Washington D.C. (including Baltimore) - BWI American Express / AMEX Lounge

I visited the Amex Airspace Lounge at BWI this morning, and was pleased to get a $3 discount off the $17.50 daily rate with my AS Board Room affiliation. It's a small, no frills club, and Airspace hopes to expand to 40 sites worldwide. It's free to real Amex holders (and not co-branded cards like my Costco Amex). I did not take advantage of the advertised clothes pressing, restroom or amenity kit, but the club offered free Wifi, newspapers and free beverages. It's a quiet alternative to the bustling food court as there are no other clubs at BWI.

I thought it was only free for Plat/Cent members...

Their website says Plat/Cent members: http://www.airspacelounge.com/faq.php?itemnum=7

Did someone there tell you differently?

Thanks for reporting back, ESteiner! :) We'll shift this thread over to the Washington DC/Baltimore forum as this is non-airline specific, but airport-specific. /JY1024, TravelBuzz co-moderator

Their website says Plat/Cent members: http://www.airspacelounge.com/faq.php?itemnum=7



Yes, complimentary entry including a complimentary meal is for American Express Platinum(r) and Centurion(r) members, their immediate family when accompanied by the member or up to two guests.

Anyone else may enter Airspace Lounge for as a little as $17.50 and for a limited time we are charging members of other airline lounge networks $14.50. All entries include a complimentary choice of meal from our menu, wifi, soft drinks, coffee, use of pcs/macs, and...of course; the lounge itself. If you're not hungry, you may choose from our complimentary selection of alcohlic beverages from our fully stocked bar. We think it's a strong value proposition and hope to see you at Airspace Lounge in the future.

Thanks for sharing! It does, indeed, sound like a good value proposition compared to airline-operated lounge day passes. Is the paid access to continue indefinitely? I can see it may be tough to maintain lounge standards to a Plat/Cent level if it becomes flooded with $17.50 admissions.

Are there showers in the lounges, or merely toilet facilities?

Does the discount apply to members of frequent flyer programs that have US-based lounge access (i.e. non-US based OneWorld sapphire and emerald, or non-US based Star Alliance gold), or only to paid supplementary lounge memberships such as Admirals Club and United Club?

An interesting marketing move would be to temporarily extend a discounted rate to competing card products such as HSBC Premier and Citibank Gold account holders, who may then bite for a Plat card application.

EDIT - just noticed variable pricing on the website... no details, but seems like a good (if perhaps confusing) way to keep lounge numbers manageable.

Thanks for sharing! It does, indeed, sound like a good value proposition compared to airline-operated lounge day passes. Is the paid access to continue indefinitely? I can see it may be tough to maintain lounge standards to a Plat/Cent level if it becomes flooded with $17.50 admissions.

Are there showers in the lounges, or merely toilet facilities?

Does the discount apply to members of frequent flyer programs that have US-based lounge access (i.e. non-US based OneWorld sapphire and emerald, or non-US based Star Alliance gold), or only to paid supplementary lounge memberships such as Admirals Club and United Club?


No showers and toilets are located across the hall. There are no discounts for frequent flyer programs. The roi seems minimal here:

Free wifi- who doesn't have a wifi card in their bag?
Food- standard lounge fare
Drinks- $20 buys lots of soft drinks or a couple of beers.

I think the ticket to sucess for them is an annual fee of say $150-250 and still offering day passes. Even being BWI based I'd never pay $20/visit.

Even being BWI based I'd never pay $20/visit.

Personally, I agree. Especially if there are no showers (I am no longer BWI-based and at least half of my travel is long-haul, so in the grand scheme of things showers are a biggie for me, especially after a red eye arrival). I really don't care about lounge access on a short-haul flight and would rather have a decent meal and drink at Vino Volo or elsewhere for a similar price.

That said, when you look at what other lounges charge for single-day admission (and the fact that others are willing to pay these fees), leads me to believe that the price point is right. Might be a low ROI for you and me (especially if you already have lounge access through another program), but that doesn't mean that this venture won't be competitive.

