Photo courtesy of Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky International Airport
On Monday, Airport Lounge Development Inc. (ALD) opened its seventh independent shared-used lounge, this one at the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport.
The significance?
It continues a growing trend in which airports across the country are recognizing yet another potential revenue stream, that of the occasional traveler who will gladly part with $35 or $40 to use the comforts of a lounge - snacks, drinks, Wi-Fi, etc. - as opposed to being stuck in the gate area.
"Airports are now more than ever realizing the benefits and improvement to their bottom line and the customer experience," said Nancy Knipp, senior vice president at ALD.
In Cincinnati, the new lounge - dubbed The Club at CVG - features a variety of settings, including social spaces for dining or cocktails and quiet areas to relax or conduct business. For $35, lounge customers have access to a variety of amenities including free snacks and beverages, complimentary high speed Wi-Fi, bar service and work stations with PC's and printers.
Cincinnati is home to nine Fortune 500 companies so it made sense for ADL to expand there.
"Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is an ideal location for our newest club," Knipp said.
Candace McGraw, chief executive officer at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport said she is "confident the shared-use lounge will further distinguish us in the market, bring in revenue and most importantly, heighten the customer experience. We anticipate an increasing number of business and leisure passengers taking advantage of The Club at CVG."
The $35 fee is also a nice break. Most airlines offer their passengers a daily use pass for their lounges, but most run a little higher. American Airlines, for example, charges $50 for a one-time use of its Admirals Clubs.
Ironically, Thursday was the 75th anniversary of the first airport lounge, which was instituted by American. Originally called the "Flagship Club," the lounge was for VIPs and celebrities - remember, this way WAY before the advent of frequent fliers - and was invitation only. It opened at New York Municipal-LaGuardia Airport, now simply known as LaGuardia Airport.
In addition to companies like ADL opening up independent lounges, there are also companies like Priority Pass, which for an annual membership offers travelers access to more than 700 lounges worldwide.
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