Due to increased pressure from rising costs worldwide, Priority Pass lounge fees increase effective as of Sunday, October 1, 2023 — meaning that for visits to lounges for which you pay, you will pay three dollars more per person for every time you visit.
Priority Pass Lounge Fees Increase Effective October 1 2023
The fee will increase from $32.00 to $35.00 in United States dollars per person, per visit. The increase will also be £24.00 or €30.00.
According to the frequently asked questions at the official Internet web site of Priority Pass, fees are increasing because “Like many other companies we need to balance our pricing with rising costs. We have held our prices for over four years, however, at a time when businesses face unprecedented challenges and cost increases, we do now have to make an adjustment to our visit fees.”
The good news is that the number of complimentary visits that are included within your membership will not change. However, any visits taken over the complimentary allowance will be charged at the new visit fee effective as of Sunday, October 1, 2023.
In terms of what new or extra benefit can you expect, the vague response is that “We’re constantly striving to further improve and develop the Priority Pass offering, providing our members with access to the very best possible experiences each time they travel. New technology behind the scenes enables us to improve your travel experience. Expect to see new features and benefits being rolled out in the coming months.”
As many as 63 Plaza Premium lounges returned to Priority Pass network after leaving approximately two years ago, with 39 of those lounges in 22 airports in 13 countries and territories being available effective as of Tuesday, June 6, 2023; and an additional 24 lounges in 17 airports in ten countries and territories were added to the network effective as of Tuesday, June 20, 2023.
Final Boarding Call
I am assuming that if you have a credit card or other membership that offers unlimited complimentary visits to lounges in airports that are part of the Priority Pass network, that will not change.
Also, some Priority Pass lounges have experienced overcrowding to the point where one cannot just simply walk in and register. Rather, you will either be given a time as to when to enter the lounge; or you will be notified via your portable electronic device.
Some lounges within the Priority Pass network are not all that great; but they do beat not having lounge access at airports at all…
Photograph ©2023 by Brian Cohen.
