The Club PIT at Pittsburgh International Airport Concourse C [Review]

In June 2024, I stopped by The Club PIT in Pittsburgh International Airport’s Concourse C with my husband and a couple of friends.

The Club PIT is one of just 2 lounges at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT). The other is the American Airlines Admirals Club on the mezzanine. This lounge delivered just what we were looking for: a convenient location with light bites, drinks, and comfy spots to relax and spend a little more time with our friends before heading home.

Read on to learn how to get into this lounge, where it is, and what our experience was like.

What Is The Club?

The Club is a network of airport lounges found mainly in the U.S. These lounges are available to Priority Pass members or passengers who purchase lounge passes. Unlike with some airport lounges, you can get into The Club regardless of the airline or class you’re flying.

For example, you can only access the Admirals Club at PIT with an Admirals Club membership, by flying first or business on a qualifying flight with American Airlines or an Oneworld airline, with AAdvantage status, or as uniformed military personnel.

At most locations of The Club, you can expect a free food buffet and drinks (including a complimentary bar), Wi-Fi, workspaces, and restrooms. The Club has 20 U.S. locations, 2 in London, and 1 in Hong Kong.

The Club PIT Lounge Location

Getting to The Club PIT was simple, and it was convenient to our departure gate. I spotted the sign for the lounge as soon as we got off the escalators after security and the terminal train.

The lounge is in Concourse C, and we were flying out of Concourse A, which initially sounded like it might be an ordeal. There are limits to how far I’ll hike through an airport, even when there’s free food and drinks on the line. But there was no ordeal to enjoy this lounge, as PIT is fairly small, and it was less than a 5-minute walk to our gate from the lounge. Score!

Just to the left of the lounge entrance was an Escape Pod. This small workstation pod had a Priority Pass logo on the keypad, though at the time of writing, this pod was not listed on the Priority Pass website.

Hot Tip:

I’d expect most gates at PIT to be within a 5-to-10-minute walk of the lounge. We only had about an hour to visit the lounge and that still left plenty of time to make it to our gate just ahead of boarding.

Gaining Entry to The Club PIT

There wasn’t much of an entrance lobby at The Club PIT. It was just large enough for 2 check-in desks and a short line. With 2 front desk agents working simultaneously, everyone got checked in quickly.

When we arrived at the lounge, our friends who planned to visit with us were still getting through security. I had my husband come in as my Priority Pass guest first, and then he went back to the front desk to get our 2 friends checked in with his Priority Pass membership when they were ready. I explained these plans to an agent as we initially checked in, and they were happy to accommodate us and welcomed our friends when they arrived.

You have 2 options for accessing The Club locations, including PIT. The first is using a Priority Pass membership, available complimentary with enrollment with certain credit cards or a membership plan starting at $99 per year. Priority Pass members and up to 2 guests can access participating lounges for free. The other option is purchasing a day pass for $50.

Children under 2 can enter the lounge for free. Visitors 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

The Club PIT is open from 4:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Priority Pass members or day pass holders can access the lounge up to 3 hours before their scheduled flight departure.

I have a Priority Pass Select membership with my Chase Sapphire Reserve^® and The Platinum Card^® from American Express (enrollment required). As an authorized user of my Chase Sapphire Reserve card, my husband also has a Priority Pass Select membership. With our Priority Pass memberships, we can each get ourselves and 2 guests into Priority Pass lounges at no charge, so we were able to bring our friends into the lounge with us.

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$550

APR

21.49% - 28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025

Cons

• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status

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Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.49% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Apply With Confidence and, if approved, find out your welcome offer before deciding to accept the Card. You may not be eligible for the maximum welcome offer amount.

As High As 175,000 Points (Find out your offer)

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

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Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Apply With Confidence and, if approved, find out your welcome offer before deciding to accept the Card. You may not be eligible for the maximum welcome offer amount.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card^® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

First Impressions

This lounge was among the smallest I’ve visited, and the spaces were chopped up into separate areas. Still, the space was laid out thoughtfully and had a variety of seating, though finding a spot for our group of 4 was initially challenging.

Seating

I liked that there were distinct areas serving various purposes, each partitioned off in some way. For example, there was a phone room with a door near the front entrance for a quiet workspace, a long work desk with numerous office chairs in its own nearby room, open dining in a room near the buffet, and seating with a view in the bar.

Although the lounge felt well laid out and not extremely busy, it was oddly difficult to find a spot to comfortably accommodate 4 visitors together. It felt kind of like boarding a Southwest flight in the mid-B group, as plenty of seats were still open, but not necessarily together or in a preferred spot.

