[EvanKelly]

I've occasionally gotten to a lounge access tier, but I've never used it. What's the benefit? I typically don't want to get to the airport earlier than I have to, and once you're at that level, security and boarding are a breeze.

I don't fly internationally much, so most of my flights are direct. Is it mostly for layovers?

[crdb]

The biggest benefit for me internationally (flying long haul once or twice a month from SIN) is absolutely being able to take a shower between two long-haul flights and, if the lounge is not airside, shave (e.g. The Haven by JetQuay at SIN).

Peace and quiet is a second benefit. If you're waiting a couple of hours whilst sleep deprived (often the case for business travel or when booking budget flights that leave at 1:30am), those loud, constant announcements are very annoying. Bonus points if the airport has terrible seating and the lounge has comfortable sofas. If you need to work for a bit, it's a great place to do so, especially in airports that don't have free WiFi (increasingly rare these days).

The food is rarely good in Asia (at least at those lounges I have access to). Reheated noodles and some meat if you're lucky and flying at the right time. It's convenient, at most, saving you the trouble.

It really varies by city. HNL and NRT have terrible lounges for PP card holders - basically a room where you can sit for a while, sometimes with a free beer (but there is a great sushi-ya just opposite the NRT lounge). GVA has my favorite ones - nice view on mountains, usually empty (except if Aeroflot is flying soon...) and a decent breakfast with muesli and fresh bread and pastries. SIN lounges often have free massage chairs. Which are available for free in T3 as well, but it saves having to take the monorail there.

On timing, if you are flying long haul you can face serious delays (like a huge queue at check-in and security) and need to pad it by a couple hours. Most of the time, you don't face these delays and have a spare hour to kill, and in most airports the lounge is a better place to do so. Sort of applies to short haul too; I once missed LHR-GVA check-in on BA by a single minute and they were very annoying about it despite the empty airport (had to book another flight).

[steven2012]

The food in the Singapore airlines lounges in Hong Kong and Singapore are great.

[b1twise]

I used to skip the lounge access also, but its a nice perk. It has decent internet, some snacks until I eat on the plane, and foremost comfortable seating. I don't like a lot of noise around me as well, so its a break from the rest of the airport bustle. I fly business when available because many of my flights are 13hrs-ish. I'm oversized, so I literally have to fold myself up to fit within my space in coach. That's fine for 2hrs, but not more. I can't sleep sitting up. That's a long 13hrs staring at the seatback display of the plane going around the world.

I scored a mid-level membership once. I didn't go out of my way to do it. Nothing super good about it.

Oh, your luggage gets a priority tag and comes out first. In certain airports that can save an hour of your life.

But mostly its about accumulating miles on trips I'd be taking anyway. Essentially free upgrades, or entirely free flights. Just for joining their silly program. Why not?

I do the same with hotels.

[monknomo]

It's nice for layovers and delays. It's also nice if you've just gotten off the plane and it's a long enough flight that you want to freshen up in a nicer, less crowded bathroom and then have a complimentary soda and cheese plate. That's how I've used it when I've had it.

[eitally]

It's terrific for layovers, and a lot of times you can find a shower if you want one. Having decently comfortable chairs, a more private and cleaner restroom, free snacks (sometimes real food, like in the Amex Centurion Lounges), good wifi and power outlets everywhere, and in some cases even business services (printer, phone rooms, etc).

[yompers888]

Last time I flew, I was flying out late-ish from SF. Knowing the Amex lounge was near my gate, I was able to go surfing for a while rather than worrying about eating before my flight. I got there and was able to relax in decent chairs and tolerable wifi with some free drinks and dinner. Then on the way back, I took my 80 minute layover in Dallas as an opportunity to get a decent breakfast and have a nice place to sit, since my first flight that morning started at 5:30 AM eastern. Each time, the lounge just felt like an escape from the many filters and crowds of airports. I certainly wouldn't pay for access, but I appreciate the improvement in experience it affords me.