Looking to hear what other experts and veterans would do as this has occured 2nd time with me

- reach MSP terminal 2 90 mins prior to departure and with the weather situation, they immediately said flight at least delayed 45 mins but may actually leave earlier so I should not go to terminal 1 where I have lounge access
- i agree knowing quite well that the delay will stick. Well, the 45 mins delay turned out to be a 3 hour delay
- from lounge in terminal 1 to terminal 2 gate is about 30 mins

What would you do? For a 2nd time, the ground attendants have highly discouraged me from going anywhere and yes, obviously their job is to make sure their passengers just wait and sit in one area at the gate no matter how long a flight is delayed. I could have been much more comfortable in the lounge environment and using up my priority pass select card

Thanks

Been in a somewhat similar situation many times. My rule is to not change terminals unless the lounge has ties to the airline I'm leaving on. Too difficult to keep up with what is going on at the gate if you lack staff and flight monitor resources. Depending on a web app for status isn't foolproof.

Agreed especially about whether the lounge has ties to the airline. Even then, if it's a long trek from lounge to gate I'd be cautious. I've only had flights suddenly leave much sooner than the delay was projected to be initially a few times. But in one instance they did a very rushed boarding when we did get the go-ahead.

I had folks from my office miss a flight after doing what the OP contemplated and ended up with a Planes, Trains and Automobiles adventure coming back home. It does suck hanging around the gate knowing you could be in more comfort in the lounge. I guess it just depends on your tolerance of the potential cost in time, cash, and/or hassle if you did miss it.

While I consider myself a medium-to-experienced traveler, I'll admit that my risk tolerance is medium-low. If I were in your shoes, I'd probably stay up in the terminal. If my flight is cancelled, you can be that I'm hightailing it to a lounge. But if it's a delay, I won't leave the terminal. More often than not, I experience the dreaded rolling delay. But every once in a while, I've been in the lounge or gate area and received the "captain has got the all-clear to push back - get your bucks onboard ASAP!" announcement.

I guess it all depends on your risk tolerance and your backup options if on the off-chance your flight departs early without you.