Hi everyone,

We at Airspace Lounge think it's worthwhile to make a few clarifictions....

Restrooms:
Airspace Lounge has in-lounge restrooms at BWI. They're not across the hall, they're in the lounge and exclusively for Airspace guests. There are seperate mens and womens rooms; no showers. Also...ask for an Airspace amentiy kit and we'd be pleased to hand you one included with entry. On top of that, ask for your clothes to be steamed and it's done; also included with entry.

Food:
We have eleven selections available on our food menu; our beverage menu is also extensive. See our complete menu here (http://www.facebook.com/AirspaceLounge?ref=ts#!/photo.php?fbid=10150358073739536&set=pu.133923024535&type=1&theater). Our favorite at the moment; the hot western omlete panini, but the rare DC Roast Beef sandwich is great too and it's big enough to fill anyone up.

So, to review, included with entry is:

Use of our quiet and contemporary lounge
A complimentary choice from our menu (even though there are prices on the menu, one is item included n/c. If you're not hungry, you may choose from our complimentary selections from our premium bar). Your menu selection is plated for you on modern china by the Airspace team.
Complimentary Peet's coffee and tea served in extra large Peet's mugs
Outlets at every seat, including the bar
Complimentary soft drinks
Wifi
Use of our business area, PCs, Macs, and starting soon, Ipad docking stations
In-lounge restrooms, amenity kit and clothes pressing
And the little touches such as wine served in German crystal and even crystal, heavyweight glasses for water & soft drinks


Given that it's difficult to keep a trip to the food court under $10 we think Airspace is an excellent value for a few dollars more. But we understand that everyone has different views and we respect anyone's particular views about Airspace whether you like us or not :)

Thanks for reading through this post and we hope to earn your business in the future.

AirspaceonFT

We've gotten into Centurion Clubs overseas free even with Gold Cards. Glad we have Platinum now. The Centurion Clubs I have been to have been more basic than most airline clubs I've visited.

what does swiping my plat card at the kiosk confirm? if it's expired or something?

what does swiping my plat card at the kiosk confirm? if it's expired or something?

It's a similar system used by the others in the American Express Lounge Access Program; Delta, American and US Airways. It's primarily used to keep the count but, though I might be mistaken, I believe it validates too.

On a separate note; we are as indepedent from American Express as the other airlines in the program. It would be great if the moderator could change the title of this thread to reflect that fact.

Hi everyone,

We at Airspace Lounge think it's worthwhile to make a few clarifictions....

Restrooms:
Airspace Lounge has in-lounge restrooms at BWI. They're not across the hall, they're in the lounge and exclusively for Airspace guests. There are seperate mens and womens rooms; no showers. Also...ask for an Airspace amentiy kit and we'd be pleased to hand you one included with entry. On top of that, ask for your clothes to be steamed and it's done; also included with entry.

Food:
We have eleven selections available on our food menu; our beverage menu is also extensive. See our complete menu here (http://www.facebook.com/AirspaceLounge?ref=ts#!/photo.php?fbid=10150358073739536&set=pu.133923024535&type=1&theater). Our favorite at the moment; the hot western omlete panini, but the rare DC Roast Beef sandwich is great too and it's big enough to fill anyone up.

So, to review, included with entry is:

Use of our quiet and contemporary lounge
A complimentary choice from our menu (even though there are prices on the menu, one is item included n/c. If you're not hungry, you may choose from our complimentary selections from our premium bar). Your menu selection is plated for you on modern china by the Airspace team.
Complimentary Peet's coffee and tea served in extra large Peet's mugs
Outlets at every seat, including the bar
Complimentary soft drinks
Wifi
Use of our business area, PCs, Macs, and starting soon, Ipad docking stations
In-lounge restrooms, amenity kit and clothes pressing
And the little touches such as wine served in German crystal and even crystal, heavyweight glasses for water & soft drinks


Given that it's difficult to keep a trip to the food court under $10 we think Airspace is an excellent value for a few dollars more. But we understand that everyone has different views and we respect anyone's particular views about Airspace whether you like us or not :)

Thanks for reading through this post and we hope to earn your business in the future.

