Get in!:

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)

Departures/Arrivals. Delta Sky Club at LAX.

Notes: This Delta Sky Club was remodeled in 2010 and is a remarkable improvement over it’s predecessor. The space is open, bright and provides a variety of seating options for any kind of group. There are quiet areas for those who need to get work done (or are just aren’t that social) and there’s the large main room that’s more active (and closer to the food). In regards to comfort, You’ll have a wide choice of seating from bar stools to large odd but cute cube chairs with high backs and sides (that seem more like artwork than furniture). Showers are available if you’d like to wash off the plane smell in between flights. You’ll also have a good view of the lounge from the check-in counter so you can see how crowded it is before bothering (this is particularly helpful if you pay per visit and don’t want to pay extra to be squished into a spot that’s more crowded than the terminal).

Wi-Fi: Yes/Free. Connect to T-Mobile HotSpot within the lounge and connect as member.

Service: The front desk was well staffed even this late at night to check people in (to the lounge) and help with reservations. No real smiles or warm welcome from the front desk, but I’m sure those were spent on the jillion passengers who stopped by at the beginning of their shift.. The crew stocking the snack/drink bar was fantastic. Nothing sat unattended to very long and cleanup was quick throughout.

Convenience to gate: Easy. The terminal is small and the lounge is airside (past security) so you don’t need to allow extra time in getting to your flight.

How I got in/Strategies: I paid $25  with my Delta branded American Express Card, giving me 1-time access (price is per-guest). If you don’t fly Delta more than once in  a calendar month, this is likely the way to go. If you’ll be flying Delta several times within a 30 day period, you have a $90 option that gives full member access to Sky Clubs and partner lounges. This option (as do all full memberships) also grants entry to your spouse or up to 2 guests over 21 years of age. Delta offers a range of options for yearly memberships, most notably the option to pay monthly (although slightly more expensive than paying for the entire year up front). Discounts are given to medallion (premium) frequent fliers.

Rating: 4 hops (of 5)

Airline/Club Name: United Club
Location: LGA (New York. LaGuardia)
Terminal/Concourse: Central Terminal (Land-side) near “C” Concourse.
How we got in (support modhop): Priority Pass

Notes: This Red Carpet Club at LaGuardia is decidedly business-like and caters well to that end. You’ll find an array of business newspapers and magazines, a full service (cash) bar, lots of power ports for plugging in laptops and a conference room for you pre-flight meetings. For those of us just looking for a snack and some quiet it delivers with the  standard coffee, soda and snack-mix…The “quiet” depends mainly on what time you’re there (as with any airline lounge), but was library-like on my visits.

Wi-Fi: Yes/Free. Accessed with either Red Carpet Member # or with PIN code issued at front desk.

Service: Friendly greeting, quick check-in. Snack/beverage area was well stocked. Breakfast items were minimal but sufficient. Speedy clean-up.

Convenience to gate: Being a land side club, it’s a little more complicated as you’ll still have to deal with security on your way to the gate. You’ll need to allow an extra 15 to 30 minutes (or maybe more) to get there which is inconvenient (to say the least), but the lines have been fairly speedy on my recent visits. Check with the club reps to see what the average wait is during the time/day of your flight.

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. You can also access this room with annual Red Carpet Club memberships and by purchasing day-passes either online in-advance at United’s website for $39 or at the club upon your visit for $50 (prices are per-person). You may also use miles to enter the lounge, but at 7,000 I think it’s a bit steep.

Rating: 2.5 hops (of 5)

Location: Seattle/Tacoma Int’l (SEA)

Terminal/Concourse: Between Terminals C & D-Airside.

Notes: Alaska Airline’s only lounge at Seattle/Tacoma can get pretty busy, but is pretty well equipped to handle the crowd. Split into 2 floors with a different setup & feel to each, Alaska caters well to both the business and leisure crowds. The upstairs has large TVs and more of a lively atmosphere whereas the lower level is quiet and better suited for getting some work done.

