Travel Tuesday: The Club CLE Lounge Review

Last fall, my wife and I kicked off a multi-city excursion by flying out of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. As we arrived for our short flight to Detroit (before an extremely long flight to Hong Kong), I was surprised to find that a lounge we had access to was available at the airport: The Club CLE. Even better, unlike some previous experiences I’ve had trying to visit a Priority Pass lounge, we were able to get in immediately without any issues.

So, once inside, how was The Club CLE? Let’s take a quick look at this airport lounge option.

The Club CLE Review

Location

The Club CLE can be found just past security in Concourse B. This is on the way to where the Delta and Southwest gates are located. You’ll see a sign leading you down the short hall where the entrance to the club is. It’s actually pretty hard to miss — which is how I found it despite not even knowing it existed ahead of time.

How to access

If you have a Priority Pass via a credit card that offers one, then you can enjoy complimentary access to The Club CLE. That’s exactly how I was able to visit as my Amex Platinum includes a Priority Pass Select. Even better, this allowed for up to two guests, so my wife was able to visit without any fee.

For those who may not have a Priority Pass, The Club CLE does also offer a day pass. However, these come at a cost of $50 per person. Availability is limited so if you do wish to visit on a day pass, consider booking ahead of time using The Club site.

Food and drink

For those hoping to grab a bite or a quick drink before their flight, The Club CLE does have a few options. First, there’s a full bar serving complimentary beer, wine, and spirits. They also had a signature cocktail menu. Soft drinks are also available, if those are more your speed.

Perpendicular to the bar, you’ll find other beverage options — including a self-serve coffee machine that can make lattes, cappuccinos, and more. There was also a nozzle that dispensed both carbonated and still water.

Next to the coffee, you’ll also find a continental breakfast. Some of the items available during our visit include parfaits, hardboiled eggs, assorted cereals, and various fruits. There were also bagels and a conveyor belt toaster available.

My experience

To start, The Club CLE is quite small. Basically, the entirety of the lounge is an ‘L’ with the bar, food area, and a couple of different seating areas filling up that space. Luckily, despite this, we were able to gain access without issue and found a high table across from the bar.

As for the food, it was clearly a step down from the Centurion and Delta Sky Club menus we’re used to. But, seeing as I’m not big on eating much before flying, I wasn’t too concerned about this. I was just happy that the lounge had both coffee and seltzer available.

On the plus side, despite not having a ton of chairs overall, there was at least a variety of seating types. While we didn’t venture away from our high table, there were some comfy-looking options elsewhere. Then again, this is also where the limited seating in general can be a bit of a buzzkill as the seat you want might not be available.

All in all, though, we were quite happy to have a place to hang out, take care of some work, and sip on beverages before our adventure got underway. In that aspect, The Club at CLE met our needs well.

Final Thoughts on The Club CLE

Considering that The Club CLE is the only Priority Pass lounge at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (there’s also a United Club, though), there’s not really a reason why those who have complimentary access shouldn’t bother to visit. After all, despite its small size, it still offers complimentary beverages, some snacks, and a place to sit and relax/work before your flight. In those aspects, the lounge succeeds in my view. However, at an apparent day pass cost of $50, I don’t think it’s likely worth it for most non-Priority Pass travelers.