Quick data point that might point to some small improvements. Was looking at MAN (T2) lounges in the app, today, and found I was actually able to pre-book the Aspire Lounge for a fee of £6.00. MAN's other (likely better) lounges allow Priority and Dragon Pass holders to pre-book through their own portal, but no joy there - full on those dates unless you want to pay the full price of admission. I expect Priority and Dragon Pass holders would need to have a great deal luck just to walk up to one of these lounges to be waitlisted since every man plus dog now has some sort of lounge pass.

My Priority Pass is through an Amex Platinum card and is not the primary reason for me holding that card (Dining and Harvey Nicks credits + the occasional offer + a successful lounge visit once or twice a year get me close enough to making up for the annual fee).

Yes, if you use up all the coupons from this coupon book card, you potential make money in addition to free annual fee.

You get a Like for that small dose of reality. An Oligarch is better with a free card if he doesn’t get good value from the benefits.

Yes, but if you're really into Diet Coke or any other mainstream soda fountain drink, you can go hog-wild at the OGG lounge. It's self-service. The sky is the limit.

It's not worth the half hour wait. Though it could take you that long to get through the lines at the nearby food court LOL

Personally I would go to the restaurant near the gates, the food is much better and shorter wait.

People go to a lounge for the unlimited soda. This is a new low.

LIM recently, didn't feel any need to hit a lounge, but when spouse trying to use a restroom before boarding found long lines at all of them near us, upstairs and downstairs. Spotted a priority pass lounge. Entered, used the clean, no line facilities, left to board. Priceless and worth every penny I don't pay for it at that moment... It isn't always about the drinks and snacks. :-)

Not only it is useless now the service at PP is also useless. (not the lounges but PP itself)

What service did you require, and what happened?

I could not log in and then it said to contact PP and when I contacted them they said to contact my bank and there is an outstanding payment too. It is obvious to me that there could be a payment because my card got scammed and the bank changed my card. Nothing else happened and my PP card came as a courtesy of the credit card. All these days they never told me about the outstanding payment. It was for one entry they told me too so nothing significant. I am traveling and it is not easy to call my bank either. I told them the same that my card has changed and I was willing to update the payment card details online if they would accept that. By the way this is after 3 emails too.

Pleasant experience in Galapagos Islands airport. Alcohol had to be paid for, but the bartender could also order food from a restaurant in the food court. Breakfast buffet was small but looked decent (multiple egg scambles, potatoes, toast, muffins, etc.). Lunch was being set up as pasta with two sauces, some side veggies. Not gourmet but it would get you through your 1-2-3 hour flight. Coffee machines, sodas, water.

The lounge itself had indoor and outdoor space and was way more pleasant to kill time than the gate area.

Y'all should come to BKK—it is an absolute PP heaven with an average of 1.5 PP lounges every 50m all with decent hot food and self-serve alcohol. There are so many PP lounges that they are never crowded and sometimes they are even the better option even if you have access to TG lounges because those are actually the ones that can become an absolute zoo.

Priority Pass is now re-associated with Plaza Premium lounges (at least the ones in Canada) as of July 1, 2023?

Correct. Discussion here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/airp...versed-pp.html

on a recent trip

YYC domestic - "sorry, full"
YVR international - "sorry, full"

"essentially useless" 2/2