There is a new airport lounge open to economy travelers

While airport lounges will vary in quality dramatically in keeping with the entirety from airport to the airline or credit card company operating them, the undisputable rule of lounge get entry to is that it be a luxury perk handy most productive to those in higher fare classes or who have earned it at some stage in the opposite means — status with the airline or by spending on a high-earner credit card.

Delta (DAL) clamped down on get entry to earlier this year by introducing annual seek advice from caps and raising the value of bank cards needed to achieve it, while the American Express (AXP) Platinum card gets one get entry to into the 25 Centurion lounges currently operating around the arena.

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No longer in the past home to any airline or credit card lounges, Chicago’s Midway International Airport (MDW) just opened its doors to the first paid get entry to lounge. The smaller airport is closer to downtown Chicago than O’Hare and is commonly used by low-cost airlines such as Spirit Airlines (SAVE) and Southwest (LUV) (it be thought about among the many crucial airline’s Midwest bases.)

It truly is what you’ll find at Chicago Midway’s first airport lounge

Spanning 3,265 square feet and located between the airport’s Concourses A and B, The Club MDW welcomed its first guests on Sept. 25. It be miles open everyday from Four a.m. until 10 p.m. and handy to anyone traveling at some stage in the airport on a same-day ticket for a $50 day pass. Travelers who have Priority Pass Select or LoungeKey, a general lounge get entry to pass on a regular basis given out as a perk for spending with certain bank cards, get get entry to for free of charge.

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“For the first time in its history, the emblem new passenger lounge is now a key section of our continued efforts to enhance the commute experience in Chicago for both leisure and business passengers,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said on the outlet. “Club MDW will allow Midway passengers to escape the hustle and bustle of the airport and unwind on this 3,200 square feet of lounge space.”

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‘A proud moment for us,’ say people on the back of the lounge

In a similar fashion to other lounges, The Club MDW will offer more comfortable spaces to work, faster Wi-Fi and a spread of complimentary foods and beverages from partner breweries such as Revolution Brewing and Two Brothers. The lounge is large enough to accommodate up to 76 visitors at a time.

The lounge is operated by Airport Dimensions, the corporate on the back of numerous different airport lounges across the u . s . a .. For the first 30 days after opening, The Club MDW will also be running a virtual food bank drive with the The Greater Chicago Food Depository; Airport Dimensions is contributing $10,000 to the cause.

Similar paid lounges at airports across the u . s . a . include the Star Alliance network at airports such as LAX and Paris’ Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) in addition to to Vancouver International Airport (YVR)’s Plaza Top rate Lounge that starts at $Fifty five CAD (roughly $forty one USD) per two hours.

"The very incontrovertible fact that it truly is the first shared-use lounge in Midway's ninety six-year history, we desired to do something special,” Airport Dimensions’ VPof Global Business Development told commute websites The Points Guy. “So the undeniable incontrovertible fact that we'd be the first is in point of fact special and a proud moment for us.”

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