Priority Pass adds ANA lounges @HND @NRT, Lufthansa lounge @IAD

Priority Pass has added the ANA Lounges at Tokyo Haneda (HND) and Tokyo Narita (NRT) airports to their network.  The ANA business class lounges at HND and NRT are the most visited ANA Lounges, and they represent the first ANA Lounges to be included in Priority Pass.  This will be the first Priority Pass lounge @HND, and the 4th @NRT, along with the following:

• IASS Executive Lounge (Terminal 1)
• IASS Executive Lounge (Terminal 2)
• Korean Airlines Business Class Lounge

I went really carb-heavy during my first visit to the ANA Lounge @HND back in 2011

Although the ANA Lounges are pretty good with noodle soup counters, crowding has been a factor pre-pandemic as all Star Alliance business class passengers and Star Alliance Gold members have access to these lounges, and both HND and NRT are major Star Alliance hubs.  Priority Pass will likely add to the overcrowding once Japan starts allowing visitors again post-pandemic, so it remains to be seen if Priority Pass members will be turned away during peak travel times.  Nonetheless, both lounges represent great additions as it will be the first Priority Pass lounge @HND, and the existing NRT Priority Pass lounges are barely worth the stop.

The Lufthansa Business Lounge at Washington Dulles (IAD) has been added to the Priority Pass network.  This is the 5th airport lounge @IAD for Priority Pass, including the following:

• Turkish Airlines Lounge
• Air France/KLM Lounge
• British Airways Galleries Lounge
• Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse

The Turkish Airlines Lounge @IAD is arguably one of the best Priority Pass lounges in the U.S., but crowding has often been a factor pre-pandemic as Priority Pass members were often turned away during peak travel times.  The other lounges also had restrictive entry times (access only in the morning when international travel is slower) pre-pandemic.  Since the lounges, including the Lufthansa lounge, are all in Concourses A and B, flyers out of Concourses C and D have to make the trek on the AeroTrain, albeit post-security.  United Airlines operates the bulk of their flights out of Concourses C and D at their IAD hub, so lounge access has never been easy for United flyers out of this hub.

How to get Priority Pass membership

The following premium credit card holders get Priority Pass membership with unlimited lounge access at no additional cost:

All Amex Platinum consumer cards ($550 annual fees)

All Amex Platinum business cards ($595 annual fees)

Citi Prestige ($450 annual fee)

Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550 annual fee)

Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ($450 annual fee)

Amex Hilton Honors Aspire ($450 annual fee)

U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite ($450 annual fee)

Enrollment is required, and all card holders can also bring 2 guests at no additional charge.  If you're looking for a lower annual fee card that can still get you access to Priority Pass lounges, the Amex Hilton Honors Surpass card has a $95 annual fee and gets you 10 free visits per year, which may be sufficient for many travelers especially during this time.

Bottom line

It's great to see a number of positive additions to the Priority Pass network.  Airport lounges have been getting busier as of late with travel starting to pick up, though lounge services still remain limited with many only offering pre-packaged food and closed bars.  Whenever visitors are allowed in Japan again, they'll find nice options with the ANA Lounges on departure at their Tokyo airports.

From all of us at Flying for Fitness, please stay healthy during this trying time.  We hope you enjoyed this post.  Please consider visiting one of our sponsors by clicking on the advertisements.  Our sponsors pay us for customer visits and help us to keep the lights on.  Thanks!