That 3-hour layover in Denver turned into a 9-hour nightmare because I skipped the free airport lounge pass

I was flying home from a conference in Phoenix and had a quick stop in Denver. I figured I'd just grab a $14 sandwich and sit at the gate like I always do. But a massive storm rolled in, canceled four flights, and suddenly I was stuck on a hard floor with no outlets. It took me a full 6 hours before I remembered I could have used a Priority Pass from my credit card to get into the lounge with free food and a couch. Has anyone else kicked themselves for not checking their card perks before a trip?

2 comments

2 Comments

richard_sanchez431mo ago

I've done almost the exact same thing with my Priority Pass from Chase. I forgot I had it for almost a year, then got stuck in O'Hare for 5 hours and sat on a cold floor by a vending machine the whole time. Now I keep a screenshot of my card benefits on my phone so I can check it when the flight gets delayed. It's definitely worth pulling up your card's app while you're still at the gate, even if you think you won't need it.

nancy8241mo ago

@richard_sanchez43 I mean yeah it sucks but 9 hours on a floor isn't the end of the world. People act like not having a lounge pass is a tragedy when really it's just sitting around bored. I've had plenty of long layovers without any perks and survived just fine. A little discomfort won't kill you and honestly the free snacks in those lounges aren't even that good half the time.