Crowded Airport Lounges Are Rolling Out Grab-and-Go Options

Airport lounges, once the province of the elite, have become victims of their own success.At peak times, fliers with access fidget anxiously in line at the frosted glass doors for the chance to elbow their way to the buffet, score a free cocktail and, hopefully, grab a cushy chair where they can enjoy it all.Responding to the overwhelming demand, major lounge operators like United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and American Express have clamped down on access.They have begun offering fewer and more expensive guest passes and imposing time limits on when customers can enter and how long they can stay.Still, lounges are bursting at the seams.Now, airlines and credit card companies are taking a different approach: the premium pit stop, essentially small airport outposts that offer prepackaged grab-and-go food and drinks.

These spaces usually invite passengers to grab a quick bite for the flight, but not to settle in for a hot meal and pull out their laptop for a work session.Some lack restrooms and dedicated Wi-Fi, and good luck finding an electrical outlet.The first of these grab-and-go lounges, which have opened in major hubs that are already home to some of the busiest lounges, let passengers take food outside (typically a no-no).

It turns out that more than half of lounge and club visitors wanted to take food or drinks to go, United found when it surveyed members of its loyalty program.Zach Griff, the author of the travel newsletter From the Tray Table, applauds the new idea.“It’s great to have some takeaway options that don’t require waiting in line or spending lots of money at subpar airport concessions,” Mr.

Griff said.He expects more of these quick-stop lounges to pop up in the coming years, especially in airports where many passengers are just connecting.Here are some of the new grab-and-go locations.Charlotte, n.c.Provisions by Admirals Club...