Sky Hub Lounge in Incheon Int’l Airport Terminal 1 (Image courtesy of Pulmuone)
SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Korea Bizwire) – As international travel rebounds, South Koreans are increasingly taking advantage of airport lounge access, with usage of Priority Pass cards skyrocketing over the past year, according to data released by BC Card, a major credit card company in South Korea.
The analysis, which examined Priority Pass card usage through 612 types of BC Card products from June 2021 to May of this year, reveals a dramatic surge in both the number of lounge visits and the diversity of destinations.
Compared to the period from June 2021 to May 2022, when strict COVID-19 travel restrictions were in place, Priority Pass card usage in the most recent year jumped to 1,673 on an index where the base year is set at 100. This represents more than a doubling of usage compared to a year ago, when restrictions began to ease.
The geographical spread of Priority Pass card usage has also expanded significantly. While only 13 locations saw more than 100 uses two years ago, this number increased to 43 last year and 57 in the most recent period. The total number of locations with at least one use grew from 119 two years ago to 154 in the latest year.
Japan emerged as a standout destination, propelled by a weak yen. Previously ranking 47th with just 0.02% of usage two years ago, Japan surged to 6th place (4.1%) last year and claimed the second spot (12%) this year.
Vietnam maintained its position as the most popular destination for Priority Pass card usage, accounting for 13.3% of all uses in the latest period, up from 11% last year and a mere 2% two years ago when it ranked 8th.
Notably, the composition of top destinations has shifted. While Middle Eastern and European locations dominated the top 10 list two years ago, European destinations have now fallen out of the top rankings.
“We’re seeing a decrease in Priority Pass card usage in Middle Eastern and European locations, which previously served as stopovers for long-haul flights,” a BC Card representative explained. “This reflects consumers’ preference for closer, more economical destinations amid persistent high inflation.”
The data also revealed a significant increase in female Priority Pass card users. While men accounted for 70.8% of Priority Pass card usage two years ago, their share has decreased to 58.7% in the most recent period. Conversely, women’s usage has grown from 29.2% to 41.3% over the same timeframe.
“This shift likely reflects the broader popularization of Priority Pass cards among diverse demographics,” the BC Card representative noted.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
