As a traveling nurse practitioner, one major perk of traveling is using airport lounges. I am able to get access to airport lounges for free through travel credit cards such as the American Express Platinum card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card (these are just a few examples). When flying internationally on business class, you are able to use the airport lounge relative to the airline you are flying without having access through a credit card.
The benefit of lounges is they provide a quiet space away from the main boarding area. They have free food and drinks, which allows you to avoid spending on ridiculous airport food prices. This includes coffee and alcohol. I like to fill up my reusable water bottle here and use their bathrooms, which tend to be clean and more private than the public airport ones.
The seats are more comfortable – often couches or even areas to take naps. Some lounges offer free massages or child play areas. Some credit cards allow you to bring guests with you to the lounge for free, which is nice when traveling with others.
As a frequent traveler, I really appreciate lounge access. I can get away from the crowd and find a quick bite. On long layovers, I can relax and watch a show on my ipad. My favorite lounge is definitely the Emirates one in Dubai. It is the largest lounge I have ever seen (multiple rooms/wings) and has the most variety of food. They also have showers and rooms to take naps.
I recently traveled through Phoenix, Arizona and stopped at the Chase Sapphire lounge. I had the best tacos and was able to relax after my flight was delayed. As a locum tenens provider, I highly recommend having at least one credit card that provides lounge access! Let me know if you need help selecting the right card.
