For the first time in its 96-year history, Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) will host a VIP lounge.
On Wednesday, Airport Dimensions will open The Club MDW, a 3,265-square-foot lounge that will become the latest outpost in the growing The Club network.
The space will be open daily from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. and will be available to anyone flying from MDW.
Travelers who carry a Priority pass will enjoy complimentary access to The Club MDW, and day passes will also be available to all Midway passengers with a valid departing boarding pass for $50.
“The fact that this is the first co-located lounge in Midway’s 96-year history made us think we had to do something special… So the fact that we were able to be the first is really special and a proud moment for us,” said Chris Gwilliam, vice president of global business development for Airport Dimensions, in an exclusive interview with TPG.
The lounge is located in MDW’s Central Market, at the intersection of Concourses A and B. It was designed to be inspired by Chicago’s art deco and mid-century modern architectural styles, and as such, features striking design elements such as monochrome-looking hues and arched walls.
In addition to the design, the lounge also features photographs by two well-known local artists, Mark Hersch and Angie McMonigal. These images of the Chicago cityscape reinforce the local touches that The Club incorporated into this space.
“It’s a unique design, one of a kind. You won’t see a design like this anywhere else,” Gwilliam said.
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Other highlights include various seating options, from seats designed for relaxation to more productive work stations. The Club says 90% of the seats in the new lounge are equipped with power outlets.
The Club has partnered with a few local food and drink establishments to offer dining options. This includes craft beers from Revolution Brewing and Two Brothers Brewing Company, along with spirits from Chicago-based Koval Distillery. Meanwhile, the lounge’s menu reflects the city’s vibrant culinary scene at the buffet.
The focal point of the lounge will be the bar, where travelers can enjoy complimentary signature cocktails, including the Chicago Fizz and the Southside.
Of course, at just 300 square meters, I imagine the space will be very crowded. There are seats for just 76 passengers, and given the popularity of the Priority Pass program, I anticipate the line to enter the lounge will be quite long, especially during peak departure times and during irregular operations.
Additionally, Midway is served primarily by Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines, neither of which operate their own lounges.
“It’s fair to say we would have liked to have had more space and hopefully in the future, who knows, we might have the opportunity to grow,” Gwilliam explained.
So while it’s undoubtedly exciting for MDW to get its first airport lounge, you wouldn’t necessarily count on being able to visit the space during your next trip unless you happen to be passing through during a quiet period.
To manage the waiting list, Airport Dimensions is investing in technology.
“We’ve introduced a system called WaitWhile, which allows people to digitally manage if there’s no capacity available at that time. And then we can text people as they’re leaving and enjoying the lobby,” Gwilliam said.
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