Airport Lounges Archives

The Club LAS Airport Lounge Reopens Amid COVID

By Susan Weston / July 23, 2020 / Leave a Comment

The Club LAS airport lounge at Las Vegas’s McCarran Airport has re-opened and is implementing new COVID-19 precautions. The C lub opened on June 29, 2020, and overall the experience felt more similar to its pre-COVID state than I imagined it would.

What does The Club LAS look like amid COVID?

Location

The Club LAS has two airport locations. Currently, only the Terminal 1 location is open. The lounge is located airside at D Gates. The lounge is situated between Brooks Brother and Tumi near gate D33.

Hours of Operation

Due to COVID-19, The Club LAS restricted it’s hours of operation to 6 am-3 pm. I wish they would expand the hours to 5 pm. I feel 3 pm is too early and is inconvenient for many travelers. Although, maybe that is the point.

Access

The arrival process is the same. I used my Priority Pass that I get through the Chase Sapphire Reserve or American Express Platinum Credit Card. The attendant at the desk requested my ID, boarding pass, and Priority Pass membership card. A pass holder can still bring two companions into the lounge for free. The only difference was a hand sanitizer station and a plastic divider between you and the desk attendant.

Amenities

The restrooms were open and clean. The only difference is that the showers are unavailable.

Layout

The main change at The Club LAS since reopening is the seating and food service. In the lounge, every other seat, including enclosed booths, were blocked off. I arrived at 11 am, and there were only about ten people in the lounge. The bar area was the only section of the lounge that was closed, but there were plenty of other options, and it was easy to spread out.

Food and Beverage

The most significant change came in the foodservice. A buffet was available with the standard options, but the area was roped off. If you wanted a particular item, you ordered it from the attendant standing behind the rope. This included juice, water, and coffee. All of the food options were covered with saran wrap or prepackaged except for the cereal, which was still in a glass dispenser. Options included yogurt parfaits, grapes, hard-boiled eggs, and danishes.

Of course, I left the most important information for the end. Does the lounge still serve alcohol? Yes, they do. I originally ordered from the attendant behind the buffet, but there was a waitress circulating the lounge floor taking drink orders and clearing tables. The bar area was closed.

The Club LAS and COVID-19

All of the employees were wearing masks and gloves and they are required to have their temperature checked before their shift. There were hand sanitizer stations throughout the facility. Patrons cannot get their own food or beverages. And of course, masks are required for all patrons.

Conclusion

Yes, I understand the word is changing, and there is a new normal, but I haven’t been looking forward to the changes in the travel industry. I am one of the few travelers that purposely arrives at the airport early. My experience at The Club LAS reassured me that airport lounges would make a return.

Just a Quick 34 Hour Trip to Bali

By Susan Weston / June 23, 2019 / 8 Comments

Of course, I was running late… moving out of where I was staying and packing took longer than I thought. But let us be honest, I could have had another week, and somehow I would still be late. And did I mention how hot Las Vegas is? That did not help me move any faster.

I just want to take a second and thank my friend, Julie, for watching my car while I’m away. I can’t wait to see pictures of her and her dog driving around with the top down.

Thankfully my flight was delayed. This gave me time to check out my 2nd favorite (well 3rd favorite) domestic lounge, the Centurion Lounge. I have been there several times but always in the morning before the bar is fully open.

Centurion Lounge Las Vegas — Centurion Cocktail Menu

The food was excellent, and the handcrafted cocktails were on point. The only reason the Centurion Lounges aren’t at the top of my list is they are always packed. If anyone is interested, you can read a great review of the lounge here.

I plan to do a whole blog on travel hacking and lounge access, but for now, any American Express Platinum cardholders have access.

A Little Reminder of Home in the LAX Tunnels

For anyone who frequents LAX, you will be happy to hear that all terminals are now connected airside. No more collecting your luggage, riding a bus, and checking back in at another terminal. I’m pretty sure I walked a few miles, but my ass will thank me later.

I have never flown Air New Zealand, but it was very nice. Even in economy, the seats were spacious and clean. The food was ehh, but the wine made up for it. I love that any international flight (at least that I have been on) gives free alcohol even way back in 3rd class.

