Beyond
thinking of airport lounges, you should also consider the checked baggage fee waivers offered by both cards.
Not exact matches
With the addition
of the Chase Sapphire ReserveSM to the high end travel rewards market, and the discussions about all
of its benefits and services to offset the $ 450 annual fee, we
thought that it would be a good time to compare the
airport lounge benefits associated with each
of the 3 top cards in this upscale travel rewards category.
Everything in the
lounge is free (or included in the entrance fee if you've had to pay to get in) and that includes the full service bar which is remarkably well stocked for an
airport lounge — the bar staff will mix most cocktails on demand and they seem to have just about every major soft drink you can
think of.
If you
think you'll only visit a Priority Pass
airport lounge a hand full
of times each year the Ascend Card might be the better option for obtaining Priority Pass.
While a decent champagne and a la carte dining are definitely options that distinguish a First Class
lounge from a Business Class
lounge in most
airports around the world, I can't
think of too much else that I found that would make this
lounge stand out as being «First Class».
Now I know what many
of you are
thinking, Priority Pass
lounges are not available at every
airport, in fact, at many
airports the only priority pass
lounges are not accessible to all gates (i.e. at LAX) or the only Priority Pass
lounge is a United Club, which is also not accessible with Priority Pass Select membership (the level provided by American Express).
And a final
thought, with the opening
of the LaGuardia and San Francisco Centurion
lounges along with the current Vegas and DFW Centurion
lounges, it may just be a matter
of time until this hiccup is behind us and we are all praising American Express
airport lounge access program again.
Overall, I'm still a bit surprised that Chicago wasn't the next on the list to get a Centurion Lounge but I
think it's great for Denver International
Airport and I'm loving the trend here
of bigger, more equipped Centurion
Lounges.
There are three levels
of membership; the basic level is targeted at the casual traveller and allows
airport lounge access but it comes at a cost (a reasonable # 15 per visit, which if you
think about it, you could easily spend on newspapers / magazines, food and drink on a typical three hour layover).
Since you'll be spending a fair amount
of time in
airports, you might also
think about credit cards that allow you access to
airport lounges.
I
think I'm most excited about the triple points and the access to
lounges in alot
of airports!
If you have never been in an
airport lounge and don't
think it's worth that kind
of money, wait till you get into one — it'll forever change your travel experience.
Choosing the right premium card can come down to your specific preferences, such as
airport lounge use and your favorite transfer partners, but I
think that when we're talking about the masses, the Sapphire Reserve probably offers the best universal value out
of any travel credit card.
If you're an Alaska Airlines customer
thinking about purchasing a membership to the Board Room
airport lounge, you may be put off by the limited number
of locations.
Think of our
lounges as your Club rooms, your own personal space away from the hustle and bustle
of airport life, where you and a guest can unwind, recharge and prepare for your flight.