Priority Pass continues to expand in the United States. In March 2021, Alaska added three more of its lounges back to Priority Pass — but then pulled them all out in July 2021. Then in April 2021, Lufthansa added more lounges to Priority Pass. Now, British Airways has added three more lounges to Priority Pass.
Getting a Priority Pass membership is becoming more of a sweet deal — especially now that international travel is booming and more people need lounges for delayed flights.
New British Airways Priority Pass Lounges
British Airways now have four lounges in the Priority Pass network:
- British Airways Newark (EWR) — Available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. Located airside after security, near gates 50. International and in-transit flights only. Maximum stay of 3 hours. Complimentary luggage storage is available inside the lounge.
- British Airways San Francisco (SFO) — Available from 5 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. daily. The lounge is located airside in International Terminal A, near gate 5.
- British Airways Seattle (SEA) — Available from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. daily. Located inside security. International and in-transit flights only. Complimentary luggage storage is available inside the lounge.
- British Airways Washington Dulles (IAD) — Available from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. Located airside on the 2nd floor. The entrance to the lounge is on the right-hand side, once you exit the escalator. Maximum 6-hour stay. Children under 2 years are admitted free. Complimentary alcoholic drinks are limited to wine and beer only.
The Washington DC British Airways lounge was already available to Priority Pass holders, but the other three are new additions to the network. Newark and San Francisco hours are the usual lounge hours, while Seattle and Dulles are open to Priority Pass members before the normal lounge times.
Lufthansa Priority Pass Lounges
In October 2018, Lufthansa — Germany’s largest airline — added its Detroit Business Lounge to Priority Pass. In April 2021, Lufthansa added three more of its 5 US lounges to Priority Pass, but later removed its Newark lounge. This departure leaves the new British Airways lounge as the only Priority Pass lounge currently available in Newark.
After all of that shakeup, here are the Lufthansa lounges currently available to Priority Pass members:
- The Lufthansa Business Lounge New York (JFK) — accessible from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and then from 7 to 10:45 p.m. every day. Located airside after the security checkpoint on the left-hand side. International and in-transit flights only. Maximum stay of 3 hours.
- The Lufthansa Business Lounge Washington Dulles (IAD) — accessible from 12 or 1:30 p.m. (depending on the day) to 2 p.m. and then from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Located airside near gate B50. Maximum stay of 3 hours.
- The Lufthansa Business Lounge Detroit (DTW) — accessible from 6 a.m. to 12 noon Monday-Saturday and 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Located airside in the Warren C. Evans Terminal near gate D8. Maximum stay of 3 hours
Due to COVID-19 restrictions at this time, masks must be worn at all times (except when eating) per the website. Masks made of fabric are not allowed.
Neither Lufthansa’s Newark or Boston lounges are currently accessible to Priority Pass members.
More on Priority Pass
Priority Pass is not just for North American lounges. The pass gives you access to over 1,300 lounges and airport experiences (including restaurants) around the world.
In the past, airlines were reluctant to allow Priority Pass members access to their lounges due to overcrowding. During the pandemic, that limitation was no longer necessary. Whether British Airways and Lufthansa lounges will remain accessible to Priority Pass members now that travel is hitting new heights is yet to be seen.
If you don’t already have a Priority Pass, memberships start at $99 a year. At this membership level, you pay $32 per person to access each lounge. Or for $429 a year, all your lounge visits are free. However, it usually makes much more sense to get a complimentary Priority Pass membership through one of the following credit cards:
| Credit Card | Complimentary Cardholder Access | Number of Free Guests | Digital Priority Pass Card | Card Annual Fee | Authorized User Lounge Access | Authorized User Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | Unlimited lounge access | 2 guests | Yes | $395 | Yes | $0 (up to four AUs) |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Unlimited lounge access | 2 guests | Yes | $550 | Yes | $75 |
| The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card | Unlimited lounge access | Unlimited (as far as we’ve found) | Yes | $450 | Yes | $0 |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | Unlimited lounge access – No F&B credits at non-lounge restaurants, bars, and eateries (Enrollment Required) | 2 guests | Yes | $695 – Rates & Fees | Yes | $175 total for first 3 AUs then $175 each – Rates & Fees |
| The Business Platinum Card® from American Express | Unlimited lounge access – No F&B credits at non-lounge restaurants, bars, and eateries (Enrollment Required) |
2 guests | Yes | $695 – Rates & Fees | Yes | $300 – Rates & Fees |
| Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card | Unlimited lounge access (Enrollment Required) |
2 guests | Yes | $450 | No | $0 |
| Citi Prestige® Card | Unlimited lounge access (Enrollment Required) |
2 guests or immediate family | Yes | $495 | Yes | $75 |
| Crystal® Visa Infinite® Credit Card | Unlimited lounge access for the primary cardholder. | $32 per guest | Yes | $400 | Can gift access to one other person – doesn’t have to be AU | $95 |
| Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card | 10x free passes then $32 per visit (Enrollment Required) |
$32 per guest | Yes | $95 | No | N/A |
| U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card | 4x free passes per year, then $32 per visit | 1 guest free for first 4 visits, then $32 per visit | No | $400 | No | $0 |
| The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card | 10x free passes then $27 per visit | Must use a 2nd pass for a guest | Yes | $95 – Rates & Fees | No | $0 – Rates & Fees |
Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
Our Take
Having access to lounges is particularly important these days with so much uncertainty around flights. Airlines and airports are imploring passengers to get to the airport early to deal with long check-in and security lines. With a lounge membership, you don’t have to worry about being stuck in the terminal if you clear through security quickly.
Just note that being a member of Priority Pass does not guarantee access to an airport lounge. Airlines have the right to deny entry at any time due to overcrowding or other reasons.
