LoungeBuddy Airport Lounges Reviews

by Pleaseupdatethisapp1985

I used to love LoungeBuddyAirportLounges, but I’ve been encountering so many issues as of late.

1. I’ve been unable to upload photos because my iPhone is set to “Live.” It’s not, but that’s what LoungeBuddyAirportLounges developer says.

2. Some of their lounge info isn’t up-to-date. For example, CX Lounge in PVG still has old pictures and reviews. That lounge has undergone a complete reno.

3. Priority Pass (PP) members really skew the ratings of a lounge. For example, the AS Lounge at PDX often limits PP members. As such, they rate it as one because they couldn’t enter. I understand their frustration, but that shouldn’t be a reflection of the lounge. Someone at LoungeBuddy should vet reviews.

4. Pictures should also be vetted. I’ve reported so many photos that are inaccurate. Some picture are also pulled from Instagram and aren’t the actual lounge. Why and how are pics pulling from IG?

5. Trip info is sometimes inaccurate. For example, if I enter a flight from HNL to PVG, LoungeBuddyAirportLounges also shows me I have lounge access at PVG. I really don’t because my final destination is PVG. If I have a connecting flight the next day (for example US to Tokyo to Hong Kong) LoungeBuddyAirportLounges doesn’t recognize it as one trip. It splits up the days instead which make the visual very clunky.

6. I understand we can’t write novels about lounge reviews, but 200 characters really isn’t enough. How about 400 characters?

by TravellerII

The best part about the previous app was the fact that you could just search an airport to see which lounges they have. Sometimes that in itself was the determining factor for where I may want to connect! Absolutely hate this new version. What a downgrade! Now I have to actually enter a specific route, and then select a specific day of that flight, and then IF (a big IF) the apps finds that route, I have to select which fight, only then am I able to see the lounges at that airport. Really annoying and very disappointed.

by Remanman

I used to really like LoungeBuddyAirportLounges. Then, as often happens, it was sold. Every change since then has made it worse and harder to use. This latest redesign takes it to a new low.

One MUST create a trip in order to see what lounges are available in a given airport. Even doing that isn’t as straightforward as it should or could be. Being able to see what lounges are available has occasionally determined which airport I fly into or out of. Now that is hugely cumbersome.

All my history, statuses, reviews and pictures are gone. Why did I bother with any of this?

The biggest insult was when I told them I was displeased. I got a quick reply from someone supposedly from “support.” Not only was he unhelpful, he basically told me to use it the way LoungeBuddy wanted it used, or not to use it at all. Better to just say nothing.

I’m not sure how these changes will make LoungeEnemy more money, but that is the only reason I can think of for what has been done to this formerly good, useful app.

I took their survey as requested/suggested below. I know they must consider every user, not just me. But no harm is done by bringing back a feature that I and others deem important. Other users lose nothing this way.

by ChocoaBuddha

If you already get free lounge access (or have an American Express credit card), and you fly out of small airports, then LoungeBuddyAirportLounges is for you. Otherwise you’re SOL. Major airports like SFO, ORD, LAX, LGA (I could go on) are all “coming soon.” This is a HUGE drawback because most people on earth pass through major airports during travel. The uselessness of LoungeBuddyAirportLounges makes it virtually impossible to even recommend it to friends who already have airport lounge access, let alone the general traveler.

I do not have an American Express card (LoungeBuddyAirportLounges was acquired by AE), but even if I did, it would cost me $44 for lounge access at my local airport. Where are the discounts they advertised?

