A Florida woman thought she’d gotten the secret to rubbing elbows with wealthy jet-setters.
She figured dropping nearly $900 on an American Express Platinum card was a small price to pay for access to exclusive airport lounges and, more importantly, the rich and influential people inside of them.
But when she finally stepped into a lounge, she was met with a rude awakening.
The Reality Check
In a viral video with more than 114,000 views, popular content creator Nikki Pindor (@nikkipindor) captured the gap between airport lounge expectations and reality.
“Got an amex platinum to network with rich ppl in airport lounges but everybody here is just eating and sleeping,” the text overlay on the video reads.
The camera pans across the lounge, revealing reality. Someone is asleep on a couch using their backpack as a pillow. Another person has their feet propped up. There are travelers glued to their phones. And others are grabbing muffins, donuts, and coffee from the food station.
Nobody’s networking. Nobody’s making deals. Everyone’s just… existing.
“0 connections were made,” she wrote in the caption.
A $895 Investment
The American Express Platinum Card carries a hefty $895 annual fee (increased from $695 in September 2025), but it promises access to more than 1,550 airport lounges worldwide through the American Express Global Lounge Collection, more than any other credit card on the market.
According to The Points Guy, cardholders get access to exclusive Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Club lounges (up to 10 visits annually when flying Delta), Priority Pass Select lounges (which require separate enrollment), and other partner lounges. American Express values this lounge access benefit alone at over $850 annually.
The card markets itself as a gateway to luxury travel experiences. CNBC reports that Amex positions the Platinum Card as an “ultra-premium lifestyle travel card,” offering more than $3,500 in annual value through various statement credits and perks.
Business publications tout airport lounges as networking goldmines. One hospitality industry analysis notes that “airport lounges naturally attract a community of like-minded professionals. These spaces provide an excellent opportunity for informal networking with other business travelers, entrepreneurs, and executives from various industries.”
What Airport Lounges Are Actually Like
According to NerdWallet, the problem isn’t necessarily with the lounges themselves; it’s with inflated expectations.
“Lounges are commonly marketed as oases of luxurious calm in the storm of hectic airport terminals, but the reality isn’t always so shiny,” the outlet notes.
Demand for lounges has soared in recent years. Priority Pass alone saw a 31% increase in visits from 2023 to 2024. This surge has led to overcrowding issues that clash with the serene, exclusive experience many expect.
The reality is that most people in airport lounges aren’t there to network—they’re there to rest, work quietly, or grab free snacks before their flight. While some lounges do offer meeting spaces and business centers, the idea that they’re teeming with wealthy individuals eager to make connections is largely a myth perpetuated by social media and aspirational marketing.
Commenters React
“Personally the only networking I do in the Amex lounge is w the buffet,” a top comment read.
“Sit next to someone and start a convo! last time i did i met a wall street billionaire,” a person shared.
“Yea everyone’s rly in their own bubble in those lounges,” another wrote.
@nikkipindor 0 connections were made #amexplatinum #amex #centurion #blackcard #airport
BroBible reached out to Pindor for comment via email and Instagram direct message.