Miami International Airport’s (MIA) most popular Priority Pass venue is Corona Beach House. No, this is not an exclusive beachfront dance club as the name might suggest. Corona Beach House is a Priority Pass accepted restaurant in MIA’s Concourse D.
As of late last year, Corona Beach House now only accepts Priority Pass for dine-in guests. Specifically, the “Fresh Express” counter and take-out food and drink are no longer allowed. It’s not a huge loss, but I just found out about this change on a recent trip to Miami.
Priority Pass At Miami International Airport
Late in 2017, Priority Pass expanded beyond lounge offerings to include restaurants and other airport venues. In Miami, there are three restaurants available for Priority Pass members:
- Corona Beach House
Location: Concourse D, between gates D23 and D24 (After Security)
Up to $30 in food and drink, tip can be covered by Priority Pass - Vienna Restaurant
Location: Central Terminal, Concourse E, seventh floor (Before Security)
Up to $28 in food and drink, tip is not covered by Priority Pass - Air Margaritaville
Location: Central Terminal, Concourse E, opposite security checkpoints, door 11 (Before Security)
Up to $28 in food and drink, tip is not covered by Priority Pass
Corona Beach House: A Popular Priority Pass Restaurant
Part of Corona Beach House’s appeal isn’t just because it’s a Priority Pass restaurant. It’s also because it’s so conveniently located. It’s the only Priority Pass restaurant airside (after security), and it’s located literally directly in front of you as you exit TSA Pre-Check or the premium security line of Concourse D. This concourse is the main American Airlines terminal, so it’s where a huge number of passengers will funnel through.
If you have a flight leaving from a high D gate or E gates (as I feel like I often do), it sometimes makes sense to have a bite here, and skip the American Express Centurion lounge located near D12. Access to the newly expanded (and thus, less crowded) MIA American Express lounge comes with the Platinum Card from American Express.
No More Grab-And-Go Or Takeout
Last year, I was in Miami on several occasions and took advantage of Corona Beach House’s “Fresh Express” counter. It’s basically a grab-and-go section of the restaurant where you can buy (pricey) sandwiches, snacks, and bottled drinks.
It was great to be able to use my Priority Pass card in Miami to grab up to $30 in snacks upon landing, or if I was departing, to grab a bottle of water for the flight. Unfortunately, that has ended, and Priority Pass is only accepted for dine-in at Corona Beach House.
Cards That Give You Complimentary Priority Pass Access
I still highly value Priority Pass access for lounges and restaurants worldwide. A Priority Pass card can get you snacks and meals, drinks, showers, nap rooms, and more, depending on the airport. These credit cards include Priority Pass Select, allowing you and two guests into any Priority Pass venue.
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- The Business Platinum Card from American Express
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
- Citi Prestige Credit Card
The Upshot
The elimination of takeout and grab-and-go orders at a Miami Priority Pass restaurant isn’t earth shattering news. I didn’t see it specifically called out anywhere, so it’s worth at least a mention. For me, its main value was grabbing some snacks for the beach before exiting MIA. However, I can totally understand why Corona Beach House got rid of this benefit.
Did you ever use Priority Pass for grab-and-go at Corona Beach House?
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1 comment
I went thru on Nov 3, 2018 and they no longer allowed takeout at Corona Beach House or the take away market.