AirspaceonFT


Wow. Ads are allowed? This goes way beyond refusing specific points in a post. Haven't seen such a post before.

Wow. Ads are allowed? This goes way beyond refusing specific points in a post. Haven't seen such a post before.

The bullet-pointed post is a bit much - probably cut and paste from an
actual ad - but in this case it appears to me to be justified to counteract
the previous inaccuracies printed in this thread.

I've used the Airspace lounge.. given that it's the only lounge at BWI, it's great to have the option (I don't count the Chesepeake club).

I am fortunate to have an Amex plat though...

I think some sort of partnership with Priority pass would be nice....

It's a nice option. Coffee is ok (even though it's Peet's, it's as strong as I like). Space is a little contempary but that 's fine.. it's quite....

What was nice once was that my wife wasn't feeling well and wanted Ginger ale.. popped in and grab one... also, they encourage taking drinks to go, if I recall...

Would I pay for a daily pass? prob not... but with my Amex plat it's great...

FDW

Stopped in last Saturday.

Lots of signs in the hallways pointing to the lounge.

One person there attending the room (reception and serving) -- perhaps because it was a slow Saturday afternoon.

Had a soft drink, about 6 or 7 people in lounge.

TV's had a bad feed, bball games were in slow motion. Rather odd.

Ordered a (free) roast beef sandwich. Inedible. Obviously had been sitting there for a while, the meat had soaked into the bread. Had to lift the bread to see if there were any toppings. Miniscule piece of lettuce made a $0.99 burger's topping at Wendy's look gargantuan. One bite and I was done. Yech.

OK spot to stop if you get in free, but the "premium" food was not good.

jb

I thought it was only free for Plat/Cent members...

We've gotten into Am Ex Centurion clubs overseas (Brazil) with Gold Cards. With the Platinum card my wife just got we got into the American Airlines Admirals Club at DFW and the US Airways Club at CLT; nicer than the Centurion Clubs we've been into (the CCs were great for when we were transiting to a domestic flight and were in an airport where the airline clubs were only n the international departures section).

I just recently flew in/out of BWI (Johns Hopkins commencement) and it was fairly easy for that purpose.

I planned to have lunch at the Airspace Lounge and timed my ride accordingly.

Imagine my disappointment when I found that I had to go OUT of the secure area (I came in on AA) and back IN to the secure area for the OTHER concourse that houses the Lounge.

BUUUUT since I timed my ride ....... back thru security :rolleyes::o

I have Amex Plat and it was complimentary entry and voucher given for alcoholic drink or food item. They did scan the card. For attendance I suppose lol.


Here are some pics of the lounge:

http://www.danpassaro.com/img/s1/v22/p552156158.jpg

http://www.danpassaro.com/img/s11/v27/p613789927.jpg

http://www.danpassaro.com/img/s3/v42/p963398744.jpg




The amenity kit wasn't offered but I asked because someone here had mentioned it.

Complimentary alcoholic drink OR food item. Definitely the food item :D

http://www.danpassaro.com/img/s3/v44/p805573367.jpg

Checked this lounge out in April during a three hour layover.
Friendly service, good food!
Absolutely the most uncomfortable furniture I have ever experienced in a "premium" lounge.

Checked this lounge out in April during a three hour layover.
Friendly service, good food!
Absolutely the most uncomfortable furniture I have ever experienced in a "premium" lounge.I had exactly the same reaction as flightmedic72 did to the food, service, and furniture.

Since my usual airline goes out of that terminal and I have the required Amex card, I consider a great convenience. I might even patronize it if it were to charge per visit, especially if I were hungry, since the food is as good or better than anything else I have had in that terminal.

I spent some time there my last trip- my included drink was fine. But,they were out of ammenity kits, so I don't know what they contain.