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US travelers may get dizzy looking for mini-muffins and yogurt pretzels as their healthiest food option. Plaza Premium Lounge Salad Bar at Kuala Lumpur Int'l.

Notes: The long rows of lounge seating aren’t ideal as I prefer more compartmentalized, sectioned-off seating but there was enough room to stretch out and grab a bite. Cafe style and bar-stool seating is convenient for those looking to just pop in and out. There’s a good variety of food for this class of lounge with a few entrees, soups and salad options. Small pastries were available for afternoon tea as well. Beverages are average and with the exception of the single beer tap, non-alcoholic.

I could probably spend a good amount of time just touring this airport. There’s top-notch shopping, food options, viewing areas and even the mini-jungle I show at the front of my video review. But as it was, my mission was to review this lounge and thankfully it’s a decent one. A decent selection of food, good seating and work areas (albiet a little worn) and helpful staff leave this Plaza Premium Lounge in the slightly-above-average category.

Wi-Fi: Yes/Complimentary.

Service: Front desk staff were friendly, efficient and helpful. Buffet was constantly re-stocked.

Convenience to gate: The lounge is on the mezzanine level in the most central part of the terminal so you’re facing equal distances to most gates. Allow up to 15 minutes on top of your airlines recommended time to arrive at the gate.

How I got in/Strategies: Priority Pass. If you’re not particularly loyal to a specific airline or don’t travel enough to justify the cost of a full lounge membership, I highly recommend joining. You can also become a member directly or buy individual passes at the lounge or by visiting plaza-network.com. If you’d like to buy a pass in advance and are paying in British Pounds (GBP), try goSimply. Other options are available to holders of certain Citibank and American Express credit cards.

Rating: 3 hops (of 5)

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Staring at 24+ hours of economy class gourmet, I was sure to stuff my face.

Notes: My first thought when I hopped the quick escalator ride up to the Skyview Lounge at Changi was that I was about to be scammed. I’d use up a valuable Priority Pass tick and have spent an hour plus in a skyway that’s not really even separate from the airport. But once you’re in, this open-air bridge style lounge… feels like a lounge. The main area is spacious and seating areas are sectioned off nicely for both small groups and singles making connections or departing from Terminal 1.

Food is equal to or greater than most indie lounges than I’ve visited. For this breakfast visit, I had an assortment of pastries, snacks and western or Asian entree items. Tiny chocolate croissants (okay, some Euro representation there too), mini-pancakes and noodles were enough to get me started on a full day of economy flying back to the US.

Wi-Fi: Yes/Complimentary. Speed was acceptable but not blazing fast.

Service: Front desk staff were friendly, efficient and helpful. Lounge was kept impossibly clean by staff on this visit so the entire crew was on their game.

Convenience to gate: This is a large terminal so ask at the front desk what the trip to your gate will take. For Delta flights, it’s a quick jump (about a 3 minute walk).

How I got in/Strategies: Priority Pass. If you’re not particularly loyal to a specific airline or don’t travel enough to justify the cost of a full lounge membership, I highly recommend joining. If you’d like to buy a pass in advance and are paying in British Pounds (GBP), try goSimply.

Rating: 3 hops (of 5)

A nice spot to sit and enjoy your complimentary warm soda and bag of chips.

Notes: The Amtrak Club Acela Lounge at New York Penn Station is dark, a bit worn and offers little in the way of snacks or refreshment. What it does have is reasonably comfortable chairs and wi-fi. With just that You’re upwards of 90-something percent better off than being stuck waiting around the hoards of commuters shuffling between Amtrak, Subways and regional rail in the main areas of the station. Well, except for the food part.

The lounge does provide a cup of coffee and (maybe) a wrapped danish. It’s enough to get you started before digging in to get some work or pre-ride tweeting done.

Wi-Fi: Yes/Complimentary.

Service: Service is good if you’re ready to go. Maybe it was the slightly less than business-casual attire, but the front desk didn’t seem to believe that I was traveling in first class. While fishing for my ticket, I was grilled with questions like “Are you SURE You’re in Acela First and not Business?!”. Things got much friendlier when I found the ticket.

Convenience to gate: All tracks are just outside the lounge.

How I got in/Strategies: Access is available to Amtrak Select Plus Guest Rewards members, active United Club members or passengers with same-day business class air ticket aboard United. Amtrak passengers with same-day Acela First or sleeping car tickets are also admitted. One day passes are also available at any Acela Lounge.

Rating: 2 hops (of 5)

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Small but comfortable VIP Lounge at Los Cabos Int'l.

