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Airport lounges stay one of many few respites from the craziness of air journey. And although some bank cards and airline loyalty packages present selective entry to the coveted areas, the world’s largest unbiased airport lounge program is Precedence Go, which has lounges in additional than 600 cities spanning 145 nations. Better of all, Precedence Go membership is so much simpler to realize than elite standing with an airline.
Precedence Go doesn’t truly personal and function airport lounges however slightly consolidates them via a single membership program. The gathering features a various vary of lounges, from airport-managed areas and Plaza Premium lounges to Chase Sapphire Lounges, choose Escape Lounges, and even lounges operated by main airways. (The community’s app makes it straightforward to seek for lounges by world airport code and terminals.) With Precedence Go, vacationers can enter the lounges within the portfolio on their flight date, no matter airline or class flown.
Whereas you should buy a Precedence Go membership outright, it’s usually provided as a complimentary perk with choose bank cards. Right here’s an entire information to Precedence Go: what it’s, how one can develop into a member, and how one can carry family and friends into lounges—usually at no additional value.
The best way to get Precedence Go
There are a number of methods to get Precedence Go. You should buy membership instantly from the corporate, get it as a complimentary perk by being a major cardholder of a premium bank card, and in addition get it by being a further cardholder on choose bank cards.
The best way to purchase a Precedence Go membership
It’s attainable to amass membership instantly via the Precedence Go web site. The three ranges of membership (Commonplace, Commonplace Plus, and Status) all have an annual membership price. No matter membership tier, the associated fee for a visitor is $35 per go to.
The best way to get a Precedence Go membership without cost
Regardless of Precedence Go’s printed costs for membership, most vacationers receive it without cost and even keep away from visitor charges. How? A number of bank cards include a complimentary membership at a particular tier referred to as Precedence Go Choose. With sure bank cards, the advantages and lounge entry of Choose are typically the identical as Status plus a bonus of two complimentary friends per go to at most lounges. The bank cards embody:
Whereas Choose membership could also be complimentary in all instances above, enrollment just isn’t computerized. You’ll have to activate your membership on-line via your bank card login or name the 800 quantity on the again of your bank card. As soon as enrolled, you may arrange your membership within the Precedence Go app and obtain your digital card to your digital pockets. A bodily Precedence Go Choose card can even arrive within the mail. Word that conserving the precise card in your pockets or passport holder is a great concept, particularly if touring to nations the place Wi-Fi connectivity may be a problem.
Extending membership to approved customers
For bank cards, Precedence Go Choose membership is given within the title of the cardholder and offers that cardholder with entry to all lounges throughout the community. Nonetheless, most bank cards additionally grant membership to approved customers/extra cardholders.
Approved customers of Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Marriott Bonvoy Good American Categorical Card, and the Platinum Card from American Categorical are every entitled to their very own Precedence Go Choose Membership with the identical entry and two-guest coverage (aside from the Chase lounges in the US—extra on that beneath). Whereas approved customers sometimes include a price, the Enterprise X stands out within the premium journey bank card market by permitting free extra cardholders. It’s the one high-fee card to take action whereas nonetheless providing full lounge advantages. A major Enterprise X cardholder can add as much as 4 approved customers, every receiving their very own Precedence Go membership with the flexibility to carry two friends at no additional value.
What are Precedence Go lounges like?
As one may anticipate with so many unbiased lounges below one umbrella, not all Precedence Go lounges are created equal. Typically, a Precedence Go lounge affords complimentary entry to snacks or meals, alcoholic drinks, Wi-Fi, energy shops, and comfy seating earlier than most flights. Some, nonetheless, go above and past, that includes full meal displays and artisan cocktails. Take Sala VIP Internacional at Quito Worldwide Airport in Ecuador, as an example—a surprising house with an alfresco rooftop seating space and a lunchtime unfold that features sushi, ceviche, and a manned sandwich station for made-to-order creations.
That can assist you uncover the crème de la crème, we’ve curated our personal checklist of one of the best Precedence Go lounges worldwide. You may also discover the areas honored in 2024’s Lounge of the Yr Awards, the place Precedence Go members topped Vienna Lounge at Vienna Airport’s Terminal 1 because the International Winner, primarily based on 379,966 scores and critiques submitted through the Precedence Go app.
On the flip facet, some lounges fall quick—starting from mediocre to outright primary, with a couple of bordering on questionable. The least spectacular usually seem in airports with typically subpar services, the place even a chilly beer can really feel like a luxurious, regardless of being served on a cracked, well-worn leather-based sofa below dim lighting.
Lounges nowadays usually really feel packed to the brim. Why? For starters, there are extra premium credit score cardholders than ever earlier than. And with journey at an all-time excessive, peak seasons and rush hours are stretching longer than ever. In 2024, Precedence Go noticed a 31 % improve in lounge and journey expertise visits globally in comparison with 2023.
What about overcrowding?
