If you’re flying through Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), I’ve got some good news for you: The Club at PHX, a new pay-as-you-go lounge just opened its doors on April 9th. Operated by Airport Lounge Development, this new space is the only shared-use lounge at PHX, which means you don’t have to be a member of a frequent flyer program or a ticketed premium cabin passenger to get access. All you need is $35 and a smile, although I hear the smile requirement is waived if you have exact change.
Located in the B concourse of Terminal 4, the club offers standard lounge amenities like free wifi, computer work stations with printers, snacks, and booze. There’s roughly 3,000 sq. ft. of room for upwards of 90 passengers at a time. It’s not enormous, but it’ll do the job if you don’t want to sit at the gate with the horde of elderly that flock to and from Phoenix in the wintertime.
The club also serves as the British Airways First Class lounge and between 3:30pm-7:30pm they offer exclusive items to those BA flyers. In addition, while it’s not a member-based lounge, you can use your Priority Pass, Priority Pass Select and Lounge Club memberships at The Club.
Here’s what you can expect in terms of food and drink at The Club at PHX:
Quick note: the bonus items listed at the lower left hand corner are the special British Airways perks available only during 3:30 pm – 7:30pm.
ALD’s five other lounges include: The Club at DFW, located in Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport; The Club at LAS in Terminals 1 and 3 in Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport, The Club at SJC, located in Mineta San José International Airport and The Club at ATL, located in the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
This is good news since AMEX a Platinum holders lost a lot of US Airways lounges at PHX. Priority Pass and Lounge Club is a good alternative for most people. All Chase Ink Bold/Plus credit card holders get 2 free visits to Lounge Club properties every card member year.
Last year I visited the Club at ATL (also operated by ALD) on a weekly basis, and I found it to be a step above most other U.S. domestic lounges. They did offer soup, sandwiches, and crudité every day to ALL lounge guests, so I am disappointed to see that ALD is limiting the substantial food in their PHX lounge to just BA first class flyers. The food seems to be a little more limited in variety compared to other ALD lounges too.
I’m hoping they open up the BA guest offerings to all visitors to the lounge. I understand the desire to provide higher-value services to the flyers who’ve paid considerably more for their tickets, but like you I think if there’s one set price to enter to enter the lounge, everything should be available to everyone.