popular spot, but I never saw long lines for cocktails during my visit.
Back in the large main dining room, a walk-up buffet attracted quite a line as it transitioned to lunch during my visit.
The food spread was impressive, with the chefs replenishing the vittles as guests quickly snatched them up. Items included California fruits, a carrot-coconut curry with jasmine rice, orange chicken and broccoli cooked in pineapple soy.
There was also a wine buffet station serving Chalk Hill and Foley wines, but it was closed during my visit.
Finally, there were a few other beverage stations offering a coffee machine, a soda water tap, teas, fountain soda and a few other treats.
Bottom line
The Club SFO is already proving to be incredibly popular thanks to its beautifully designed two-floor space, large selection of fun food and beverage choices, and many interesting amenities. I'm a little concerned about the crowding, but that's true of nearly every lounge these days — especially during prime time.
If this is the direction The Club brand is going in, I'm all for it.
I can definitely say it's the nicest Priority Pass lounge I've been to in the U.S.
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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. |
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| 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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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
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- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
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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.