George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is known for many things, but home to a variety of Priority Pass-eligible lounges that you might actually want to visit wasn’t usually one of them. In that respect, however, things have gone slightly better, because the renovation of the KLM Crown Lounge in the international D Terminal has now been completed.
This is actually the only KLM lounge in Amsterdam in the US. This has been updated for a more consistent and cohesive look with the airline’s lounges at its home airport Amsterdam Schiphol.
Related: Best credit cards for airport lounge access
“Houston is one of our top markets in the US, and this upgraded lounge is a wonderful new offering and reaffirms our commitment to providing travelers with the utmost comfort and convenience. We look forward to welcoming our valued passengers soon and creating an experience that will make their time at the airport as memorable as the destination itself,” said Eric Caron, General Manager North America at Air France KLM.
With the renovation complete, there are now 100 seats in the 3,962-square-foot lounge. The main parts of the renovation are some of the carpeting, the very cool looking wallpaper, the furniture, the fixtures and the renovated bathroom.
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This was not a complete track-style renovation, as those who have been there before will probably quickly notice that the circular buffet and entrance are essentially the same shape, look and feel.
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While work was underway on the new international terminal at the airport, I was told that this was not the right time to start from scratch with the lounge. But during a tour of the new space I discovered that it was also time to do something new with the current lounge.
During my mid-afternoon visit – which was admittedly very busy until the departing passengers on the 3:15 PM KLM flight – the self-serve buffet had options such as pita, hummus, soup, salad and quinoa. There was also a Tex-Mex style station with chicken, beans, rice, salsa and pico de gallo as a local specialty.
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There was a small bar, which I’m told will be expanded soon. The area in front of the bar becomes larger, while the refrigerator moves to an under-counter location. The selections served by a bartender were complimentary and included options such as Johnnie Walker Red Label Scotch, 1800 Tequila, Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin and Jack Daniel’s Whiskey.
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I saw at least four or five different types of wine available, including rosé – a nice treat not always found in an airport lounge.
There is also a refrigerator, so travelers can help themselves to a mix of cola products, Heineken and Saint Arnold Amber Ale, along with some juice.
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In addition to the fresher look and feel of the lounge, the collection of Delft KLM houses (here’s the history of these popular airline collectibles, if you’re not familiar) is a standout feature of the renovated space for KLM and aviation enthusiasts.
You can access the KLM Lounge at Houston’s Intercontinental Airport in the following ways:
- Business class passengers from KLM, Air France and SkyTeam partners
- Flying Blue Platinum or Gold member
- SkyTeam Elite Plus passengers
- Dragon Pass and Lounge Key members
- Priority Pass member (seat available)
Here are some of the popular credit cards that can get you a Priority Pass membership and give you access to these and other lounges.
The KLM Lounge at Houston Intercontinental Airport is open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., although access is sometimes limited in the mid to late afternoon; KLM and Air France passengers can fill the space with their scheduled departure times of 3:15 PM and 3:45 PM respectively.
I was told that because the nearby Amex Centurion Lounge limited free guest access earlier this year, demand for the Houston KLM Lounge via Priority Pass has only grown; guests are still allowed with many of the Priority Pass membership types.
In short
The KLM Lounge in Houston now has a fresher look and is open to people with the right ticket, elite status level or even just a Priority Pass membership who want to drop by. It’s not a completely new space, but it’s certainly a step up from the pre-renovation decor. I’m told that now that this renovation is almost complete, a similar project with the nearby Air France lounge will begin.
Only time will tell which lounges will be in Houston’s new international terminal in the coming years when it’s completed, but for now, the KLM lounge in Houston’s Terminal D looks better than ever.
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