By Eileen Ogintz
Chocolate chunk or salted caramel? If not a warm cookie, maybe a cocktail made with local spirits, or a beer only served here.
There are relaxation rooms, nursing rooms complete with multi sizes of diapers and “little pilot” bibs, showers and grab and go food …a turkey and Havarti sandwich or chicken pesto or a veggie protein sandwich perhaps.
“Much better than airplane food,” one happy consumer said.
For a Phoenix family returning after a ski trip, it is a welcome respite—and all the food the three kids can eat. A definite plus said Frank Preciado is that each parent can bring two guests.
“We think the food is great,” he said.
But Abraham Preciado,15, just wishes they had more kid and teen friendly food—perhaps barbeque, he suggested.
That’s after you have enjoyed the buffet that today includes sesame Brussel sprouts, mango chicken tikka, mango shrimp ceviche, spinach and goat cheese salad and mac and cheese. Let’s not forget eight kinds of pastries including gluten free brownies.
Perhaps you need a private room to take a call or have a mini conference. Perhaps you need a highchair. Or a kid-sized table. Like other airport lounges, this one attracts many families, said supervisor Allen Groue.
Welcome to the spacious (10,800 square foot ) Capital One Lounge at Denver International Airport that opened a little more than a year ago. It is designed for those who have Capital One Venture X, Venture X Business and for a fee ($45) those with Venture and Sparks Miles cards ($65 for others). If you have a long wait before a flight or a long layover, you can easily spend more than that at an airport restaurant.
The experience here, at DFW (Dallas Fort Worth), and at IAD (Washington Dulles), is designed to highlight this region from local art to locally sourced coffee, produce and pastry, and spirits. There are signature drinks at each lounge, like the Colorado Cool-Aid with Mile High Denver Dry Gin and First-Class Bloody Mary with Breckenridge Chile Chile Vodka.
There is also an assortment of sodas—Agave Vanilla Cream Soda, Lemon Berry Acai, or black cherry with tarragon among the choices.
Lounges are expected to open in Las Vegas and at JFK in New York in 2025.
Traveling with or without kids, such lounges are a welcome respite – especially when the food is this good. Thanks, chefs!
One caveat—If the occupancy is over 1,000, you may have to wait on a waitlist.
“This certainly makes travel with the kids a lot easier,” said Frank Preciado.
And that of course is a good thing.