Wi-Fi & Workstations: Wi-Fi was free and worked well during my visit. Workstations are a bit minimalist in appearance but do the trick. Each is equipped with standard power ports. 2 conference rooms are also available for use.

Service/Food & Drink: Front desk service was exceptional. The layout of the club was fully explained and the warm, friendly staff was very accommodating. Service inside was just as friendly,  even the cleanup crew was sweet and conversational. (Perhaps living in NYC has made this kind of behavior stand out more to me, but it was a nice change.) Snacks were good but not extraordinary. Cheeses, snack mixes and fruits/veggies were available. We missed the complimentary pancakes from their fascinating instant pancake maker (available from 5am – 10am daily).

Convenience to gate: If you’re flying Alaska Airlines it’s very convenient in most cases. Operating primarily from the C & D concourses your walk to the gate shouldn’t be too far. A bit farther if you’re flying other carriers.

Rating: 4.5 hops (of 5)

How we got in/Strategy: Priority Pass membership (recommended) allows you to enter member clubs like this one worldwide. A must-have if you’re planning to visit several lounges over the next year. Single visit passes are $45 but day passes still seem like less-than a deal to us. As is the norm, First and Business Class passengers enter at no additional charge.

Location: Newark Int’l (EWR)

Terminal/Concourse: Terminal B-Airside. Between main terminal and Delta satellite.

Notes: A wide open lounge with typical amenities for a US domestic SkyClub. All beverages are self serve including alcoholic beverages. At our late-weekday visit, the lounge was a little crowded but there was no problem finding a seat and didn’t feel cramped. Workstation cubicles are oddly placed in the center of the club and are separated from fax & copy machines which we found to be a bit inconvenient and a little odd.

Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi is free at all Delta Sky Clubs. No signal problems or difficulty setting up.

Service/Food & Drink: Front desk service was cordial but nothing extraordinary. Cleanup and service staff were about average keeping the lounge picked up and snack items stocked (albeit a little slow).

Convenience to gate: Located airside (past security) halfway between the main terminal and the Delta satellite it will be just steps to your gate (provided You’re flung on Delta).

Rating: 3.5p hops (of 5)

How we got in/Strategy: Using a Delta branded American Express card we were allowed entry for $25 per person (cardholder plus guest). As of 10/15/2010  single visit passes are available for $50 and (as of the same date). Delta also offers a 60 day full membership for $90. A great option if you’re traveling frequently over a short period, particularly if you have guests (up to 2 guests are allowed in for free on each visit). Certain high-level SkyMiles Elite members are also granted complimentary access to SkyClubs.

Notes: This is a reasonably large club with amenities beyond that of a US domestic lounge, largely because most flights from Terminal 4 are international departures. Different types of seating are available from deep leather seats, to the family kitchen style area shown in the accompanying video.  In 2 daytime visits this lounge hasn’t been too crowded, but as you’d expect, it can get busy with flight delays or evenings when there are more trans-Atlantic flights departing. The common areas in this terminal aren’t a bad alternative with decent shopping and food choices, but if it’s a particularly busy day The Oasis is a good place to be.

Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi is free. A number of stationary computers are also available.

Service/Food & Drink: Service was friendly but nothing above ordinary. Food and Drinks are self-serve and employees regularly clean up and keep food/drink areas stocked. The bar is self service and above average in our opinion (if only because they had fresh limes out for gin & tonics). Different food items are offered through the day. We enjoyed sandwiches, fruits & vegetables on our late morning visit. Later and earlier day visits have hot meals.

Convenience to gate: All lounges at Terminal 4 are landside (before security). To be safe,  give  yourself an extra 15-20 minutes to get to the gate…or more if the airport is crowded.

