Review: Gameway Gaming Lounge (Los Angeles - LAX, Terminal 3)
On a recent trip through Los Angeles, I decided to try something new by visiting the Gameway lounge. Gameway is a modern computer gaming lounge with snacks and comfortable gaming chairs. While at LAX, I visited the Gameway in Terminal 3, located next to gate 30B, which is open daily from 05:00 to 22:00 (10 pm). Currently, there are 7 Gameway lounges (CLT, DFW x 2, HOU, JFK, LAX x 2), with DTW, MDW, and an additional JFK location coming soon. To check current hours and airport locations, visit the Gameway locations page.
Arrival
When I arrived around 11 am, there were three other people gaming and no wait for entrance as I walked up to the check-in counter. The person working the desk was nice but not very helpful. He scanned my (Priority Pass) card, boarding pass, asked me what I wanted to play, and rang up my (free) snack and drink. I had to ask him everything, and he was unwilling to help me too much. Anyways, he handed me a game controller and pointed to the machine in the corner.
Access
You can access the Gameway lounge by paying by time or using a Priority Pass membership*. The rates are $17.99 for up to 30 minutes, $27.99 for the first hour, and unlimited daily rates are $45.99. There is also a 10% military discount. When I visited, I used my Priority Pass membership, which gave me 1 hour of gaming time, one snack, and one non-alcoholic drink. Alternatively, you can choose 1 hour of gaming time and one alcoholic beverage. To ensure you have space on arrival, you can make a reservation for free on the Gameway website.
* Note: not all Priority Pass memberships offer non-lounge access to venues such as gaming lounges and spas. My Chase Sapphire Reserve card worked, but my Capital One associated Priority Pass membership card did not.
Entertainment
The lounge has multiple gaming options, including Xbox, PlayStation, and PC gaming rigs. Like any proper gaming lounge, a variety of snacks and drinks are available for purchase. Using my Priority Pass membership, I picked 1 hour of Xbox, a bottle of water, and some chips. There were many games to choose from; I picked Forza Motorsport to play while I was there. I stayed for about 30 minutes, and that time flew by while playing Xbox.
Pro Tip: there is a small (bar-like) seating area where you can sit and relax without gaming. This area could be very useful for working while charging your devices and having a snack. This option is great for Priority Pass members since it will give you one hour free.
Rating: 3.9
Summary: Gameway is a perfect place to relax before or between flights; if you are a gamer, this is the place for you. A helpful explanation would be useful for new customers to get started.
- Pros: comfortable, many game options, away from the noisy terminal, many snack and drink choices.
- Cons: no windows, staff could have been more helpful, slightly expensive if staying more than 1 hour.
Closing Thoughts
I think it would be awesome if they also offered card and board games. I could imagine a table in the corner that could be used for this or relaxing when not using electronic games. The price was a bit high. Depending on which airline you are flying, paying for lounge entry (day pass) instead could get you more for the money. LAX has several payable lounge options, including the Admirals Clubs, the United Club, and the Star Alliance Lounge, with prices ranging from $59 to $79 per person. If you enjoy video gaming and want to burn some time, the Gameway lounge is a great place to go.