I initially found what I thought was a good spot in the dining room booth seating, but quickly moved on after I realized it was next to a trash can with a diaper odor — no thanks!

I found a spot for 3 in the bar seating, ready to pull up an extra chair if needed. An adjacent guest had moved on by the time our friends arrived.

From our bar seating, we had a view of planes coming and going. Additional seating in this area included armchairs and 2-person booths between the bar and the window.

Generally, the armchair seating offered power outlet access, but I didn’t see any at the booths. We didn’t have power outlets at our bar seats.

The lounge had convenient workspaces, including a room with a door and 2 chairs. This room would have been perfect for taking a phone call without disturbing other guests or getting quiet work done without distractions from the rest of the lounge.

A large, shared workspace was next to the entrance with 10 workstations and a couple of soft benches.

Food and Beverage

The lounge had a hot and cold bar, soda fountain, coffee machine, drip coffee, teas, and water available to guests. Unlike some other locations of The Club (like my experience at The Club MCO at Orlando International Airport Terminal B), this lounge did not have a menu for ordering additional food, and what we saw on the buffet was what we had available. We were satisfied with what we found, though!

Buffet

The food buffet had a cold salad bar, pastries, and hot items.

Another part of the buffet had a few hot options.

We arrived a little after 11 a.m., and the buffet included a mix of breakfast and lunch foods. Eggs and breakfast potatoes were on the hot side.

Pierogies — a Pittsburgh staple — were the highlight of the hot buffet. I didn’t see sour cream, which usually accompanies pierogies in Pittsburgh, but some tzatziki sauce from the salad bar did just fine as a replacement.

Another highlight of the hot buffet was chicken and dumplings, which, although it didn’t look particularly appetizing in the pot, was warm, filling, and tasty.

I was satisfied with a plate of pierogies, a generous helping of tzatziki, pasta salad with extra veggies, and chicken and dumplings.

Beverages

At the buffet entrance, there was a Coca-Cola soda fountain. Next to that was a coffee machine that served lattes, other hot coffee drinks, hot chocolate, and hot water.

Opposite the coffee and soda machines was another beverage station. It had chilled water, drip coffee, and teas. This area also had cereal dispensers and milk.

The bar offered complimentary classics, including beer, wine, seltzer, and cocktails. There wasn’t an upgrade bar menu, just standard drinks. Our group had a round of Bloody Marys, appropriate for a brunch visit. They were spicy and lightly garnished with olives and a lemon slice.

The bar advertised a BEE Happy spritzer featuring gin, prosecco, Aperol, lemon juice, and honey syrup. My husband got one of these spritzers, and I sampled it — I loved the honey and lemon together.

Back near the lounge entrance was a snack bar. Some of the highlights were wasabi peas, banana chips, honey-roasted peanuts, and Fruity Pebbles bars. It seemed like it might be a grab-and-go offering, but I didn’t see bags for the small items, just napkins.

Amenities

In addition to the food and beverages, the lounge offered Wi-Fi, flight information, and restrooms. The restrooms had signs for showers, but those were not available during our visit.

Wi-Fi

The lounge had numerous Wi-Fi signs with the network name and password.

The Wi-Fi speed was good at about 55 Mbps.

Restrooms

A dimly lit hallway had 3 restroom doors. The middle door indicated it had a shower, but I never saw that door open, and The Club’s website indicates showers aren’t available at this lounge. With just 3 restrooms available, there was almost always a line.

Inside the unisex restroom — without a shower — was an accessible toilet with grab bars and a large countertop sink. This was a nice, roomy space.

This bathroom had a baby changing table, but it was not in service during my visit.

Flight Information

Flight information screens were near the bar seating area and in the buffet room.

Staff and Service

The staff members we interacted with at the lounge were helpful and pleasant. The front desk didn’t skip a beat when I explained my husband would be back with a separate Priority Pass membership so our friends could get in after they cleared security.

Some of the hot food was running low, but those were breakfast items presumably about to be changed out for lunch items. The bar was always staffed with prompt and friendly service, and dirty dishes were whisked away as soon as we moved them out of reach.

The entire lounge was clean and comfortable, with the exception of the odorous trash can I initially sat next to.

Overall, the staff did a good job meeting our needs, and we felt comfortable in the lounge.

Final Thoughts

The Club PIT was just what we needed before our flight home. The location was convenient to reach and just a few minutes away from our departure gate, even though it was in a different concourse. I was happy to see multiple appealing hot dishes on the buffet, a hearty salad bar, and numerous drink options, including a full bar and soda fountain. I would have liked to see more seating appropriate for groups of 4 or more, but we were ultimately able to enjoy a relaxing visit at this lounge.