Hey guys,

I'm in PHL tomorrow for 2.5 hours en route to PVD, and as a A3 *G, I get lounge access.

My departing flight is operated by Air Wisconsin btw, in case they have a specific set of gates they use.

My question was, which lounge should I use?

My understanding is that there are 4 domestic lounges at PHL, 3 by US and 1 by UA. Are there any foreign operated lounges, and if so, is it possible to get in during a domestic connection?

Any help would be appreciated.

Are you on any kind of international flight? If not, I don't think Star Gold gets you anywhere with regards to lounges on domestic trips.

The Envoy lounge is only accessible for outbound international business ticket holders.

The other lounges would require some kind of club membership or the Am Express Platinum card.

I've been in DEL for a while, so I don't remember the rules for US lounge access very well, but my understanding is that all star golds get lounge access except for CO/UA/US who have to buy the pass.

All *G (incl US/UA/CO) get lounge access everywhere in the world except for the US. You can only get lounge access in the US if you have an Intl. ticket on the same day. For example, if you are flying PVD-PHL-FRA-DEL, or DEL-FRA-PHL-PVD, you get lounge access in every airport (not sure if there is a lounge in PVD, but if there is, you'd get access). However, if you are going PVD-PHL-SFO, you don't get lounge access.

Really?

I got lounge access in CLE back in December when I flew PVD-CLE-LAX on CO.

My understanding is that the rules that you just outlined apply ONLY to US/UA/CO elites.

But I trust that you guys probably know the US airways lounge rules better than I do.

That really sucks.

You might still be able to, it depends on the lounge. The rules used to be written that way, but now I think that they changed them. However, the lounge dragons at PIT have always said no, even with the old rules.

Ok, since there are multiple lounges at PHL, I can hope that at least one will accept my card.

But let's say that being an international *G, I get lounge access to any lounge which usually would require a pass.

Transiting through PHL, onto an Air Wisconsin flight, which is the best lounge to go to?

And is there any access to a lounge operated by an international carrier through the US airways terminal?

If you're flying Air Wisconsin on a CRJ, you'll probably want to stick to the lounge at the F gates, as that's where you'll be leaving from. The F lounge is very similar (albeit smaller) to the B/C lounge.

The A lounge is the Envoy lounge. It's technically the best but... only if your status can get you in

HTSC

Of the 3 US lounges, one of them is an international departures lounge only, available to passengers flying TATL on US or LH. There are two other lounges available to you, one above terminals B/C and one in terminal F. There is a UA lounge between C and D.No...see above. (Well, actually, there is a BA lounge, but I don't think that's gonna work.)

Refer to A US guide to PHL for more info on the Philly airport.

Alright, thanks.

Another quick question, is the UA lounge better than the US lounge?

Not to be a smart-a$$, but you've got 2 hours (+/-), you could try all three lounges.

I think that the only difference between the RCC and the usAir club is that the RCC has free alcohol, however, I haven't been in either of them in a while.

The UA RCC in the C-D walkway is small and nothing particularly worth going out of your way for - not bad, not great. I haven't been in there in a while, but last I was it could've used a refresh of the seats. If you want to relax during your layover, just go to the US Club in F. While smaller than the B/C club, the service is pretty much equivalent and you'll be close to your connecting gate.

If departing PHL on a transatlantic flight on US or LH either in business or as a *G, definitely check out the Envoy Lounge, but it's only available in that case - not with a connection to a domestic US flight.

The best lounge in PHL is the BA lounge, however.

There is a lot of inaccurate information in this thread. The OP is correct that *G on a foreign carrier is sufficient to permit access to US clubs. It does not require an international itinerary, only US-based *G have that rule. So, OP can access the PHL clubs in general. The club in A terminal is an exception, because it is considered to be an international departures Envoy lounge only. It isn't a normal club at all.

So the choices come down to big club between B/C and the small club in F. The big club is nicer, but the small club is better located for his departing flight. I generally prefer to hang out in the B/C club.

I've only been in the RCC a couple of times, but enough to determine that I prefer the B/C club. You can also get "free" beer and wine in the US club.

That's nice. I usually go there between 6 and 7AM. That's a helluva eye-opener.