LoungeBuddyAirportLounges is a hard nope for me.

by Mikester411

Have had LoungeBuddyAirportLounges for years and loved using it to discover and research lounges ahead of trips. For awhile it could even import trips automatically. With recent updates there is no way to just pick an airport and search lounges; and of course no current auto import option. To view ANY lounges anywhere, you have to manually create a trip to see anything. This is a total waste and not going to do this. So looks like LoungeBuddyAirportLounges is going to get deleted soon. Have no idea what possessed them to do this but obviously they don’t understand how many people use LoungeBuddyAirportLounges!

by J82215

Not sure exactly when the update went into effect. However, now you must enter a trip in order to see lounges. No other way to see lounges. It’s cumbersome and when I tried to enter flight details it said no flights available. Couldn’t see lounges. This used to be a great app where I could go checkout what was available in each airport easily. See pictures and read reviews, etc. Just by simply searching for an airport then able to see lounge options. Don’t like being forced to enter a trip just so LoungeBuddyAirportLounges can gain that data. Deleting LoungeBuddyAirportLounges .

by Frenchkittiesofdoom

LoungeBuddyAirportLounges used to be great and my go-to. While it certainly provides some benefit, it's become way too buggy for me to recommend. For example, let's say I have a trip coming up with a layover. You can’t actually do that in LoungeBuddy because LoungeBuddy has had a bug for awhile now where you have to create a new trip for each segment of your journey. Similar bugs happen when trying to add access methods; LoungeBuddyAirportLounges just refuses to let you add them or just never updates your profile.

by Iamramsey

LoungeBuddyAirportLounges seems to reject Apple’s privaterelay email addresses created with Sign In with Apple. It lets you sign in, but every time you edit your profile, there is an error on the email field stating “please enter a valid email.”

Friend, the privaterelay email address is a valid email… and even when I copy it in and save, the message is still there next time.

I think it may be against Apple’s Sign In with Apple TOS to reject privaterelay emails and try and trick users into entering their real email address… I wish LoungeBuddyAirportLounges didn’t do this.

by Apps Hippo

I could never understand how LoungeBuddyAirportLounges gets such positive reviews. Yes, the service is a great one, but LoungeBuddyAirportLounges doesn’t function properly. For some reason, the interface just doesn’t feel smooth and refined. It doesn’t seem aware of which terminal you’re going in and out of even when you have it the full trip details. Filtering to the proper terminal should be automatic. Tripit sync barely ever works, and you have to “force sync” all the time. It also won’t re-add a deleted trip. I finally left this review because ever since the recent update, I can’t even see the Trips view—LoungeBuddyAirportLounges crashes when I try to swipe or click to it.

by Mdmitche

TripIt does not sync which requires that all flight information be entered manually. There was no messaging about them disabling the ability to sync with TripIt from the developer. When it did work it was never automatic but a forced sync. And after plugging in your airline info, paid lounge membership(s) and status LoungeBuddyAirportLounges pulls up every lounge at an airport. More often than not the lounges that you get are every lounge but those that apply to your profile, which I guess would be fine if they were at the end of the list of lounges provided by LoungeBuddyAirportLounges .

by BTec13

I really would have appreciated a heads up on construction of the lounge. It’s always a fun time walking through a Chinese airport for 20minutes only to find the lounge is under construction, not in service and that there is a temporary site 1/2 mile away. It’s even better to find out that the VIP, business mall is at some tug and run spa. I arrived at the airport 3 hours early to work, not get worked. I really wish I was able to upload pictures because this only a photo can really emphasize how ridiculous this is. I expect this from Chinese organizations, but not with a US based company teamed up with AMEX.

by SkiRun03

This would be much more useful and accurate as to which lounges you can access if the following were added: reflect lounges that allow access with ticket on partner airline; better reflect access based on ticket class; build a personal profile that indicates existing access via credit cards or other membership such as Priority Pass. As it is, I’m deleting LoungeBuddyAirportLounges b/c it’s no more useful than just searching the Internet walking up to a Lounge to see if I have access (since I do have access abc therefore will never purchase a pass via LoungeBuddyAirportLounges).

by Jamall02864

Update: problem seems to be fixed now ... you no longer need to make a trip to see if you have access. Still 3 star review for a probably better app because they put us thru this.

