Although I have had a premium membership for 2 years now, I have never used the airport lounge pass. From my research they are limited and I never found them to be in the major cities I have been traveling in between. My question is, has anyone had an experience with them enforcing the 2 hour limit? Is so, how did they enforce this limitation.
As we approach the close of 2024, I wish everyone safe and joyful sits and travels!
Depends on the lounge, most are 3 hours. Never had them enforce it but at the same time we have a flight to catch so we aren’t really hanging around too long. You know you could just gift them to friends/ family rather than have them go to waste?
Enforcing the time limit can be that you are not allowed entrance in the lounge before the time when it is three hours to your flight. This has been enforced. But if you are checking in at that airport, often the check-in counters do not open until 3 hours before anyway. Then it would be an issue only if you come in by another flight and have waiting time until the outbound flight.
When you are admitted in the lounge and your flight is for instance delayed I would presume one is less likely to be asked to go, but they do have the authority to do so, and I would think the staff often «know their customers» so to speak.
Hey @Enjaybee! Thanks for sharing your experience. We definitely don’t intend to spend a long length of time in the airport, and sometimes it works out that way. I had no idea you could gift these, so thanks for that!
Thanks for replying @Garfield.
I am curious if others have been denied access prior to the 3 hours.
We recently used the passes in Morocco (Marrakech) we arrived quite early and they had no issue letting us in. I got the impression we could have moved in permanently and they wouldn’t care🤣. Your mileage could vary.
I don’t use the TH benefit (don’t pay for premium) but I have access to Priority Pass, Sky Team (intl travel only), Delta, AMEX, and Chase Sapphire (haven’t used any yet as they are just being opened). I’ve found the access timing limits really depend on how crowded the lounge is. The time limits are a relatively recent change (last 2 years or so as the lounges have gotten more crowded).
I’ve only been denied or time deferred twice, in DEN just after Delta imposed the limit and in AMS when I tried to use PP and KLM/Skyteam lounges as arrival lounges since I arrived very early and my airBNB wouldn’t be available until afternoon. Since then I’ve not had any problems.
If you are really early and in the US there is an iffy work-around. Just buy a fully refundable ticket timed to get you in and then cancel it once you are in the lounge.
Thanks for sharing your experience @Oztravels!
The business factor totally makes sense. Thanks @toml! And that’s quite a hack you found.
I’ve used paid airport lounges all over Europe a lot over recent years. I agree with @toml in that they are more likely and will limit time at busy times or deny you access as many lounges are used by airlines for business passengers. The paid lounges will prioritize these over those just wanting to pay to use the lounge or use a lounge access scheme.
I have experienced REALLY crowded - as in people not finding seats in the lounge and many were eating standing. No, not at a bar. It was late afternoon and heavy traffic at major airport/ hub. I would say if it was more than «hours» to your flight one might be better off not going to the lounge at that time, actually. I had secured a chair behind a lamp in a really quirky corner because I asked when a person left it. So I can understand why they would have the possibility to have a system for entrance.
Ive used 3 of these airport lounge passes. By the time you check in/check in is open, go through security and or, passport control and depending on location of the lounge, you may not even get 2 hours! Because of the aforementioned, I have only ever enjoyed a maximum of 1 hour before boarding is called! It was a massive rush! I haved used the pass in lounges in America ;Boston (excellent!), Jersey UK (rubbish)and Cyprus (excellent). Good luck! 
Yes things can get crazy. I remember last year trying to use my priority pass for access to no.1 lounge at one of Heathrow’s terminals and finding a queue 30 people deep waiting for access! I decided to try for another paid lounge which turned out to be much quieter!