Consider Airport Lounge Memberships for Business Travel

Business travelers knows to expect crowded security lines, crowded food courts and crowded gate areas at the airport. And while many airport delays may only last 15 minutes to an hour or so, these waiting periods and additional backups can annoy even the most patient traveler.

As it is, business travelers are asked to arrive early to the airport. So many choose to use their early airport arrival to handle current work projects - not the best working conditions. One nice solution is the use of an airline lounge membership. Anyone who uses them knows the value of these memberships - especially when airline delays exist.

Airport lounges typically include amenities such as workstations, Internet access and dataports. They include food, beverages and other snacks (check with your airline club to determine if there is a fee or if a limited number of vouchers are provided). They also include comfortable seating areas, couches, TVs, and more. Airport lounges that are located in international airports may sometimes also include showers, conference rooms and more.

Airline memberships will provide travelers with access to all airport lounges associated with that airline. Airline memberships frequently come with a series of benefits, but relevant ones to airport delays may include assistance with reservations, seat selection, stand-by list placement and same-day ticketing.

Even though airline memberships tend to be expensive, it's possible to consider purchasing a one day membership for a fee. If your flight is running several hours behind, this may serve as the best alternative to thoughts of leaving and returning to the airport, etc.

And if you have an airline membership with a single airline, you should check out whether those benefits carry over to partner airlines within airline alliances. The following list provides you with links to business lounge membership programs by airline and airline alliance:

by Rob Hard, Updated December 13, 2009