Never written a review for an app before but this update has ruined LoungeBuddyAirportLounges completely. Having to create a trip to figure out what lounges I have access to is ridiculous. Old version was great and very helpful but now I won’t use it again.

Real shame..

by TuringKai

A refreshed UI would help a little, so that I can only see the types of lounges to which I know I have access. For example, I know my Amex platinum lets me into delta lounges. Just let me say I have the card and flag them all as accessible without me needing to tie in my itinerary. I fly to much to do all of that, and would simply like to know: is there an escape lounge or a delta lounge at this airport? I don’t want to sift through many pages of unrelated junk.

by Beam.me.up.Scotty

Without LoungeBuddyAirportLounges I would have missed several great opportunities!
One example: using LoungeBuddyAirportLounges, I realized my best lounge in the Frankfurt Airport was actually *outside* security! If I hadn't had LoungeBuddy I would have started my search planeside and realized too late that I had made the wrong move.
I now use LoungeBuddyAirportLounges before I even book my flight because the reviews are so reliable.
Bravo guys! Keep up the good work!
Hoping you'll read this: there's a whole new class of lounge out the now, United Polaris in Chicago, Amex Centurion in Las Vegas (and elsewhere) that are truly a cut above. To the point that it's worth a longer layover to spend time in one! I think these lounges deserve their own category, maybe 'Ultra Lounges'?

by Flippitti

We are frequent travelers and LoungeBuddyAirportLounges is so useful for finding the closest lounge. I use it all the time. I like that it filters the lounges so I only see the ones I’m eligible for based on my ticket status. I also like that I’m also able to post reviews and pics of a lounge while I’m there. I haven’t yet bought access to a lounge thru LoungeBuddyAirportLounges . Hopefully if I ever need to, it’s a simple process. Very useful app.

by HEConsultant-Schladow

We came to Lounge Buddy via Kara & Nate on Yiutube and t was exactly what I was looking for. An App that tells me every class b, terminal location and from my input of memberships let’s me know immediately if I have access. The lounge review can also be helpful and tends to be accurate although we all look for different features in a lounge. It does the job!

by Gtsh0pp3r

Love using this when traveling for work and pleasure. Right off the bat it provides you a list of all lounges you have access to based on your credit cards and airline status. You can put in your trip info and it tells you the same.

My only gripes are the reviews are not posted immediately, you can’t edit a review you previously posted, and reviews are limited to 200 characters. Still awesome though.

by Yiyanartacademy

I have various travel credit cards and this is a one stop shop to help me figure out what I already have access to, complete with location description and lounge information. Easy to use when navigating confusing airports and convoluted lounge rules, and way more accurate and updates information than even the official lounge websites. It's basically Yelp for lounges except it also lets you purchase access to lounges that you normally wouldn't have access to. Really great app.

by Frenzied Traveler

I have access to numerous lounges thru elite status and credit cards, but LoungeBuddyAirportLounges really helps find the right one. I was surprised to find a much-needed arrivals lounge at LHR that works with a Finnair flight, since I knew that unlike for departures, OneWorld status doesn’t work for the AA or BA lounges but Plaza Premium accepts Amex Platinum). And the ability to pick among several options based on ratings/reviews is very helpful. Only complaint is that if you arrive and depart from the same airport on the same trip, you can only have one lounge, even though in most cases the arrivals lounges are landslide and the departure ones airside, so rarely if ever the same.

by GLVJR

I log in, contexts with Tripit to show my flights, but it shows Economy class. I adjust LB to business class. And save it. Come back later and everything is back to Economy class again. I don’t get that. I know, with Business class I’ve already got access to lounges, but I still want to look, compare, and choose myself.

by FamilyO'gamers

Lounges are not always well marked or easy to find pre and post security. Which ones are good is also only after you go in.

I find the ratings accurate and navigation more helpful than many of the maps the airports themselves provide.

I travel 150,000 miles a year and I use this on almost every overseas trip. It’s an essential companion to staying productive while traveling.