More good news for members of PriorityPass as the company is continuing to add additional lounges to their worldwide portfolio and a 20% increase until the end of 2021.
By the end of the year Priority Pass aims for a 20% expansion globally which includes the opening of over 150 new airport lounges by the end of the year, plus 100 new premium airport lounges experiences.
This comes on the heels of the companies new agreement with Lufthansa to most of their lounges at U.S. airports and the unfortunate news of most Plaza Premium locations exiting the network.
With a constant come and go in the system it’s important that there is a constant recruitment of new locations to not leave gaps on the map.
Now we received an Upgrade from Priority Pass (Collinson) that the company is planning big expansions this year:
Today, Priority Pass, the leading global airport lounge programme, has announced it will add over 150 new luxury airport lounges across the world in 2021. Alongside 100 new premium dining and relaxation experiences and railway and sea port lounges, this represents 20% growth for the network.
This announcement comes at the same time that evidence mounts that travel is set to return, with encouraging growth in domestic travel in the US, China and Russia, as well as recent announcements such as the EU saying that vaccinated travellers will be welcomed without restrictions. But the needs of travellers have also changed – with premium experiences more in demand than ever.
Priority Pass has already added 32 new airport lounges this year – including Lufthansa Business lounges in New York Airport (JFK), Newark International Airport (EWR) and Washington Dulles Airport (IAD), and 14 lounges in China alone. Other new lounges have been added in locations important to Priority Pass Members such as Russia, Turkey, Egypt, and India. Priority Pass has also added 8 new premium dining experiences.
The lounges and facilities already added to the register YTD are:
A very positive development is the procurement of three restaurants at Toronto Airport where options have been rather sparse so far. China also got a huge boost although I find the lounges there lacking in substance most times.
Remember: Airport experience facilities have become more popular in recent years but it’s important to note that Priority Pass cards issued through American Express do no carry the benefit of using these options free of charge.
Conclusion
It’s great to see Priority Pass growing and especially the Toronto options are positive as when Plaza Premium disappears at least cardholders can use the new cafe/restaurant options prior to their flight.
The current situation of reduced travel must have been challenging for Priority Pass as during a travel slump people don’t renew paid memberships and often times also cancel their premium credit cards that come with a PP membership attached.
Many lounges have closed down due to local requirements… in short it’s been a mess for the past year. Hopefully more positive times are ahead and again it’s good to see the company keeping the ball rolling and trying to make up for lounges that leave the system by procuring new partnerships.
I guess this will force a lot of people to buy their pass. Those credit cards, with the exception of Amex Platinum, that offered membership in PP, that benefit is basically useless now. It’ll be interesting to see how PP will market themselves once they tie up more dining and luxury lounges.
I think all of the Priority Pass cards with the exception of Amex issued ones have the restaurant benefits, which in the USA are far more valuable. There are only so many Centurion lounges, so Amex needs to come up with something that offers a replacement to the Plaza Premium lounges. Because in the end, Plaza Premium dropping Priority Pass will be more hurtful to them, than the other way around.
It will be interesting to see what happens. PP made an announcement yesterday about adding in luxury lounges to their list but no word on what they are or how it works.
It will be interesting to see what happens. PP made an announcement yesterday about adding in luxury lounges to their list but no word on what they are or how it works.
It will be interesting to see what happens. PP made an announcement yesterday about adding in luxury lounges to their list but no word on what they are or how it works.
Depends a lot on the visiting/use profile of the traveler. If Plaza Premium has been significant for you then I’d look at getting an Amex Platinum which also comes with a basic PP but that doesn’t allow you to use the restaurant options and other “airport experiences” as they call it. The way forward also depends on your country of residence and what credit products you’re able to get locally. Plenty of choices in the U.S. but very few in Canada.
Week said Sebastian. Fortunately I have the Canadian Platinum card. It is a shame we don’t have the extra benefits offered by the US version.
Week said Sebastian. Fortunately I have the Canadian Platinum card. It is a shame we don’t have the extra benefits offered by the US version.
Week said Sebastian. Fortunately I have the Canadian Platinum card. It is a shame we don’t have the extra benefits offered by the US version.
Seems that the passes are better if not from Amex.
Dunno about what there doing in Toronto. Just checked the website, it lists zero lounges, completely blank.
On the app still shows the plaza premiums.. Which we well know about not being included. Pretty stupid the app isn’t dynamic based on the website. And the KLM lounge in the international terminal. So perhaps that’s gone too.
None of the so called new restaurants are listed. Are they gone already or they are only for people who have the secret know how ?
Good point. I have dropped an email to my contact at Collinson to see what that is all about.
Let’s hope they use some detailed planning in their expansion. Many airports they have all of the lounges on the international side so if you are flying domestically you do not get access and vice versa. Similarly with landside vs airside.
Let’s hope they use some detailed planning in their expansion. Many airports they have all of the lounges on the international side so if you are flying domestically you do not get access and vice versa. Similarly with landside vs airside.