In the premium credit card space, airport lounge access has increasingly become an important competitive point. Most people are probably familiar with Amex Centurion Lounges, Capital One Lounges, Chase Sapphire Lounges, etc.
Well, here’s a new entrant to the market (though outside the United States), and there’s potentially quite a bit to like here (thanks to Doctor Of Credit for flagging this)…
Mastercard opens airport lounges with a la carte dining
Mastercard has recently launched Taste by Priceless (or “Taste of Priceless”, as the branding is inconsistent), described as a premium airport dining experience, which is open to select cardmembers. This network currently has two locations:
These Taste by Priceless lounges offer a la carte dining and “chef curated tasting menus featuring locally inspired cuisine,” along with “signature Priceless deserts & beverages.” Then there’s plenty of seating for dining, working, and relaxing, power outlets, and free and unlimited high speed Wi-Fi.
Who gets access to Mastercard’s new airport lounges?
These lounge facilities are specifically open to those who have a World Legend and World Legend Exclusive Mastercard, along with up to three companions, with an unlimited number of visits being allowed, within three hours of departure. Other Mastercard cardmembers (aside from the above) can purchase access to these facilities for $70-100 per person, which is obviously steep.
In terms of proving your eligibility for access, you can either present your physical credit card, or your Priority Pass member that’s linked to an eligible Mastercard product.
So, which cards in the United States offer access to these lounges? Probably the three most common are the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® (review), Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (review), and Bilt Palladium Card (review).
It’s funny how the Citi AAdvantage Globe Card doesn’t otherwise have a lounge benefit, aside from four Admirals Club passes per year, but it does qualify for access to these lounges. So that’s a pretty cool perk, if you ask me.
Bottom line
Mastercard has recently started opening its own branded airport lounge network, with two locations now in Hong Kong and Sao Paulo, and the next planned for Mexico City. These lounges offer a la carte dining, and are open to those with a World Legend or World Legend Exclusive Mastercard, along with three guests.
These facilities truly look great, and it’s particularly cool how some World Legend products don’t otherwise include comprehensive lounge access, but do get you into these facilities.
What do you make of these new Mastercard lounges?