Crowded airport lounges force airlines to rethink future of travel perks for fliers

Airport lounges may have finally hit their breaking point.

After years of offering credit card perks, day passes and premium travel upgrades, airlines are now leaning into a new solution: grab-and-go lounge concepts.

The idea is simple. Travelers can still pick up complimentary food and drinks - but without camping out in a lounge or having to hunt for a seat.

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The shift makes sense for passengers and airlines alike, travel expert and influencer Jordi Lippe-McGraw of New York City told Fox News Digital. 

"If I'm traveling with a kid and get to the airport early, the sit-down lounge is absolutely worth it," she said.

"But if I'm running late or have a tight connection, the grab-and-go is a no-brainer," said Lippe-McGraw. 

"You still get the perk of free food and drinks without needing to find a seat or stay a while."

Airlines appear to be betting on that.

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On its website, United Airlines said its Houston location includes fresh-squeezed orange juice, warmed pastries, wraps, salads, sandwiches, barista-made coffee drinks and a self-service beverage counter.

American Airlines is also getting in on the trend.

The airline opened Provisions by Admirals Club at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2025, calling it "a first-of-its-kind" lounge concept for the company, according to a press release.

"We're constantly ​listening to our customers and evolving ​our lounge strategy accordingly. Introducing the ​first-of-its ​kind grab-and-go concept last ​year was an important part ​of ​that ​strategy," Rhonda Crawford, senior vice president of customer experience design and strategy at American Airlines, told Fox News Digital.

It offers quick food and beverage options, plus personalized customer support, with a "streamlined" layout built for quick visits and high-volume traffic, the airline said. 

Access follows the same policies as traditional Admirals Club locations. 

Customers can also purchase a one-day pass for $79 or 7,900 AAdvantage miles.

As part of a broader pilot aimed at giving rushed travelers a faster option, Delta Air Lines opened quick serve areas at Sky Clubs in Atlanta and New York, The Points Guy reported.  

Delta's current Sky Club rules reference a Grab and Go feature, saying existing Sky Club access policies and eligibility rules apply to all Grab and Go entries.

"Grab‑and‑go was introduced as a way to help balance lounge popularity with the relaxing, elevated experience our lounges are designed to provide. For customers who are short on time or simply prefer a quick option, grab‑and‑go offers convenience without adding to volume inside the Club," the airline told Fox News Digital.

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Delta's setup is inside Sky Club lobbies, rather than in a separately branded mini-lounge.

"Our network now includes 59 lounges, including 4 Delta One Lounges, which is the largest lounge network of any U.S. airline," the airline said.

Lippe-McGraw, who travels about once a month, said lounges are useful but not essential.

When time is tight, she said, the grab-and-go model offers the best part of the lounge perk - complimentary food and drinks.

Grab-and-go lounges are also far less expensive to maintain.

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"The overcrowding got bad enough that lounges stopped feeling premium - which forced airlines to act," Lippe-McGraw said.

"But the grab-and-go model is also cheaper to operate. [There is] less staffing, no hot kitchens, smaller footprint. … So airlines get to frame it as a customer service improvement while quietly cutting costs. Smart move."

The move could also help airlines protect their most exclusive spaces.

"Offloading everyday crowds to grab-and-go spots frees flagship lounges to be genuinely special again," she added.

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Reddit users online recently debated the grab-and-go concept. 

"So long as they're not trying to largely replace the traditional lounges with this, I think it's ultimately a welcome addition for those shorter connections when you maybe just want to grab a coffee and a bite to eat for the next leg," one user said. 

"I used this when I had a very tight connection. I grabbed some food to go for the next flight. It worked well," another said.

A third Reddit user wasn't so sure - joking that the concept was "sponsored by 7-11."

Fox News Digital reached out to United Airlines for comment.