Game On The Go At These US Airport Lounges While You Wait For Your Flight
The move comes as traveler demand and expectations continue to shift as people get used to new ways of traveling.
Gimme the games
Priority Pass is almost synonymous with airport lounges at this point. The company has over 1,600 lounges in its network, including branded airline lounges from carriers such as Air France, avianca, LATAM, and Virgin Atlantic, which offer up lounge space to priority pass customers during times when it would otherwise be empty.
Simple Flying sat down for an exclusive chat with Jeremy Dalkoff, Vice President of Partnerships for Americas at Priority Pass, to learn about the company’s recent activities and what we can expect in the future. According to Dalkoff, passengers are looking for more innovative ways to spend their time waiting at airports:
“Gaming is something that’s grown in the US, where you can sit there and you could play Nintendo or lots and lots of Xbox and all those games while you’re in an airport. You can grab a drink, sit there, put on a headset, and you’re attached to the computer games.”
As customers ramp up traveling and continue to expect a premium experience, Priority Pass is expanding the type of spaces and experiences it offers customers, including spas, dining establishments, sleep pods, and more. One of the most unique areas the company is expanding is with games.
Where are the gaming airport lounges?
Priority Pass is partnering with Gameway to offer access to the gaming lounges. There are now six locations across the US where travelers can play the Microsoft Xbox Series X, PlayStation, and PCs, complete with the newest games, Razer Iskur Gaming Chairs, and Kraken Headsets. Priority Pass members also receive a complimentary soft drink and one free snack.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport
Located in Concourse E, near Gate 36, the Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) lounge features 15 individual gaming console stations equipped with a 43″ 4K TV, premium gaming headphones, charging ports for electronic devices, and ample space for luggage. There are also six high-performance gaming PC stations.
The lounge is open from 07:00 – 20:00 daily.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
The first Gameway lounge opened at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in 2018 in a converted space that formerly housed a seating area. The lounge closed earlier this year for an overhaul and reopened in July to great fanfare.
There are two locations. The Terminal B location is airside, near the Skylink and Gate 42, and is open from 06:00 to 20:00 daily. There is another lounge in Terminal E after Security, near Gate E16.
Houston Hobby Airport
The lounge at Houston Hobby Airport (HOU) is conveniently located after the TSA Security Checkpoint near Gate 1. The space is open from 06:00 – 21:00 daily and features 15 gaming stations. Commenting on the lounge, Francisco Cuellar, Chief Development Officer for Houston Airports, noted how it improves the overall airport experience:
“With Gameway, Hobby Airport now offers a unique entertainment and retail experience to our visitors and the avid gaming community.
“As the first and only 5-star rated airport in North America, Hobby continues to elevate the passenger experience with quality and diverse retail offerings for all of our passengers.”
Los Angeles International Airport
California’s Los Angeles International Airport(LAX) is home to two Gameway lounges. The first Flagship Gameway Ultra location opened at the newly completed Delta Sky Way at LAX Terminal 3. The space features a redesigned, immersive look and expands with a new RetroZone bar, offering a selection of craft beer while visitors enjoy classic video games.
Access by some American Express and Capital One cards may not be available at this Gameway location.
This lounge is located near Gate 30B and is accessible post-security to Terminals 2 and 3 between 06:00 and 21:00 daily.
The second LAX location is in Terminal 6, opposite Gate 65A. The area is also accessible from Terminals 7 & 8 via a connecting walkway located near the TSA Checkpoint. Co-founder Jordan Walbridge highlighted just how exciting the spaces are:
“Gameway is the real reason to get to the airport early,
”Our mission is to upgrade the typical wait-at-the-gate experience with a new stimulating, entertaining option for travelers of all ages.”
Additional Gameway lounges are underway at New York JFK, Chicago Midway (MDW), and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). According to the Metropolitan Airports Commission, Gameway wants to build a new concept called The Portal at MSP. The proposed 3,000-square-foot space will feature the gaming experience alongside a lounge area with a limited bar, small hot/cold plates of food and snacks, and private business pods for passengers to take meetings or make calls.
Gameway may have been the first (and the first airport gaming company owned by a woman) in the space, but there is additional competition overseas. The Priority Pass program also provides passengers departing on international flights access to the Game Space gaming lounge near Gate B25 at Dubai International Airport (DBX).