Priority Pass Offers Access to Over 600 Lounges

Published: March 6, 2009 / LuxuryTravelMagazine.com

Priority Pass, the world leader in independent access to airport lounges, is delighted to announce that its members now have access to over 600 airport VIP lounges around the world – an increase of 100 over 2008, reinforcing its market leadership.

This significant increase will be welcomed by members who are able to use any of the lounges in the program whenever they travel, regardless of airline or class of travel.

Priority Pass is one of the beneficiaries of the uncertain economic climate, as more travelers seek to cut travel costs and downgrade from business class. By joining Priority Pass, travelers can ensure that they can gain access to the facilities of VIP lounges, even when flying economy class. Lounges offer refreshments, business facilities and, above all, peace and quiet.

"Our program has always appealed to those travelers who want to escape crowded, noisy departure halls without paying through the nose," commented Jonathan French, Priority Pass Head of Brand, "but now our program expansion has coincided with an upturn in interest from a new group of downgrading travelers. They realize that on short-haul flights, they can spend as much time in the airport as on the aircraft, and it's on the ground that getting access to a VIP area can pay dividends in terms of reducing the stress of travel.”

The growth of Priority Pass to over 600 lounges means that members can rely on finding a lounge at more than 325 airports across 100 countries.

French added, "While some in the travel industry are scaling back, we continue to invest in growth and in meeting our objective of ensuring our members can use a lounge whenever they travel."

Highlights of the growth during 2008 include:

Europe

Comprehensive coverage of UK airports expanded to include Plymouth and Inverness.

Additional lounges in Spain, Italy and Germany, boosting an already very comprehensive program.

New lounges in Eastern Europe, including Ukraine, Poland, Slovak Republic, Hungary and Russia.

Middle East

New lounges available in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Jordan.

Asia Pacific

Significant expansion in key cities, with multiple lounges added in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Qingdao and Seoul.

New lounges in India including at Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Cochin.

New lounges in Japan, including at Tokyo, Fukuoka, Nagoya and Osaka.

As well as Seoul, additional new locations and lounges added in South Korea, including Busan and Jeju Island.

North America

A long list of new lounges in the USA includes additions to our program in Atlanta, Boston, Denver Honolulu, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York JFK, Phoenix, and Raleigh Durham.

Latin America and Caribbean

A comprehensive program has been expanded further with additional lounges in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama and Peru

Priority Pass was launched in 1992 with the goal of providing frequent travelers with airport lounge access, regardless of their class of travel, airline flown or existing membership in an airline frequent flyer program.

In 17 years Priority Pass has become the world's largest independent airport lounge access program. Starting with just 55 lounges, today Priority Pass works with over 600 lounges in more than 300 cities throughout the world - and the network of lounges continues to grow.

Priority Pass has millions of members in all corners of the world and there are Priority Pass offices in Dallas, London and Hong Kong.

How Membership Works

Priority Pass offers three membership plans, each appropriate to a different type of traveler.

Prestige Membership offers outstanding value for the money for frequent travelers. For a single annual membership fee of US$399, members can make unlimited visits to all the lounges in the program.

Standard Plus Membership is available at a lower annual fee of US$249, and includes 10 free member visits per year to any of the lounges. Additional visits during the year are charged at US$27 per visit.

Standard Membership is just US$99 per year, and members then pay US$27 for each visit made.

All three membership plans allow members to take guests into the lounges with them, at a fee of US$27 per guest per visit.