Traveling with an airport lounge membership for the past few months, I've been struggling to figure out whether or not the investment was actually worth it. Iva's had some trouble with her Continental Airlines President's Club membership, but I'm still on the fence. On one hand, I get free wireless internet, free drinks and a comfortable quiet place to work while waiting for my flights. But is the two hundred and fifty dollars really worth it?

Well, yesterday on the way to London, I decided that it is.

First, a little background: it's about 5 degrees in Detroit, as it usually is around this time of year. I'm on my way to London to take care of a little work on the Focused Ion Beam at Loughborough University then I'm bouncing down to Paris to visit my sister and Eleanor Beardsley. I've got my favorite Arc'teryx long weekender pack, am wearing my favorite pair of travel jeans and pretty much the thinnest pair of boots I've ever purchased (I had to JB weld the sole to the leather last season).

Needless to say, I was pretty much freezing on my short shuttle ride between the off-airport parking lot and Detroit's McNamara terminal. On the way in, however, I recalled that the Detroit airport lounge had a couple of showers. Nothing feels better than a hot shower after being out in the cold. And despite my fears that the lounge shower would be akin to the boys high school locker room, it was quite pleasant. Free towels and soap were waiting for me when I showed up, and soft classical music played in the background as I warmed back up to temperature.

Now, sitting in 14J on my way to London I have to admit, I feel a lot better than I did on the way in. On a flight that's booked with about 50 out of about 250 passengers, I look over at the vacant row of seats next to me and think about the decent night of sleep that I'm about to get. It's nice to be traveling again.

Filed under: Airlines, Transportation, Airports