American Express Airport Lounges

foxy1305

Ive just applied for an Amex gold card. All accepted and on its way. This gives me four free airport lounge visits. In sept we head to vancouver, so I'm hoping to use the card to get into T5 lounge. I have an additional card for my wife. Im assuming that doesn't mean she will also get four free visits?
So my question is, that if this is my only trip will I be able to use two of my free visits while at Heathrow and the other two at vancouver on the way back. I'll go in 'free' then my wife follows a few minutes late with her card and gets in 'free' as well?

Caz3121

you as the cardholder will receive a Priorty Pass card that will be used for access (rather than showing your Amex card)  Looks like you can take a guest so expect that will use your 2 visits each way as you require.

https://www.americanexpress.com/en-gb/benefits/explore-your-gold-card/travel/lounges/index.html

7. You will be entitled to four complimentary lounges visits each year you hold a valid Preferred Rewards Gold Card. These may be used by the primary Cardmember, or by the primary Cardmember and one guest. Once you have been approved for your American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Card, please allow up to 28 working days for your Priority Pass™ card to arrive in the post. In order to access Priority Pass lounges, the Cardmember must present a valid Priority Pass membership in his or her name, along with the boarding pass for same-day travel and government-issued ID. Subsequent years’ renewal Terms and Conditions are at the discretion of Priority Pass. For complete conditions of use visit prioritypass.com. Access to the Priority Pass lounges may be subject to availability or wait times. Please read the Priority Pass conditions of use for more information. You will agree to abide by the conditions of use as contained in the lounge listing. You also agree that lounges may charge lounge usage fees at the prevailing rate, and to your American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Card, for any lounge visits that exceed the four complimentary lounge visits per membership year. The lounge usage fees charged are at the discretion of Priority Pass and any changes to the lounge access fee will be advised by them.

Voyager2002

Do bear in mind that your visits will be to the Priority Pass lounges, which are really nothing special (not like the lounges that airlines provide for passengers with first class tickets). If the lounge is full when you arrive then you will not be allowed in, or may have a long wait outside until there is space. 

sausage_time

The T5 lounges tend to be rammed in my experience.

flaneurs_lobster

The Priority Pass lounge access perk has been rather degraded in recent years in my experience.

Seems that post-covid, the business-level travel that the lounges relied on did not return to anything like their pre-covid levels (remote working, zoom meetings etc becoming the norm). The lounges responded by opening up their facilities to less-premium travellers - hence the package holiday operators now routinely offering lounge access as part of the deal and the coupon shifters getting you access for £15.

Proper premium travellers didn't like their posh lounges being full of people wearing cargo shorts necking free Bacardi Breezers at 07:00 am with their screaming kids running around getting hyper on full-fat Coca Cola. 

Operators (and the airlines) have reacted by now having "proper" business lounges, the Amex Centurion lounges for example, with access to Platinum card holders only.

The Priority Pass will only get you into the cheaper generic lounges, I've been bounced several times in the last couple of years trying to get into UK lounges - all full.

QrizB

I had an AMEX gold card for a couple of years. I found the included lounges were more pleasant than sitting in the main terminal building.

Even when crowded the lounges were less busy than the shopping areas of the terminal, and they avoided the distractions of the retail outlets.

Agreed the airline business class lounges are a step above, but getting into those needs more cash than I was willing to spend!

MyRealNameToo

foxy1305 said:

Ive just applied for an Amex gold card. All accepted and on its way. This gives me four free airport lounge visits. In sept we head to vancouver, so I'm hoping to use the card to get into T5 lounge. I have an additional card for my wife. Im assuming that doesn't mean she will also get four free visits?
So my question is, that if this is my only trip will I be able to use two of my free visits while at Heathrow and the other two at vancouver on the way back. I'll go in 'free' then my wife follows a few minutes late with her card and gets in 'free' as well?

For gold its 4 passes total in the name of the primary cardholder so a return flight for the two of you will use up all 4. 

For platinum it's an unlimited +1 guest pass for both primary cardholder and the platinum secondary cardholder (gold secondary cardholders dont). So if you travel together then 4 people can come in each time. Plus you can now prebook a certain number a year to not be turned away at the door. Obviously this alone doesnt warrant the fees for the Platinum card. 

flaneurs_lobster said:

Seems that post-covid, the business-level travel that the lounges relied on did not return to anything like their pre-covid levels (remote working, zoom meetings etc becoming the norm). The lounges responded by opening up their facilities to less-premium travellers - hence the package holiday operators now routinely offering lounge access as part of the deal and the coupon shifters getting you access for £15.

Can you name any that have gone from business class to anyone? I've certainly not seen any. Pay to enter lounges have always existed and some are used by smaller airlines and these continue as they always have... their popularity has increased over time but dont know of the BA Concord Lounge or VS Clubhouse suddenly accepting paying customers (outside of those using airmiles to buy access).

flaneurs_lobster said:

Operators (and the airlines) have reacted by now having "proper" business lounges, the Amex Centurion lounges for example, with access to Platinum card holders only.

They also accessible by those that have a Centurion card (clue should be in the name) and a Delta AmEx card if flying Delta

Airlines have always had either their own lounges or use the lounges of their alliance partners (eg OneWorld, Star Alliance etc). Its only little airlines who arent part of an alliance that tend to use the paid entry lounges like Air Malta uses the No1 Traveller lounge at Gatwick and haven't noted any big push from these airlines to actually acquire their own lounges. 

saajan_12

foxy1305 said:

Ive just applied for an Amex gold card. All accepted and on its way. This gives me four free airport lounge visits. In sept we head to vancouver, so I'm hoping to use the card to get into T5 lounge. I have an additional card for my wife. Im assuming that doesn't mean she will also get four free visits?
So my question is, that if this is my only trip will I be able to use two of my free visits while at Heathrow and the other two at vancouver on the way back. I'll go in 'free' then my wife follows a few minutes late with her card and gets in 'free' as well?

No extra 4, the Gold card gives 4 for the primary account holder, not for any supplementaries. 
The lounge visits are via the priority pass membership, so its that card not the physical amex cards to show as proof. You get 4 people worth and you have to be present, but can be you alone x4 or you + guest x 2, or whatever.