Rapid Travel Chai

Priority Pass has reached 900 airport lounges worldwide, with particular growth the past year of 60 in China and 30 in Russia.

I have membership both with my American Express Platinum and Citi Prestige cards. Citi Prestige includes immediately family or two guests, Amex is self only. Authorized users of both are eligible for Priority Pass.

The lounges are as varied as the countries and airports that host them. Some are airline-operated, most are 3rd-party managed. I have been in some fantastic lounges and some less resplendent though always better than being in the terminal.

My favorite lounge in the world is the Seoul-Incheon HUB Lounge for its bulgogi and rambutans. I have spotted rambutans in Dubai and Mumbai as well. Lima’s Sumaq VIP Lounge with its orange juicer and grenadillas is runner-up. In Nassau I used my two cards for $20 each in credit and bought out the tropical drinks for take-away.

The duds are memorable in their own way, such as when I walked into the lounge at Zambia’s Livingstone Airport and saw why the female staff were sitting outside.

Just this weekend I waited out an 8-hour Aircalin mechanical delay in Nadi at the Fiji Airways lounge where staff kept me regularly updated (not so easy a feat).

The China and Russia additions in particular help me as a SkyTeam flyer where domestic econ0my flights in any country are not granted airline lounge access. OneWorld and Star Alliance elites do (there are certain carve-outs for elites of American, Qantas and United.) Most lounges in China are, lamentably, awful, while many in Russia are quite good. Start with the Space Lounge in Moscow SVO.

Readers, what Priority Pass lounges have been memorable for you, good or bad?