Rating: 4.5 hops (of 5)

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How we got in/Strategy: We used our Priority Pass membership (recommended) to enter the Oasis Lounge. As of 7/15/2010 single visit passes are available for $45 up to 5 hours and $10 each additional hour. Also, if  you’re already a paid member of Delta Sky Clubs, Continental Presidents Clubs or are flying internationally in  business/first class on a number of  carriers such as Singapore, Thai or KLM airlines you’ll have complimentary access to the lounge.   [/access]

Notes: The Miro Lounge in Barcelona’s new Terminal 1 is by our account, almost fantastic. We were welcomed by a friendly agent who promptly checked us in and pointed out a couple of the lounges features. By normal international business/first class lounge standards, food choices were lacking but  far better than anything you’ll ever find in a US domestic lounge. Cereals, muffins and other small pastries and snacks were spread out over a long buffet table. [*If you visit this lounge at another time during the day and find better food options, please comment!] A seemingly endless choice of non-alcoholic beverages are offered, while a self serve bar with a limited supply of the basic mixers is also available. (No. 6 am is not too early for scotch and soda.)  The endless sea of deep leather seats were perfect for our early-morning state. Shower facilities are available and we also discovered a secluded area with small sleep kiosks for those awaiting a connection and could use a few winks. Business services and a small  meeting room are also available.

Wi-Fi: General Airport wi-fi is available for a fee. Stationary internet kiosks are available for use free of charge.

Service: While it may vary depending on time of day or how crowded the lounge is, We found the service to be acceptable. Clean up was prompt and everything was well stocked. Because there is no particular airline affiliated with this lounge there are no agents in-house that can make changes to your ticketing or seating but a full flight display board is found near the front desk.

Convenience to gate: To be safe,  add 15-20 minutes to your airlines suggested gate arrival time. Flying to the US in particular can involve very thorough extra screening at the gate.

Rating: 4 hops (of 5)

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How we got in/Strategy: We used our Priority Pass membership (recommended) to enter the Sala VIP Miro Lounge. Passengers flying in SkyTeam Alliance premium cabins (business class, first class) are granted complimentary access. Single visits are sold at UK sites like gosimply.com if you like to plan ahead (it’s important to note that if you’re not in the UK, You’ll be paying in GBP (British Pounds). At the time of this writing we were unable to confirm the ability to buy single passes at the lounge. [/access]

Airline/Club Name:Delta SKY Club
Location:LGA (New York. LaGuardia)
Terminal/Concourse:Delta Terminal (Airside) left after security, located just before gates.

Notes:I was pleasantly surprised by this Delta lounge. I’m not sure if it’s now standard to provide members with a more reasonable array of food choices, but on this visit I was greeted by a relatively generous (please note the word “relatively”) food buffet. Bagels, cream cheese, mini-muffins, fruit and more were available at breakfast and after my flight had been cancelled, I came back to find Delta’s standard olive, pretzel, and snack mix upgraded with more choices like cookies, mini-carrots (obviously a cue from NWA) and a few other surprises. The lounge itself is spacious with plenty of comfortable seating in multiple rooms. There are cubicles, some of which are equipt with PCs, free for use and an adjacent business center with copy, fax, shredding and other services. If  you need quiet time, there is also one of Deltas famous “Quiet Areas” that is reserved for those who want to get away from chatty people on their cell phones.

Wi-Fi:Yes/Free. As with all Delta SKY Clubs Wi-fi is now complimentary.

Service:Friendly greeting, quick check-in. Clean-up was quick, entire staff was pleasant. Reservations crew at front made announcements for those of us who’s flight had been delayed and were there to make changes to my reservation if necessary. Check-in was a little backed up upon my initial arrival, but staff was quick to get through the line.

Convenience to gate: This isn’t a large terminal, so even getting to the farthest gate from this lounge shouldn’t take more than 1-3 minutes.

How I got in/Strategy: Priority Pass. [As of September 1st 2009, Delta SKY Clubs no longer accept Priority Pass] Other options for entry are to buy a $50 one-day pass or full yearly membership at Delta.com or at the club itself. American Express Platinum Card holders can also access this lounge for free (Excludes co-branded cards). [*As of 2/1/2010 day passes are available to holders of Delta branded American Express cards for a reduced rate of $25 per guest].
Rating: 4 hops (of 5)