Notes: From others early looks at the VIP Lounge at Los Cabos Int’l, I got the impression that this lounge was sort of a joke. One of those 2-star lounges with the same snack mix they serve on the airplane,  tiny wonder-bread finger sandwiches with the crust cut off and 2 bottles of self-serve booze. It’s not that bad. Sure, it isn’t huge, the decor is a little off and the selection of food wasn’t the best I’ve seen, but I was able to swiftly move in find a good spot to relax and grab a pretty reasonable snack . Okay, it WAS a mini-sandwich, but it was a served on a small-croissant (WAY fancier than wonder bread). The bar was surprisingly well stocked too with plenty of recommendations coming from the bartender.

There are good spots to settle in here. The lounge chairs aren’t the most comfortable and those light colors will probably look worn within a few months or years of use but did the job. Table/chair cafe seating is scattered and there are even a couple of full living-room style sofa/love seat setups. The couches look a little weird in a small lounge, but I’m guessing it’s a good thing to have for families on their way out of town.

Wi-Fi: Yes/Complimentary. Password available from the desk.

Service: Drinks were offered and brought to us after we settled in. I’m not sure if that’s normal here or if it was just because we were the only ones here at the time. Both the front desk and bar/food staff were smiling and friendly.

Convenience to gate: This is a small terminal so you’re never NOT close to your gate. Just around the corner and down the escalator and it’ll be a few steps from there.

How I got in/Strategies: Priority Pass. If you’re not particularly loyal to a specific airline or don’t travel enough to justify the cost of a full lounge membership, I highly recommend joining. Plaza Premium Lounges in Canada offer their own yearly memberships or individual day passes (walk-up). Prices are very similar to what Priority Pass offers but only Plaza allows access to it’s own lounges, making Priority Pass the better value in that it gives you access to hundreds more clubs worldwide.

Rating: 3 hops (of 5)

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How dare Plaza Premium offer such a healthy choice. Wait...Do I see cream puffs?

Notes: The Plaza Premium Lounge at Toronto Pearson International Airport is impressive on a few fronts. The cramped food area is stacked with options including breakfast items (cereal, bagels), snacks, soups and hot entree selections. While the spread is impressive for this not-quite-domestic lounge the hot food is less than tasty. If it weren’t for the rubbery, clearly processed meat I might have liked the Chicken Teriyaki. The fried rice and soup held me over for a bit (and I may or may not have taken some small food items out of the lounge).

Seating is comfortable but not exactly plentiful. In the couple of hours I was here the lounge was pushed to it’s limits more than once. While bar-style seating at the communal table was pretty wide open, the more comfortable chairs were in constant transition. That can be a bummer when you’re trying to create space from the masses in the terminal. When you ARE able to score a good spot here it’s an pretty good lounge for relaxing and filling up before a quick jump to the US.

Wi-Fi: Yes/Complimentary throughout the terminal.

Service: Very friendly check-in and quick re-stocking of all things food related make for a great experience inside this Plaza Premium Lounge.

Convenience to gate: At this point you’re past customs and security so 10 minutes should give you plenty of time to arrive at your gate.

How I got in/Strategies: Priority Pass. If you’re not particularly loyal to a specific airline or don’t travel enough to justify the cost of a full lounge membership, I highly recommend joining. Plaza Premium Lounges in Canada offer their own yearly memberships or individual day passes (walk-up). Prices are very similar to what Priority Pass offers but only Plaza allows access to it’s own lounges, making Priority Pass the better value in that it gives you access to hundreds more clubs worldwide.

Rating: 3 hops (of 5)

Oh glorious industrial grade granola. I heart you.

Notes: I don’t know why I love the granola at United Clubs so much. I’d be crushed to find out that it’s not hand made by little apron clad, granola loving elves in an old timey kitchen. The granola dispensed by the center tower in the 3 hand-cranked cereal dispensary (and late-day snack station) probably adds half a “hop” to my rating here so if you’re not a lover of industrial ceral, just slice that out when deciding on which lounge to use at JFK’s terminal 7. Everything else is pretty okay. Good seating in both more social arrangements and a few spots where you can hide away from chatty drunken transcon-flying salesfolk.

Domestic lounges in the US set the kind of standard that allows me to praise those that aren’t awful. So the dated but nicely arranged United Club with it’s slightly better than normal snack selection and comfortable, nicely sectioned seating gets a good score. I’ll agree with many of the user reviews I’ve read that utter the common  ”It still beats waiting in the terminal.”

Wi-Fi: Yes/Complimentary.

Service: Easy, friendly, forgettable.

Convenience to gate: Nothing is too far away. Minimal time is needed to get to the gate.

