Philadelphia and Phoenix Top List of Busy Airport Lounges This Thanksgiving, Says Priority Pass

DALLAS, November 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

With U.S. internal flights predicted to be 90% full and airports crammed to capacity, stressed travelers seeking a little peace and relaxation in airport VIP lounges this Thanksgiving may want to take their seats a little earlier - particularly in Philadelphia and Phoenix.

According to Priority Pass, the world's leading airport lounge access program, U.S. airport lounges are expected to be 24% busier over the Thanksgiving holiday season this year. Last year, the company's partner lounges recorded a 23% increase in traffic during November 2011 with the five days following Thanksgiving being the busiest.  

This year, with Airlines for American predicting that 24 million people will use air travel this Thanksgiving and with AAA expecting a 0.7% increase in Thanksgiving travelers compared to last year, airport lounges are sure to see a significant uptick in usage throughout the month.  

This year the five busiest airports over Thanksgiving are predicted to be:

  1. Chicago O'Hare
  2. Los Angeles International
  3. San Francisco International
  4. New York LaGuardia
  5. Boston Logan International

However, according to Priority Pass, the lounges which experienced the largest increases in traffic were not in the nation's busiest airports.  Last year's biggest increase in Priority Pass Thanksgiving lounge access occurred in Phoenix, which reported a 69% uptick in usage in November.  With Phoenix serving as a hub for travelers flying to resorts in Mexico and Hawaii, lounge usage seems most prevalent among those using the holiday weekend to head to warmer climates.    

Following last year's increase in holiday lounge traffic, several lounges this year have decided to specifically cater to their Thanksgiving customers by offering themed food and decorations.  In a Los Angeles lounge, pumpkin pie and cranberries have been added to the complimentary buffet.  

Terry Evans, President at Priority Pass commented: "Thanksgiving can be a stressful time for airport travel given the sheer volume of people on the move, so we're pleased that our Priority Pass members take advantage of our lounges to make their journeys more relaxing and enjoyable."

Priority Pass offers access to an extensive network of airport VIP lounges in the U.S. - the largest of any independent provider.

Notes to Editors:

About Priority Pass

Priority Pass was launched in 1992 with the goal of providing frequent travelers with airport lounge access, regardless of their class of travel, airline flown or existing membership in an airline frequent flyer program.

In 20 years Priority Pass has become the world's largest independent airport lounge access program. Starting with just 55 lounges, today Priority Pass works with over 600 lounges in more than 300 cities throughout the world - and the network of lounges continues to grow.

Priority Pass has millions of members in all corners of the world and there are Priority Pass offices in Dallas, London and Hong Kong.

How Membership Works

Priority Pass offers three membership plans, each appropriate to a different type of traveler.

Prestige Membership offers outstanding value for money for frequent travelers.  For a single annual membership fee of US$399, members can make unlimited visits to all the lounges in the program.

Standard Plus Membership is available at a lower annual fee of US$249, and includes 10 free member visits per year to any of the lounges.  Further visits during the year are charged at US$27 per visit.

Standard Membership is just US$99 per year, and members then pay US$27 for each visit made.

All three membership plans allow members to take guests into the lounges with them, at a fee of US$27 per guest, per visit.

More information at http://www.prioritypass.com

SOURCE Priority Pass

Copyright 2012 PR Newswire