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The Chicago Tribune’s Alfred Borcover goes over the options for accessing airport lounges. It’s quite similar to my “How to Lounge in Airports” post from a few weeks ago. Two comments:

First, this item caught my attention:

Travis Mason-Bushman, a 22-year-old journalism student at California’s Contra Costa College, plunked down his own money to belong to the United Airlines and US Airways clubs to make life easier for his weekend public relations job with a sports car racing team. […] “My memberships [$500 for Red Carpet and $375 for US Airways] are a small price to pay, considering all the time I spend in airline terminals. I cross the country about 15 times a year.”

You’re paying twice for the same thing, Travis. United and US Airways have a reciprocal lounge agreement, which allows members of one club to use the other for free. United’s Red Carpet Club members automatically get US Airways club access; US Airways Club members can upgrade their base membership for $120 to include United club access. I just saved you $375, Travis.

…and come to think of it, why is Travis paying $500 for the Red Carpet Club anyway? If he’s flying that many miles, he’s got to be getting an elite-member discount.

Second, a lot of airport lounges really aren’t all that great. Nicer than the terminal, maybe. But there can be tradeoffs. Like a “no outside food inside the club” rule. Or big variations in the facilities: there are four Red Carpet Clubs at Chicago O’Hare, but one of them (near gate B18) doesn’t even have a bathroom. (Somehow, it feels a lot less exclusive when you have to leave the lounge to pee.) Anyone buying a $50 day pass to use that facility is out of their mind.

It’s really when you leave the U.S. that lounges become a real treat. Nice spreads of prepared food, and not just carrot sticks and crackers. Not as many TVs running everywhere. A better selection of newspapers and magazines. Complimentary beverages of all kinds, and not just soft drinks. (Tokyo-Narita’s Red Carpet Club even has the Amazing Beer Machine!) No drink coupon silliness for elites or premium cabin travelers. (To my knowledge, of the US carriers, only Continental still has complimentary bar service in their domestic clubs. — Update: According to Tucano in comments, drinks are free in Delta’s clubs, too.)

If you’re flying to an airport and you have several lounge options, check LoungeGuide.net first. It’s an airport lounge review wiki, so it’s based on user reviews. (So the amount of detail and the quality of the reviews varies.) The site currently lists 322 lounges around the world. That’s far from complete, but it’s a start.

Update: Click below to see a video of the Tokyo-Narita beer machine in action!

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tags: travel | airport lounges | beer machine | Tokyo Narita