Strata Lounge New Zealand — Strata Lounge Self Serve Bar

I had a five-hour layover in Aukland. Strata Lounge has now moved to the top of my international lounge list. I know, I have an obsession with Lounges. Anyway, after a shower, amazing food, and a self-serve bar, I was ready for the next part of my journey. Another 11ish hours and I should be at my hostel.

Review: Wingtips Lounge St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)

By Susan Weston / May 28, 2019 / Leave a Comment

Update: The Wingtips Lounge now accepts Priority Pass, but the lounge know longer offers cooked-to-order food. When I went in June 2023, there were basic pastries and yogurt and the coffee machine was broken. There was only one attendant for the whole lounge. I am really sad about the state the lounge is now in.

Upon landing at STL, I decided to check out the Wingtips Lounge. I arrived on a Southwest Airlines flight from Kansas City. My original flight was supposed to be direct from Las Vegas, but due to flight cancellation, I ended up with a quick layover in Kansas City. I was meeting my boyfriend Cliff, but his flight didn’t arrive until 3:00 pm.

Location

The only lounge located in Terminal 2 was the Wingtips Lounge. Terminal 1 houses the American Airlines Admirals Club, which according to Lounge Buddy, you can purchase a day pass for $59. The Wingtips Lounge is located in Terminal 2. Although there are no free lounges available to Priority Pass members, there are several restaurants where you can receive $28 off your bill ($56 if you bring a guest.). Please note, this benefit is no longer available to passengers who acquired their priority pass through American Express. The Pasta House and Schafly Bar are airside in Terminal 2, and there is another Pasta House landside in Terminal 1. I should also note that you cannot connect airside between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. In fact, you need to take a shuttle between them.

Wingtips Entrance STL — Entrance to Wingtips Lounge in Terminal 2 at STL

Terminal 2 is considered the Southwest Airlines Terminal. My flight arrived in St. Louis at noon on a Friday. My plane arrived at gate E33 in Terminal 2. I took a left towards baggage claim and was thrilled to see The Wingtips Lounge immediately on my right.

Access

The lounge is $38 to enter for 4 hours, which I was told wasn’t strictly enforced. I was also able to enter on arrival, which has become rare in the lounge world. Lounge Buddy gives a $2 discount if you use their app to buy your pass. I had heard a rumor that Priority Pass members are given a discount but could not find this listed on any website. After speaking to the lady at the desk, not only are Priority Pass members given $8 off, but American Express Platinum members receive a $10 discount. Since I hold both of these cards, I could enter for $28 using my Amex Platinum card.

Amenities

The lounge is not large but has plenty of seating options, all with regular outlets and USB ports. I arrived at noon, and there was a little rush of passengers, but by 1:30 pm, the lounge had emptied out again.

Wingtips STL — Seating Options Wingtips Lounge STL

There are two single unisex bathrooms. They are clean and have plenty of room to freshen up. There are not any showers.

Food and Beverage

There is a large bar with plenty of seating. They have a good selection of complimentary beer, wine, and house liquor. Guests place their food and drink order at the bar, but there was always a staff member walking around who were more than happy to place the order for you.

There is a buffet area that has drink options and very limited snacks.

Wingtips Buffet STL — Buffet at the Wingtips Lounge STL

What makes this lounge stand out to me is that they have a large selection of food to order. This is something I only see in premium first and business-class lounges. I ordered the BBQ chicken pizza, which came out fresh and tasted yummy.

Wingtips Lounge Food Menu STL — Complimentary Food Menu Wingtips Lounge STL

The staff was very welcoming and attentive. They made sure my wine was never empty. Guests can also get any beverage, including alcohol, to go. And not only were you encouraged to take snacks with you, but they had little to-go cups. Most lounges have a strict policy about taking food and drink outside of the lounge.

Final Impression

Overall, this was one of my favorite domestic pay-to-use lounges that I have been in. The service was excellent and surpassed the service at any United Airlines Lounge, American Airlines Admirals Club, and even any Centurion Lounge I have been to. The food was excellent. And anytime I am offered alcohol to-go, you have my heart.

There is a Wingtips Lounge located at New You JFK Airport, which happens to be a Priority Pass Lounge. According to several mediocre reviews, I have read, the lounge is nothing like the Wingtips at SLT.

I definitely recommend checking out the Wingtips Lounge if you are passing through St. Louis Lambert International Airport.