I’m a bit confused, we always use the lounges, I always forget the Amex advertise free airport longes, I just spent a stupid amount of time finding it in the app, the way I read it is , it’s free if you take out a priority subscription, unless you travel a lot it seems a waste of time, am I right?
With the gold Amex, you get 4 free visits to priority pass lounges. Fee is I think £160 per year but free for the first year. So probably not worth it unless you use other benefits or are in the free year.
Platinum is unlimited visits I think but £520 per year so if you travel a lot (not in business) may be worth it for the lounge access alone.
I had the Gold, but didn't renew after the free year. I was a fairly frequent traveler and I thought lounge access would be helpful. I found the lounges that were included to be generally grotty and not worth it.
I’ve managed to get free lounge use by getting travel insurance with Saga.Must admit I find them pretty good and quite relaxing
When I was working full time I traveled quite frequently into Europe; often business class with Lufthansa their lounges were excellent, sometimes busy but usually good quality.
I now travel two or three times a year to the US as my Son lives there. We took a look inside the lounge that AmEx could get us into at LHR T3 last June and decided not to bother. It was rammed.
These days I am a little bit more points savvy and if I was still travelling as much as I used to do I think I would go for the AmEx platinum card. The unlimited lounge access, travel insurance, dining credits and loyalty points scheme would make it worth the fee.
Nowadays I do some consultancy work which rarely takes me out of the UK so my air travel is just for leisure and we have the AmEx BA Premium Plus card. It’s £250 a year but the 75k Avios sign up bonus we got was worth it to us as is the companion voucher we will earn this year
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Had an amex platinum card twice and cancelled it twice.
Lounge is hit and miss, mostly miss. Most times you're better off with some noise cancelling headphones and some food from pret (I mostly travel from Stansted or Luton)
Recently had a load of points to use on virgin so went upper class to New York and the lounges there were night and day. This is what all lounges should be like but the cost without points was stupid and I'd never pay that.
As a couple with two kids going on 2-3+ holidays per year the lounges probably make more sense. You can get the travel insurance free with HSBC premier.
Last edited by wileeeeeey; 15th March 2023 at 11:20.
I‘ve used it a few times in the past. Last time I tried to use it, the lounge was full and I was turned away. Then on the return journey, the lounge was closed completely. Pretty crappy if you don’t travel that much, try to use what you are owed and get denied.
The virgin upper lounge is pretty special eh! Was almost a shame to get out of my Eames chair drinking champagne to go and sit in frankly the most comfortable plane seat I’ve ever travelled in!Originally Posted by wileeeeeey
The cheaper end of the lounges / free ones just aren’t really worth it in my experience; too busy, nothing really special and food & drink pretty low quality.
Only ever gone upper class twice and both times with points. Couldn't afford it otherwise! This time we got premium out and upper back which is where I found an eames chair and googled what they cost. Definitely wouldn't buy an official one!
We did it the other way around as was a morning flight out & wanted to be awake for full enjoyment. That was what got me ordering my copy chair as was so comfortable sitting there.
Best food I’ve ever had in a lounge and also on the plane. Was a one-off for us, back to premium these days.
Amex Lounges (via Priority Pass) was a good perk, probably less so now.
If you get 2 cards (2nd card is free) then you can get 4 people travelling together into the lounge.
Since the pandemic (although I have travelled less) the lounges frequently seem to be full at LHR as they now sell lounge access with parking, bundled into holidays etc. so it is less useful. If you want to use it go to the lounge first and can join queue if needed whilst do any browsing etc.
Will see how it pans out this year but for travel the unlimited lounges and the hotel status were really useful when I travelled a lot. Lounge has more value when traevlling solo as can leave bags and things a bit more.
Here in NL Amex are not so big, and when we relocated I closed my U.K. Credit cards.
Recently I had the opportunity to open a Black Mastercard account which comes with free Priority Pass, and as I could get the card for free in the first year I signed up.
First shock was the limit, maximum is €5k, but usually they offer €3.5k, OK, not a problem,
Then I discovered that under new legislation you cannot split your repayments anymore (on new cards only) so it’s not technically a credit card as you pay off in full like the classic Amex.
Anyway, CC and Priority Pass arrive, the next day BA announces it is closing it’s lounge at Schiphol and the Priority Pass lounge is now exclusively for BA passengers
So, that’s one card I won’t renew
Exactly this ^^^^^^
I have an American Express Platinum card and unless you book years ahead you aren't getting in a "Priority Pass" lounge. And even then they aren't a patch on the individual airlines loungues.
Agreed, Heathrow was disappointing however the Vienna 4 hour delay was absolutely well worth the 'free' pass :-)
I have Priority Pass (unlimited) with my credit card. The lounges are indeed hit and miss, some are poor and full of people, but there are many good Priority Pass lounges also. I get the PP with my company credit card so it's not as service I pay for, and to be honest, probably not something I would pay for.
We just use the Amex BA premium card and fly business on points/comp voucher. Lounge access then included in airline lounge rather than the airport provided room.
Amex Centurion gains you access to the lounges reserved for First Class and all Centurion lounges. With Centurion, you always get to skip the line, are assured a seat in the lounge, and get Champagne, not Prosecco, and have access to special drinks. There are specific Centurion lounges with fine dining restaurants, moreso in the US, with private rooms. There are new lounges opening in Heathrow. Nice perk is private escort at Heathrow for check-in, immigration, and security.
Agreed, nasty places where you get the “privilege” of trying to find a seat that has seen a thousand bums to queue for a buffet that would embarrass a Little Chef.
Very true. The great unwashed all seem to have PP now, making it a scrum if you do actually get in.
This is probably the best answer.
If you get PP free with your corporate card, okay, but it’s not worth paying for (I have done so in the past, and regretted it every time).
The dedicated airline lounges are better, but also sinking in my recent experience. I've used Virgin, JAL, BA, Singapore, Thai, ANA and they do vary. But there's nothing that exciting about a “free” beer and snacks that you've actually paid a fortune for either through a business class ticket or expensive credit card.
All air travel (at least, on scheduled flights) regardless of class or perks is just a tedious chore to be endured.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote