I get a Priority Pass lounge access card (and free passes) with my BMO MC, and I was all excited to use them until I looked up lounge access and noticed that the lounges are 'Plaza Premium Lounges' in Canada. Never heard of these before...only ever been to MLL and UA Club.
When I looked it up online, I noticed that you have to PAY for drinks. WHaaaa? What do they charge the big bucks for lounge access for? Isn't it to cover the cost of booze, in the majority of cases? I am by no means a lush, but I don't want to have to pay $10 for a glass of wine, either.
Can anyone comment on these lounges? Maybe I should save my passes for my USA departures (lounge selections are far better...)?
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I suggest you read it again, but FWIW Priority pass through Amex Platinum is full service and Plaza Premium locations in Canada includes alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
They have better food (hot) and less crowded when compared to MLL
This is straight from the Priority Pass website (for YVR, anyway) - see below. Last line indicates payment required for alcoholic drinks. Maybe outdated?
And BMO Rewards World Elite MC includes Priority Pass membership card, plus 4 free annual passes.
Info from Priority Club website on Plaza Premium Lounge YVR:
Airport: vancouver - International (YVR), International Terminal
Lounge: PLAZA PREMIUM LOUNGE (INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURES)
Location: Airside - the Lounge is located after Security Screening on Departures Level 3 and is not accessible to passengers departing on Canadian domestic or US transborder flights.
Opening Hours: 09:00 - 02:00 daily. Hours may vary according to flight schedules.
Conditions: International departure flights only - Children 3 years and under are admitted free and must be accompanied by an adult - Alcoholic drinks are only available for passengers 18 years of age or older - Smart casual dress at all times - Non-smoking.
Additional Information: Alcoholic drinks are subject to payment.
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Most of the Priority Club affiliated lounges are the independently-run airline lounges or are operated by some obscure airline, but rarely by any of the major airlines.
While this is often a disadvantage IMO, the Plaza Premium lounges in Canada are pretty nice and often less crowded than the MLLs, so you´re not missing anything.
Alcoholic drinks at Calgary and I believe Vancouver were gratis for me this summer. Or was it Winnipeg? Sorry it all melts together in my mind. Partly due, of course, to the free hooch.
Programs: AC E75K HH:G National:E Fairmont:P SPG:G Amex:P
Posts: 1,118
Depends on the lounge, I would suggest you check the actual Lounge sites ( i posted a link) not Priority Pass as a lot of their info is boiler plate. That said Plaza Premium all include booze @ YVR/YEG/YYZ per their site
Prioirty Pass has deals with lots of lounges world wide, UA in lot of cities and as I recall UA charges for booze in the old Red carpet lounges, CO did not but only cheap stuff was free, anything drinkable they charged. Last trip to IAH in June UA was still following CO method.
I would suggest download Priority pass app, handy to find all the lounges in any given airport. If a choice avoid the UA ones
Programs: AC E75K HH:G National:E Fairmont:P SPG:G Amex:P
Posts: 1,118
Found it, UA basic booze free, decent stuff you pay
An additional special feature in most locations is an offering of top-rated wines from legendary Napa vineyards. While wines of this quality are typically available only in fine restaurants, we're offering them at attractive prices for individually sized carafes as part of the exclusive, high-end service we strive to provide for our United ClubSM customers. Our standard house wines and other spirits are still complimentary.
As I said Priority Pass has a deal with a lot of UA lounges so keep it in mind
This is straight from the Priority Pass website (for YVR, anyway) - see below. Last line indicates payment required for alcoholic drinks. Maybe outdated?
I've never paid for drinks at priority pass lounges in YYZ, YUL, YEG, or YVR. And that's national, trans-border, and international lounges at YYZ/YVR.
YVR lounges are a bar, so the staff ask what you'd like to drink in international, whereas the temporary domestic has a counter you have to go up to.
YEG and YYZ are all self-serve - grab your own beers, or pour your own booze.
And I entirely agree with the comment that Plaza Premiums has much better food than MLL.
I've never paid for drinks at priority pass lounges in YYZ, YUL, YEG, or YVR. ...And I entirely agree with the comment that Plaza Premiums has much better food than MLL.
Thanks for all the info! And...silly question, but I've never had to worry about this before myself. Planning on using passes when travelling with my 20 year old nephew YVR-JFK. I would assume drinking ages would apply as they would in each country? In other words, he'll be able to drink at YVR, but not JFK? And not sure if that applies in the 'air', too!? LOL!!! Airline is CX...
Programs: LH, BA, AC Super Elite, IC Amb, Fairmont President's Club Platinum
Posts: 5,228
Quote:
Originally Posted by pokee
Thanks for all the info! And...silly question, but I've never had to worry about this before myself. Planning on using passes when travelling with my 20 year old nephew YVR-JFK. I would assume drinking ages would apply as they would in each country? In other words, he'll be able to drink at YVR, but not JFK? And not sure if that applies in the 'air', too!? LOL!!! Airline is CX...
IN Canada the drinking age is set by each province and is either 18 or 19 years, so your nephew will be fine in YVR. I wouldn´t expect any issues on CX as long as he doesn´t look like a 15 year old.
IN Canada the drinking age is set by each province and is either 18 or 19 years, so your nephew will be fine in YVR. I wouldn´t expect any issues on CX as long as he doesn´t look like a 15 year old.
I never had a problem getting a drink on US domestic flights or transborder flights when I was 20.
Most of the Priority Club affiliated lounges are the independently-run airline lounges or are operated by some obscure airline, but rarely by any of the major airlines.
While this is often a disadvantage IMO, the Plaza Premium lounges in Canada are pretty nice and often less crowded than the MLLs, so you´re not missing anything.
The Plaza lounges also tend to have better food IMO if that's something you care about.
Programs: AC E75K HH:G National:E Fairmont:P SPG:G Amex:P
Posts: 1,118
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jasper2009
Most of the Priority Club affiliated lounges are the independently-run airline lounges or are operated by some obscure airline, but rarely by any of the major airlines.
FYI as I posted, Priority Pass has a deal with UA for lounge access,( not all but a lot of them ) which I don't think qualifies as a "obscure airline "
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USA airline lounges located in the USA must follow local alcohol laws (almost always 21, which means that under 21s must be with a responsible adult, usually defined as a parent, guardian, or spouse over age 21). If there's a bartender rather than self service drinks, the rules are more liberal.
The only non-generous Canadian lounge experience I've seen was an AA transborder lounge I accessed through PP where it appeared that everything but the tap water had a price tag.
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