Are airport lounges becoming more popular?

That’s the case at Pittsburgh International, as the airport’s common-use lounge, The Club, completed an expansion project this week to include an additional 2,771 square feet due to increased demand from travelers.

An add-on to its existing location in Concourse C of the Airside Terminal, the new space includes a freestanding bar, showers and more lounge seating for guests.

The Club offers all-inclusive amenities including local chef-inspired dishes, refreshments and specialty cocktails. The lounge is open to all travelers, and can be accessed by purchasing a day pass for $40, with discounts offered occasionally for passengers flying on various airlines. Additionally, The Club lounge welcomes members of Priority Pass, LoungeKey, Lounge Club, Diners Club International, and AAA Members Discount Program.

The Club, which is operated by Airport Lounge Development (ALD), opened in October 2017 as the company’s 17^th location. A common-use lounge, the space serves as a respite for passengers looking to work or relax in a quiet location away from the busyness of the airport.

The lounge experienced a 48 percent increase in sales from 2017 to 2018, with the number of daily guests exceeding original projections. The expansion will accommodate more visitors, and is expected to result in continued success as airport shared-use lounges become more popular, according to Nancy Knipp, Senior Vice President of ALD.

“Travelers have come to depend on the amenities provided in a lounge, but if they don’t have access to a lounge provided by the airline they are flying, stopping by a shared-use lounge is an easy solution,” said Knipp. “In coming years, shared-use lounges are likely to continue increasing in popularity as travelers from around the world come to expect and depend on a space for calm and relaxation in the airport.”

Prior to the expansion, travelers were spending 30 to 60 minutes in the lounge, with more than 6,500 guests visiting per month, according to Scott Childs, General Manager for The Club at Pittsburgh International, who noted that business and leisure travelers both use the club.

“The Club is an amenity that is actually enticing people to spend more time at the airport,” said Childs. “We have seen a number of travelers that come early to visit the lounge, and even passengers returning to Pittsburgh that stop by before heading home.”

Vice President of Business Development Kim Kitko explained that the expansion was an opportunity to update the design and will now allow for more passengers to enjoy the space.

“Our goal is to continue improving the customer experience through new and updated features for amenities that include common-use lounges like The Club,” said Kitko. “This will ensure that Pittsburgh International maintains a modern look and appeals to our market of origin-and-destination travelers.

Note: This story was originally published in January 2019 and has been edited for the completion of The Club’s expansion.  

Powered by flickr embed.