The Flight Brothers are reporting that the P.F. Chang’s restaurant in Los Angeles International Airport’s B Terminal is leaving the Priority Pass network on October 25th. B terminal is Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), or just the “international” terminal in the middle of the “U”-shaped airport.

Priority Pass PF Chang’s LAX

This is a pretty decent-sized blow for LAX PP options. The airport isn’t known for having top quality Priority Pass lounges, and the best-known is often closed to PP holders. That is certainly not always the case, however, as Ian proved recently.

There are two other restaurant options at LAX. Point the Way Cafe’ is maybe your best bet if you fly out of TBIT. It’s in Terminal 6, connected airside, and is about a 15 minute walk away. I’ve never tried it, but I have visited the Alaska Boardroom in T6 when flying overseas from TBIT and it’s certainly an acceptable distance for me.

From Priority Pass’ website

Rock & Brews in Terminal 1 is the other PP restaurant at LAX. It’s in Terminal  1, meaning you’d have to leave security and re-enter to reach it. I doubt it’s worth that kind of effort.

From Priority Pass’ website

The Priority Pass lounge options at LAX also include the Korean Air Lounge in TBIT and the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in Terminal 2, aside from Alaska’s Boardroom. The KAL lounge gets decent (but not awe-inspiring) reviews. The Clubhouse, like Rock & Brews, requires exit and re-entry through security and thus is a non-starter for TBIT travelers.

KAL Lounge in Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX

P.F. Chang’s apparent departure is the second major LAX restaurant to leave the program in about a year. Campanile left in 2018 after joining mere months earlier; I ate once there with PP; it was quite good, and I would have returned with my Priority Pass had they stayed with the program.

Chicken Greek Salad at Campanile in LAX

So would P.F. Chang’s departure signal a major issue with restaurants and the Priority Pass program? I’m not really sure that’s the case. Some restaurants leave, but others join and stay. For instance, San Francisco’s SFO airport has 2 good restaurants for PP holders, and they are still included with non-AMEX PP membership.

Yankee Pier, 1 of 2 Priority Pass restaurants at SFO

Restaurants at smaller airports are also settled into the program. I’ve used my PP at the Bluegrass Taproom at Lexington, KY’s airport for years and they always seem happy to see PP users. As for Priority Pass removing restaurant redemptions from AMEX cardholders with the pass, that strikes me as more of an internal issue between the two companies than a problem with PP and food outlets.

Breakfast for 2 at the Kentucky Ale Taproom at Lexington Bluegrass Airport

I’m taking P.F. Chang’s departure (should it happen) as a depressing blow for LAX travel, but not necessarily a major sign of problems with Priority Pass’ restaurant program. Does it make the PP a bit less attractive? Absolutely, especially if you fly overseas from LAX and don’t have status with any airlines (LAX has excellent alliance business class lounges). But I’m not sure it’s the end of the world, or even the program’s value.

Does P.F. Chang’s departure from the Priority Pass program make you rethink PP and your credit card choices?

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