Priority Pass to Increase One-Time Visit Fee from American Express

Effective October 1, 2018, Priority Pass is increasing its one-time lounge visit fee of $27 to $32 for American Express credit card holders. Priority Pass explains that it has been over 10 years since there has been an increase. As far as increase in fees are concerned, this is a fair one in my opinion. It does not devalue the program is a very negative way and it maintains most of its value.

Here are my two ways of looking at the fee:

• It is like increasing 50 cents per year over the past 10 years ($32 – $27 = $5; $5 / 10 = $0.50).
• Alternatively, it averages out to a 1.85% increase over the span of 10 years ($5 / $27 = 18.5%; $18.5% / 10 = 1.85%), which is just under inflation.

Thoughts

All this considered, if this is the fee that they are choosing to increase, I am good with it. It does not impact the membership fee and credit card benefits should remain in tact. This cost is passed down to the users.

From the perspective of those who have been paying the $27. Look at it this way, instead of increasing it incrementally, they slap it on once after 10 years, so they have been benefiting from a frozen rate for 10 years.

American Express Cards with Priority Pass

In the meantime. Below are the co-branded Canadian American Express cards that offer Priority Pass lounge access. Just a reminder that the $27 fee will be increasing to $32 on October 1, 2018.