Background

Hi everyone, I’m ZG. I recently went back to China, and while I was there, I checked out a lounge at Xi’an Xianyang Airport. I thought I’d share the experience with you all. I used a digital Priority Pass card to enter, which was very convenient—just a quick scan and I was in. Since this PP card comes with the Chase Sapphire Reserve, I could also bring in up to two additional guests each time, so of course I brought friends along. The food selection definitely wasn’t as extensive as what you’d find in lounges in Beijing, Hong Kong, Japan, or South Korea, but it was still a nice place to stop by for a drink and a short break.

If you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve, remember to register for the digital PP card. Many airports now accept it, including many airports in China. If you’re not sure whether a lounge accepts it, you can check in the PP app.

Lounge Experience

Since I was flying out of Terminal T2, I naturally went to the T2 lounge. In general, airport lounges in China are shared by several different groups—for example, domestic business/first class passengers, elite frequent flyers, premium credit card holders, and Priority Pass members can all enter. Basically, each method of entry has its own card reader, so the front desk often ends up with a whole pile of card machines and signs on the counter.

The facilities weren’t all that different from most other airport lounges. Usually, the main reason to go in is just to grab a drink and relax a bit. One nice surprise was that this lounge also had beer, which was a nice touch.

Besides soft drinks, they also had tea, which was a small distinguishing feature.

The snacks were pretty ordinary. There was a Huang Fei Hong spicy peanut snack that was actually quite good, especially with beer.

The lounge also had computers available, though they looked like they hadn’t been used in a long time. There were wheelchairs too, which was thoughtful.

Large armchairs are pretty much standard. It was around 10 p.m. at the time, and the lounge was still fairly crowded, probably because the next day was October 1.

Summary

There’s not a whole lot to summarize here. The facilities were average, but the overall experience was good. For just resting for about 1 hour, it was definitely better than staying outside in the terminal. The front desk staff were very attentive—they recorded each person’s flight information, then notified people one by one when it was close to boarding time, and also explained approximately how long it would take to get to the gate.

Finally, I have to give another shoutout to the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card. The PP benefit that comes with it is very useful. Even better, if you use its WeChat Pay setup to pay for Didi rides, Meituan, or mobile phone bills, those charges can code as travel and earn 3x UR. Paying utility bills for family in China also earns 3x. Too bad you can’t cash out by sending red envelopes.