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:
- Chicago O'Hare
- Los Angeles International
- San Francisco International
- New York LaGuardia
- 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