The secretive, exclusive history of the airport lounge

Airport lounges are becoming the go-to place to hang out in while waiting to board a flight. A report out last year from Airport Dimensions found that about half of travelers have used a lounge at some point, and that a third pre-paid to make sure they have access when the day of departure arrives.

Yet, historically, airport lounges were much more exclusive, according to historian Kevin James at the University of Guelph. The first lounges, which opened in the late 1930s and early 1940s, weren’t something you could necessarily buy entry into.

“If you wanted to get into a lounge like [Pan American’s] Clipper Club, you had to know people, or be known by people,” said James. “There was a highly secretive selection process by which people were nominated. Their details were provided on a piece of paper that was then sent to a senior executive within Pan Am who would decide whether they were deemed worthy or not.”

James recounted the story of the airport lounge over the last century. To listen, use the media player above.