Cleaning Fees at Airport Lounges: A Priority Pass Story

Experience at Minute Suites at BWI Airport

Recently, a reader named George shared his experience at Minute Suites at BWI Airport. This airport lounge offers private rooms with sofas for relaxation and workstations for those needing to catch up on tasks.

George utilized his Priority Pass to access the lounge for free for one hour. However, upon entering, he was unexpectedly asked to pay an additional $5.30 as a "cleaning fee." This left him feeling dissatisfied, as he hadn’t caused any mess and hadn’t anticipated this extra charge.

Response from Priority Pass

George voiced his concerns regarding this issue, and Priority Pass responded that lounges and airport services can impose any fees they choose. They clarified that fees vary by lounge and are not dictated by Priority Pass policies.

George questioned whether there was anything stopping a lounge from implementing a mandatory "utensil usage fee." Theoretically, lounges wouldn’t want to impose such fees, as they profit by attracting more customers.

The Ownership Status of Lounges

Typically, a lounge's capacity is limited by fire safety regulations. Each customer brings in about $25 in revenue, so lounges aim to welcome as many guests as possible.

However, Minute Suites offers private rooms with limited capacity, making it impossible for them to boost revenue simply by increasing customer numbers.

Transparency in Additional Fees

In reality, a customer with a Priority Pass often exchanges their access for someone else who pays a higher fee. This means that while Priority Pass brings in customers, it doesn’t necessarily help lounges grow beyond a certain point.

Moreover, Priority Pass's response doesn’t quite add up. They didn’t mention the $5.30 fee anywhere in their agreement. Their website states that the first hour is free, with charges for additional time. They also emphasize that cleaning fees apply only in cases of smoking, damage, or special clean-ups.

Rising Additional Fees

It seems that additional fees for lounge access are on the rise. Notably, the mandatory co-pay to enter premium lounges, such as Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at LAX, requires a Priority Pass along with a $35 fee per person.

This fee is fully disclosed, and while some customers may see it as a scam, at least they are aware of the costs upfront. Without such fees, the lounge would struggle to maintain its accessibility.

Reservation Options

Many lounges, like The Club lounges, allow advance reservations for a separate fee, but guests can still enter without prior booking. This helps ensure timely access without waiting.

Some lounges, like Aspire and Escape, also offer this service, although Escape seems to apply it only to customers paying directly rather than using a Priority Pass.

Additional Services in Lounges

At lounges like Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, customers can purchase hot meals, alcoholic beverages, and espresso drinks. Meanwhile, the Plaza Premium lounge at DFW Terminal E also charges extra for regular alcoholic drinks.

Final Thoughts on Lounge Fees

The presence of additional fees is a contentious issue. While such fees may help manage crowding in lounges, a mandatory cleaning fee at the entrance is a hidden charge not disclosed on their website.

There is a difference between reasonable reservation fees and hidden charges. These fees can genuinely enhance the passenger experience by creating a better space while providing a lounge that may not be accessible without a fee.

However, a $5.30 fee is insufficient to manage guest numbers, as it won’t effectively deter enough people from entering, especially compared to fees starting at $35. It’s crucial that not only should there be "no hidden fees," but that any fees should be "transparently disclosed." Such practices should be rare occurrences.