Lounges reserve the precise to refuse entry when at capability, and a few even prioritize vacationers flying enterprise class with a associate airline. Personally, I’ve encountered waitlists at most Precedence Go lounges over the previous 12 months.
To handle overcrowding, Precedence Go has rolled out a Pre-Guide choice at over 140 lounges throughout 100+ airports in areas like the UK, USA, South America, the Center East, and Japan, with extra places being added often. You’ll be able to prebook for these particular lounges via the app or instantly on the Precedence Go web site. Sadly, prebooking comes with a $7 per particular person price. Whereas I see this as a sensible answer, it barely undermines the thought of complimentary lounge membership. That stated, I’m keen to pay the price for a lounge I do know and luxuriate in if it means assured entry.
There are different methods to enhance your Precedence Go expertise. Arrive early to safe entry and benefit from the facilities, attempt to fly throughout off-peak hours, and be sure you try our full set of ideas for avoiding crowds at Precedence Go airport lounges.
What’s the take care of Chase lounges?
Chase is actively increasing its community of branded lounges, at present that includes one in Hong Kong and 6 throughout the US (Boston Logan, Dulles, New York JFK, New York LaGuardia, Phoenix Sky Harbor, and San Diego). Three extra are slated to open quickly: Philadelphia and Las Vegas in 2025, adopted by Los Angeles.
All Chase lounges are a part of the Precedence Go community, however there’s a catch. Precedence Go members with the Chase Sapphire Reserve get pleasure from full entry to those lounges and may carry two friends freed from cost, similar to different Precedence Go lounges. Nonetheless, Precedence Go members linked to different bank cards are restricted to only one free go to to a U.S. Chase lounge per calendar 12 months—no matter location. Any extra visits value $75 per particular person, as do visitor entries. To make clear, this isn’t one free go to per lounge; it’s one free go to complete to any Chase lounge yearly. Womp, womp!
In distinction, the Chase lounge in Hong Kong operates below the usual Precedence Go Choose guidelines for all bank cards, providing limitless entry plus two complimentary friends.
Can I get into Escape lounges with Precedence Go?
Escape Lounges comprise a community of 21 airport lounges, with 15 in the US and 6 in the UK. Traditionally, Escape Lounges have been tied to American Categorical as a part of AmEx’s broader International Lounge Assortment, providing complimentary entry to AmEx Platinum cardholders and permitting them to carry two friends without cost.
Whereas the U.Ok. Escape Lounges had already joined Precedence Go, many of the U.S. places adopted go well with in July 2024. Now, 11 of the 15 U.S. Escape Lounges are a part of Precedence Go, adhering to the standard entry guidelines, together with visitor entry. These embody lounges in Windfall, Sacramento, and Minneapolis–St. Paul.
Sadly, my favourite Escape Lounge at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood Worldwide Airport (FLL) isn’t amongst these 11. Fortunately, I carry each an AmEx Platinum and a Enterprise X, so I can nonetheless achieve entry when flying via FLL.
What’s the distinction between Precedence Go and Plaza Premium?
Admittedly for these not extremely aware of the lounge world, it’s straightforward to get confused between Precedence Go and one other title going round, Plaza Premium. Whereas they’ve the identical initials, they’re certainly totally different corporations, and we’re right here to clear issues up.
Precedence Go is the world’s largest unbiased airport lounge program whereas Plaza Premium Group (PPG) is the world’s largest operator of airport lounges. PPG owns and operates its personal branded lounges and in addition runs many extra below different names, together with Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses in the US, the Capital One Lounge in Dallas, and several other Avianca Lounges in Colombia. PPG’s branded lounges are a part of the Precedence Go community, though a number of the lounges they function on behalf of airways are usually not. In brief, you may enter Plaza Premium–branded lounges along with your Precedence Go.
R.I.P. Nonlounge airport options for credit score cardholders
Along with its lounges, Precedence Go contains quite a few airport eating places, cafés, and bars in its community. These so-called lounge options provide Precedence Go members a meals and beverage credit score of $28 to $32 per visitor at over 35 places.
Up to now, members with Choose Memberships might entry this profit relying on their financial institution or affiliated card. Nonetheless, in July 2024, Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders misplaced this perk, making it the final main premium bank card to discontinue the credit score.
Because of this, Precedence Go playing cards linked to bank cards now not present this profit at nonlounge airport venues. Be warned: Even should you see the Precedence Go signal, making an attempt to make use of your Precedence Go card at these eating places and bars will doubtless outcome within the full cost being billed to your bank card.
Is Precedence Go value it?
The Precedence Go lounge community affords vacationers the possibility to calm down and unwind earlier than flights at airports worldwide. With the precise bank card, you may get pleasure from complimentary entry to over 1,700 airport lounges—and even carry family and friends alongside at no additional value. So is it value it? As a bundled bank card perk, for certain. However to pay outright for membership, it’s a cross (pun meant).
All details about Chase Sapphire Reserve® has been collected independently by Afar.com. Chase Sapphire Reserve® is now not obtainable via Afar.com.