Flying (and Banking) Should Be This Fun All the Time

What better place to open up an airport lounge than … in the middle of a train station?

That logic made sense to Citigroup Inc., which this week is publicizing its pricey new American Airlines credit card by setting up a fake airport lounge in the middle of New York's Grand Central Terminal. (Full-body scanners and security lines not included.)

The bank even threw a party in the station on Monday night, trying to recreate the relative glamour of first-class airline travel amid all the commuters rushing to catch trains to Connecticut or suburban New York.

To be sure, this Manhattan-based reporter was quite glad not to have to trek out to LaGuardia, JFK or — horrors — Newark just to hear a brief Gavin DeGraw concert and eat some mini mac-and-cheese canapes. Though I might consider spending $450 annually for the card if every stop at an American Airlines airport lounge included a free performance by the guy who sings the "One Tree Hill" theme song.

The bank launched its "Citi Executive AAdvantage World Elite MasterCard" — trademark symbols not included — in July, but wanted to get some additional buzz now that most summer vacations are over, a spokeswoman said.

Most of the guests at the party glossed over what The New York Times called "a particularly unwieldy name, even by travel rewards credit card standards," and focused on the party's perks: free shoeshines, chair massages, hair blowouts and the chance to visit with American Airlines' resident "wine consultant."

Citigroup's Grand Central lounge will be open to the public through Wednesday, after which you'll have to go to the airport to experience all the fun that waiting to board an airplane can be.