How I got in/Strategies: Priority Pass. If you’re not particularly loyal to a specific airline or don’t travel enough to justify the cost of a full lounge membership, I highly recommend joining. In addition to it’s own full memberships, United offers a one-time pass (per person, no guests) at their website.

Rating: 4 hops (of 5)

Firm or squishy. There's a seat for you at this MSP Delta Sky Club

Notes: I personally prefer this room to the alternate (remodeled) Sky Club adjacent the G/F concourses. While still large, it feels cozier and more exclusive. This was a morning visit so I was greeted with the standard Delta Sky Club bagel and mini-muffin buffet. Food isn’t a typical perk of US domestic lounges, so it’s no surprise I walked out hungry. The unattended self-serve bar means the lounge is 21+. A bar reasonably well stocked with some mid-and-top shelf booze for self mixing. There’s a good mix of seating here with deep lounge chairs arranged with a few more upright chairs mixed in, all comfortable.

Wi-Fi: Yes/Free

Service: Friendly greeting, quick check-in.  Lounge attendants kept snacks (what there were of them) stocked and everything clean.

Convenience to gate:  This club is best suited for A/B/C concourses and maybe even a few of the higher-numbered G Concourse gates. It’s a quick tram ride and about a 5-7 minute average walk to farther gates.

How to get in: Delta has a number of options for entry. One of my favorites is the 30-day membership that allows you and up to 2 guests into Delta Sky Clubs worldwide for $90. This is a great option if you have a glut of Delta flights upcoming and traveling with a spouse or friends. Otherwise the $25 entry fee using your Delta branded American Express option is a good one, but charges are per-person (so it would be $50 for your AND your spouse or buddy).

Rating: 3 hops (of 5)

Lounge with a view! From the deck of Premier Lounge at DPS.

Notes: After a week or two of total relaxation at Bali’s finest resorts, it’s not easy to just jam yourself into an economy seat for a forever-long transoceanic flight. The dull chaos of Bali’s main airport doesn’t help much either, so I grabbed my Priority Pass airport lounge card and slid into most recommended one here; the Premier Lounge run by JAS Airport Services. Inside I found a variety of seating from deep & comfortable loungers and sofas to firmer chairs surrounding small tables. There’s a little wear and tear here, but nothing that takes away from the lounge’s relative comfort or ambiance. Hop outside to the deck for a few extra minutes of Bali sunshine amidst speckles of Balinese statues and jet noise.

I suspect the reason that this lounge is widely considered the best at Ngurah Rai is the food. There are some limited entree selections, small salad bar, finger sandwiches, soups and a pretty hearty snack selection. The soft drink selection is lacking for those that want something other than Coke or Sprite, but You’ll find plenty of juices, teas and coffee drinks.

Wi-Fi: Yes/Complimentary. Connected workstations are also available.

Service: Easy, friendly check-in

Convenience to gate: Convenient low numbered gates, allow extra time as your gate number gets closer to double digits.

How I got in/Strategies: Priority Pass. If you’re not particularly loyal to a specific airline or don’t travel enough to justify the cost of a full lounge membership, I highly recommend joining. Premier Lounge also accepts premium class passengers flying several carriers including (but not limited to) China Airlines, Qantas and Cathay Pacific.

Rating: 4 hops (of 5)

A few additional food options if seaweed, rice and redbean are your thing.

Notes:  I love design. Thats why upon walking into the Korean Airlines KAL Business Class lounge at Tokyo Narita, I assumed that I’d just love it here. It’s a clean, bright lounge with a heavy dose of mod-luxury aesthetic. Expectations suddenly high, I checked in and began the bunny-hill slow series of disappointments. First, a majority of the seating is (at best) a little less than comfortable. The only exception is the small section of deeper, better cushioned chairs near the windows in the main area. Also, each personal area leaves little room to spread out and stow your carry-on luggage. Food is a disappointment here too. Tiny white bread finger sandwiches failed to do little more than absorb the abundance of caffeine from all the coffee I consumed on the flight in. There are a few other choices that put this on par with a US carrier domestic lounge, but the limited menu puts this KAL lounge at a disadvantage when compared with others nearby.

Wi-Fi: Yes/Complimentary with code obtained at front desk.

Service: Staff was friendly and made sure to point out that the lounge closes earlier than most (16:30). Our flight was to depart awhile after, so it was a nice courtesy to let us know before investing in the visit. Food attendant was very friendly too, but didn’t quite understand my request for decaffeinated coffee.

Convenience to gate: Convenient to Korean Air gates.

How I got in/Strategies: Priority Pass. If you’re not particularly loyal to a specific airline or don’t travel enough to use airport club rooms, I highly recommend joining.

Rating: 2 hops (of 5)