Paid Lounge Access for guests - is there any value?

[Nellycoo]

I have Priority Pass. I will be traveling with a couple of friends, none have Priority Pass. I would like to be able to use my Lounge Access, but at AUD$55 per person for my guests (because where we're going, there isn't a free guest access), I can't see any value for them. Is there something I'm missing? Basically it means that I go to the airport and can't use my Priority Pass, which seems like a waste, unless I ditch my friends, which wouldn't be very nice. I would be interested in any insights.

 

[aikman]

I've gone into Priority Pass lounges alone before while my travel companion waited in the terminal. They accepted this and there certainly was no value in paying the guest fee for them. I was comfortable enough in our friendship to do this. We were after all going to be in each other's company again for the rest of the trip.

I've since learned that everyone values lounge access differently so it's a personal choice on what its worth.

 

[AIRwin]

Tell them you're running late and will meet them on the flight. In the meantime...

 

[travelnutjohn]

if you know theyre the sort of person going to spend $55 on food and drinks before the flight, its a no brainer!

 

[ric_melb]

Priority Pass website indicates the cost of Guest Access as USD32.00.
At current conversion rates that is USD46.50.
So it may well be less than AUD55.00.
If you only have two friends I would say that AUD93.00 is money well spent for you to all be able to get together in the Lounge, and enjoy a few drinks and some food.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have Priority Pass. I will be traveling with a couple of friends, none have Priority Pass. I would like to be able to use my Lounge Access, but at AUD$55 per person for my guests (because where we're going, there isn't a free guest access), I can't see any value for them. Is there something I'm missing? Basically it means that I go to the airport and can't use my Priority Pass, which seems like a waste, unless I ditch my friends, which wouldn't be very nice. I would be interested in any insights.

The other option is that you could mention you have Priority Pass and that you can all go to the lounge but there is a charge of USD32. They may decide to jump on it and pay If not you can all spend time together elsewhere.

 

[maia200]

It also depends on where the lounge is. Some of them are not worth the money - much better spent having a wine or coffee outside.

 

[Deleted member]

Sometimes you just need to suck it up and hang out with the hoi poli.
That said , I rarely travel with anyone other than family / spouse so this isn’t usually an issue for me. I also don’t think much of Priority Pass, I have had two (as part of CC deals) in my life and felt on neither occasion they offered much in value compared to my Airline status (Gold and then Platinum) with QF / one world.

 

[travelnutjohn]

on a recent trip I was planning to forgoe my business class lounge access as a travelling partner had no access and I was unable to pay for them to get in either , and spend with them waiting at the gate

however luckily we were departing from different terminals so I ended going to the lounge!