Historic 95-Year-Old Chicago Airport to Open Its First Lounge

1. Overview of The Club MDW

Travelers at Chicago’s Midway International Airport soon have more enjoyable departures and layovers.

2. The First Airline Lounge at Midway

The popular Midwest airport will soon be home to The Club MDW—the airport’s first airline lounge in its 95-year history according to a statement from the airport. The Club MDW will be a brand-new lounge that includes:

  • Comfortable seating
  • Food and beverage options
  • Workstations

The 3,300 square foot lounge will be located adjacent to Terminals A and B and will be open to all travelers through the purchase of a day pass or complimentary access for travelers who are members of the Priority Pass network of airline lounges.

3. Excitement and Anticipation

“Each year, more than 22.7 million people travel through Midway, and we’re excited to be able to offer each of them this new service worthy of our world-class city,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson stated, celebrating the upcoming lounge.

4. Timeline for Construction

The lounge is set to begin construction next spring, with a target opening in fall 2024. The design will draw inspiration from Chicago’s unique architecture, featuring monochrome colors for an elegant look.

5. Increased Passenger Traffic

Travelers may welcome the expanded space, as Midway has been outpacing pre-pandemic passenger traffic, currently achieving a 106 percent load factor for the year. Midway is a hub for Southwest Airlines and Frontier Airlines, accommodating over 19 million passengers in 2022. The airport claims to be the “world’s busiest square mile for incoming and departing flights” due to the frequency of planes. Midway Airport currently features a variety of dining and shopping options, including:

  • Dunkin’
  • Farmer’s Fridge
  • Woodgrain Neapolitan Pizza
  • And more.

6. Priority Pass Lounge Network

Many credit cards offer access to the Priority Pass lounge network, which includes access to 1,400 airport experiences across 600 cities. Priority Pass, which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, also offers memberships available for travelers who do not have access via credit card. The branding of The Club is also featured in other airport lounges, including those in Las Vegas, Cleveland, and Atlanta.

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