Priority Pass has continued to enhance the value for U.S.-based travelers (and people traveling to the U.S.) by adding privileges such as providing credits to use at airport restaurants.
Bobby Van’s is a popular steakhouse in Manhattan, with additional locations in Washington, D.C. as well as New York JFK airport, located in Terminal 8. The vast majority of departures from Terminal 8 is on American Airlines, but Finnair, Cathay Pacific, LATAM, Royal Jordanian, and Qatar Airways also use this terminal.
While I haven’t personally eaten there, the menu for Bobby’s looks pretty extensive and delicious, for breakfast and evening meals. It also comes with a full bar.
Per Priority Pass‘ website, the lounge is open from 6 AM to 10 PM daily. Cardholders are entitled to register only one additional guest, along with a boarding pass showing same-day confirmed travel. Priority pass members are entitled to $28 worth of food and drinks per person. So, if you’re a couple and each of you has a priority pass membership, you could bring one additional guest each and be entitled to $112.00 worth of food and beverages. This does not, however, include gratuity, and of course, it is always important to tip on the original amount of your meal.
This will effectively give Priority Pass members the ability to access four lounges when traveling through JFK but will be the first option in Terminal 8 (unless they have access to another lounge, such as the American Airlines Admiral’s Club or American Airlines Flagship Lounge). Other priority pass holders can access the Korean Air Lounge in Terminal 1, the Air France Lounge in Terminal 1, or the Wingtips lounge in Terminal 4. And, if these customers are traveling on Delta the same day, to the Delta SkyClubs in Terminals 2 and 4.
This is a smart, cost-efficient way of enabling members to be able to get airport perks if their customers are flying out of a terminal space or concourse that does not have a physical lounge. Rather than invest the capital to construct a lounge space and pay for upkeep, etc, this gives customers a “virtual” perk that is essentially plug-and-play for priority pass. Similar setups have been instituted at Portland International Airport (PDX) at the House Spirits Distillery and Capers Cafe Le Bar, Timberline Steaks & Grill at Denver International Airport (DEN), Corona Beach House in Miami International Airport (MIA), the Pasta House and Schlafly Beer at St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), and the Kentucky Ale Taproom at Lexington Airport (LEX) in Kentucky. Each of these generally offers a $28-30 stipend to use at these restaurants, similar to how Bobby Van’s functions in JFK.
And remember, priority pass membership comes with having the Chase Sapphire Reserve card or the American Express Platinum card, and this is another reason why having these cards are so worthwhile.
Have you used this priority pass perk at any of the aforementioned locations, or eaten at Bobby Van’s? What was your experience like?
