Have you ever been so tired while traversing the airport that you would pay thousands of dollars just for somewhere to lie down and close your eyes for an hour or two?
A Minute Suites airport lounge is what you’re looking for. Luckily, they don’t charge five figures for a cat nap — but they’re not cheap, either. Fortunately, you can hack your way in for free with one simple trick.
Here’s what you need to know about Minute Suites.
What are Minute Suites?
Minute Suites are not traditional airport lounges. You won’t find self-serve alcohol, hot meals, airside planespotting, or other features that may excite you when you think about your favorite lounges.
Instead, the key amenity is privacy. It’s basically your very own room.
Most suites aren’t large (about 7 feet by 8 feet), so a family of four would have little room to spread out. However, it’s totally private and very quiet. You can dim the lights and take a power nap — or a proper nap if you’re willing to pay for the extra time. You can stay for up to eight hours.
Each room has its own thermostat, TV, trundle beds with pillows, desk and chair. Bathrooms are communal. It’s like having your very own $5,000 Manhattan apartment in the airport concourse.
Minute Suites stresses that it thoroughly cleans between guests, so you’re not plopping down on a couch that’s been dirtied by previous tenants.
Related: Access Minute Suites with Priority Pass — how to get a private room at the airport for free
Which airports have Minute Suites?
In the grand scheme of airport lounges, of which there are thousands worldwide, Minute Suites are admittedly far from ubiquitous. Still, they appear in several major U.S. hubs — enough that you will run into one during your travels sooner or later.
Below are the current locations of Minute Suites:
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Concourse B (one near gate B16 and another near gate B24)
- Concourse E
- Concourse F
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
- Concourse C
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
- Atrium (food court)
- Concourse D/E Connector
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Terminal A
- Terminal D
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
- Concourse A
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
- Terminal C North
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- Terminal 4 Concourse B
Nashville International Airport (BNA)
- Concourse D
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
- Concourse A/B connector
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
- Concourse A
Some lounges have amenities that others don’t. For example, the Minute Suites at DFW offer suites of varying sizes and even feature rooms with connecting doors for larger groups. Also, a handful of locations offer shower privileges.
You can find the phone numbers and email addresses of all Minute Suites locations here.
Related: 10 credit cards that offer Priority Pass airport lounge access
How to access Minute Suites
There are two ways to access Minute Suites:
- Pay for the room per hour
- Get it for free (or heavily discounted) using Priority Pass
You can make a reservation online here, or you can try your luck as a walk-up. Just note that space is quite limited; this isn’t a hotel in the concourse with hundreds of rooms. Your chances of scoring a suite may plummet the closer you get to your day of travel.
Pay to access Minute Suites
Minute Suites are available to anyone — for a hefty price. Here’s what you’ll expect to pay depending on the length of your stay.
| Time | Standard rate |
| One hour | $55 |
| One hour and 15 minutes | $68.75 |
| One hour and 30 minutes | $82.50 |
| One hour and 45 minutes | $96.25 |
| Two hours | $110 |
| Two hours and 15 minutes | $121.25 |
| Two hours and 30 minutes | $132.50 |
| Two hours and 45 minutes | $143.75 |
| Three hours | $155 |
| Four hours | $200 |
| Five hours | $245 |
| Six hours | $290 |
| Seven hours | $335 |
| Eight hours | $380 |
| Overnight (eight hours) | $195 |
All in all, it’s not cheap. By far, the best value is an overnight stay for $195, which comes to $24.38 per hour. But at that price, you may as well get a hotel.
Use credit cards to access Minute Suites
In most cases, Minute Suites are dramatically cheaper for those with Priority Pass. That’s because you’ll get the first hour free — a $55 value. If you want to stay longer, your Priority Pass membership will provide a discounted rate. Here’s what that looks like.
| Time | Priority Pass rate |
| One hour | $0 |
| One hour and 15 minutes | $8.50 |
| One hour and 30 minutes | $17 |
| One hour and 45 minutes | $25.50 |
| Two hours | $34 |
| Two hours and 15 minutes | $42.50 |
| Two hours and 30 minutes | $51 |
| Two hours and 45 minutes | $59.50 |
| Three hours | $68 |
| Four hours | $102 |
| Five hours | $136 |
| Six hours | $170 |
| Seven hours | $204 |
| Eight hours | $238 |
| Overnight (Eight hours) | $195 |
As you can see, it’s quite a savings compared to the standard rate, but there are two noteworthy details to mention.
First, the overnight stay costs the same, whether or not you flash your shiny Priority Pass card. Second, Priority Pass members (frustratingly) cannot reserve just a free hour online; only walk-ups can do that. To book ahead of time, you must reserve at least two hours (which will cost you a minimum of $34).
Several credit cards offer Priority Pass as a benefit after you enroll. This includes credit cards such as:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- Capital One Venture X Business
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
The specific level of Priority Pass that these credit cards offer is called “Select.” It’s the highest level of membership — in fact, you can’t even buy it. The highest tier available for purchase (which lacks the key benefits of a “Select” membership) is called “Prestige,” and it costs $469 per year.
This is all to say that the Priority Pass you receive from credit cards is extremely valuable.
The information for the Hilton Aspire has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Are Minute Suites worth it?
If you have a Priority Pass membership, Minute Suites are absolutely worth it. The first hour is free, so you have nothing to lose.
On the other hand, there’s likely not a tremendous number of folks who would spend $55 for an hour of sleep during a connection (although I’ve been there a time or two). Still, it can be worth it for some. Nursing mothers, those with small children who need a quiet nap away from the bustling terminal or anyone else desperate for a bit of privacy and tranquility may find it easy to pony up. The shower facilities in select locations may be a godsend for on-the-go business travelers who need a quick nap and a refresh before sprinting into the meeting.
Additionally, Minute Suites could be worth it for an overnight stay if you don’t want to leave the airport to buy a hotel. Renting the room overnight for eight hours costs $195 — whether you have a Priority Pass or not. Waking up just a few minutes from your gate may be worth the money.
