{"id":127412,"date":"2024-09-25T16:00:17","date_gmt":"2024-09-25T16:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/09\/25\/first-look-inside-chicago-midways-first-ever-airport-lounge-the-club-mdw-the-points-guy\/"},"modified":"2024-09-25T16:00:17","modified_gmt":"2024-09-25T16:00:17","slug":"first-look-inside-chicago-midways-first-ever-airport-lounge-the-club-mdw-the-points-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/09\/25\/first-look-inside-chicago-midways-first-ever-airport-lounge-the-club-mdw-the-points-guy\/","title":{"rendered":"First look: Inside Chicago Midway&#8217;s first-ever airport lounge, The Club MDW &#8211; The Points Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>For the first time in its 96-year history, Chicago&#8217;s Midway International Airport (MDW) will be home to an airport lounge.<\/p>\n<p>On Wednesday, Airport Dimensions will open The Club MDW, a 3,265-square-foot lounge that&#8217;ll become the latest outpost in The Club&#8217;s growing network.<\/p>\n<p>The space will be open daily from 4 a.m. until 10 p.m., and it&#8217;ll be available to anyone flying from MDW.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-1853040249 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-36530878 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:65.234375%\"\/><noscript><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image003-scaled.jpg?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image003-scaled.jpg?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image003-scaled.jpg?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image003-scaled.jpg?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image003-scaled.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image003-scaled.jpg?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image003-scaled.jpg?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image003-scaled.jpg?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image003-scaled.jpg?width=3840\"\/><\/noscript><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-1853040249 figcaption\">THE CLUB<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Travelers who carry a <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/all-about-priority-pass-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Priority Pass<\/a> will enjoy free access to The Club MDW, and day passes will also be available to all Midway passengers with a valid departing boarding pass for $50.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The fact that this is the first shared-use lounge in Midway&#8217;s 96-year history, we needed to do something special. &#8230; So the fact that we could be the first is really special and a proud moment for us,&#8221; Chris Gwilliam, vice president of global business development for Airport Dimensions, said in an exclusive interview with TPG.<\/p>\n<p>The lounge itself is located at MDW&#8217;s Central Market, at the intersection of Concourses A and B. It was designed to draw inspiration from Chicago&#8217;s art deco and midcentury modern architecture styles, and, as such, it features eye-catching design elements. These include what look to be monochromatic tones and arched walls.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the design, the lounge also features photography by two renowned local artists, Mark Hersch and Angie McMonigal. These pictures of Chicago&#8217;s urban landscape further the local touches that The Club built into this space.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s been uniquely designed; it&#8217;s a one-of-a-kind design. You won&#8217;t see that design anywhere else,&#8221; Gwilliam said.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Travel perks: <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/news\/best-airport-lounges-in-the-us\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> 9 domestic lounges that are worth going out of your way for<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"&#10;        EmailSignUp_container__qYzYT&#10;        undefined&#10;        EmailSignUp_isLoading__i_qm0&#10;      \"><picture class=\"EmailSignUp_graphic__zgpFm\"><source media=\"screen and (max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"\/images\/EmailSignUp\/daily-mob.svg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/images\/EmailSignUp\/daily-dt.svg\"\/><\/picture>\n<div class=\"EmailSignUp_form__C8FWb\">\n<p>Daily Newsletter<\/p>\n<p>Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter<\/p>\n<p>Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG\u2019s experts<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Other highlights include various seating options, from seats designed to unwind to more productivity-inspired workstations. The Club says that 90% of seats in the new lounge are equipped with power outlets.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-1853040249 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-36530878 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:66.71875%\"\/><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><noscript><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image001-scaled.jpg?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image001-scaled.jpg?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image001-scaled.jpg?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image001-scaled.jpg?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image001-scaled.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image001-scaled.jpg?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image001-scaled.jpg?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image001-scaled.jpg?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image001-scaled.jpg?width=3840\"\/><\/noscript><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-1853040249 figcaption\">THE CLUB<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Club partnered with a few local food-and-beverage outlets for the dining options. This includes offering craft beers from Revolution Brewing and Two Brothers Brewing Company, alongside spirits from Chicago-based Koval Distillery. Meanwhile, the lounge menu reflects the city&#8217;s vibrant culinary scene on the buffet.<\/p>\n<p>The lounge&#8217;s focal point will be the bar, where travelers can enjoy complimentary signature cocktails, such as the Chicago Fizz and the Southside.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-1853040249 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-36530878 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:66.6875%\"\/><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><noscript><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/MDW-The-Club.jpg?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/MDW-The-Club.jpg?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/MDW-The-Club.jpg?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/MDW-The-Club.jpg?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/MDW-The-Club.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/MDW-The-Club.jpg?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/MDW-The-Club.jpg?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/MDW-The-Club.jpg?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/MDW-The-Club.jpg?width=3840\"\/><\/noscript><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-1853040249 figcaption\">THE CLUB<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Of course, at just about 3,300 square feet, I imagine the space will get extremely busy. There are seats for only 76 passengers, and given the popularity of the Priority Pass program, I envision that the line to enter the lounge will get quite long, especially during peak departure banks and during irregular operations.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, Midway is primarily served by Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines, and both budget carriers don&#8217;t operate any of their own lounges.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-1853040249 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-36530878 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:66.71875%\"\/><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><noscript><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image002-scaled.jpg?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image002-scaled.jpg?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image002-scaled.jpg?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image002-scaled.jpg?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image002-scaled.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image002-scaled.jpg?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image002-scaled.jpg?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image002-scaled.jpg?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/09\/image002-scaled.jpg?width=3840\"\/><\/noscript><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-1853040249 figcaption\">THE CLUB<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s fair to say we would&#8217;ve liked more space, and hopefully, in the future, who knows, we might have a chance to grow,&#8221; Gwilliam explained.<\/p>\n<p>So, while it&#8217;s undoubtedly exciting for MDW to get its first airport lounge, I wouldn&#8217;t necessarily count on being able to visit the space during your next trip unless you happen to pass by during a quiet period.<\/p>\n<p>To manage the waitlist, Airport Dimensions is investing in technology.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve introduced a system called WaitWhile, which allows people to digitally manage if there isn&#8217;t available capacity at the time. And then we can text people while they go off and enjoy the concourse,&#8221; Gwilliam said.<\/p>\n<p><b>Related reading:<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/news\/the-club-chicago-midway-airport\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For the first time in its 96-year history, Chicago&#8217;s Midway International Airport (MDW) will be home to an airport lounge. On Wednesday, Airport Dimensions will open The Club MDW, a 3,265-square-foot lounge that&#8217;ll become the latest outpost in The Club&#8217;s growing network. The space will be open daily from 4 a.m. until 10 p.m., and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":127413,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-127412","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-travel"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127412","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=127412"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127412\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/127413"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=127412"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=127412"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=127412"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}