The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that airport lounges were once a coveted travel perk, a status symbol for the jet set. In a Globe special, Barry Choi writes that these days, they are often crowded, and the quality is inconsistent. That is because what was once an exclusive privilege has become a standard benefit for dozens of credit cards in Canada. Behind the scenes, however, airlines, credit-card providers and lounge operators are trying to adjust to the higher demand. Plaza Premium, Canada's biggest independent airport lounge operator, has seen the biggest jump in traffic and has responded by offering Lounge-to-Go takeout and self-check-in to reduce wait times. Air Canada, which runs the Maple Leaf Lounge and Air Canada Café, is offering lounge access to premium economy and business class with their tickets. In June, 2023, Aeroplan members with 35K status lost complementary access to Maple Leaf Lounges. Recently, American Express announced that, as of Jan. 1, 2027, Plaza Premium and Priority Pass Lounge access benefits for platinum card holders would be capped at six a year. Despite these changes, lounge crowding is not going away any time soon, and European and Asian hubs have similar problems.