Are Airport Lounges Worth It?
International air travel is a miracle of the modern age. From London you can reach New York in 8 hours, Bangkok in 15, and Sydney in 23.
There's only one snag: the tedium and discomfort of airports and the flight itself.
But the modern age has a solution for that, too: the airport lounge.
But are they worth the money?
Terminal headache
Like many travellers, at some point you're likely to have arrived at the airport too early. Perhaps you wanted to beat the rush hour traffic, or maybe your preceding train or bus connections were inconveniently timed.
Whatever the reason, the same issues lie ahead (with most airports): Overcrowded terminals, oversubscribed restaurants and coffee shops, insufficient, uncomfortable seating, a lack of plug sockets to charge your devices, and boredom - lots of boredom.
As you wander the airport, scanning the overpriced menus and weaving among the masses, you may find yourself passing the gleaming entrance to that mythical beast, the airport lounge.
What is an airport lounge?
You've seen images of the airport lounge before: a smartly dressed person in an impossibly comfortable seat, browsing through a copy of the FT or Economist, cast in relaxing, low-key lighting, a complimentary glass of wine by their side.
And an abundance of plug sockets.
An oasis of calm amid the chaos.
But...
How much is airport lounge access?
While the best things in life are free, airport lounges aren't (even though they're quite nice).
It costs £22-£45 per adult to access most airport lounges in the UK, depending on the airport, date and time of access.
Child access is usually a little cheaper, but only by a few pounds.
Airport lounge example prices for adult; child
(Correct at time of writing)
- Belfast George Best, Aspire Lounge £22.99; £18.49
- Liverpool John Lennon, Aspire Lounge £31.99; £18.49
- Manchester international (T2) £30.99; £22.99
- London Heathrow (T5) Club Aspire Lounge £40.00; £40.00
Note: some lounges give complimentary access to under-2s
As you can see, some airports offer lounge access for a reasonable price. However, a family of four would see the cost quickly add up.
Airport lounge benefits
So why might you pay for lounge access? For a start, hanging around in the regular parts of the airport can be costly in itself.
Buying a round of sandwiches and drinks for four could cost £20.
Opt for a pre-flight fry-up and the final bill for four could easily exceed £50.
And then you might feel like a pre-flight relaxant in the overpriced airport Wetherspoons - add £20 for those!
Complimentary meals, snacks and drinks
Many airport lounges include free food and drink as part of the deal. This alone could make it a worthwhile purchase.
Most also provide complimentary soft and alcoholic drinks - saving you substantial sums compared with drinks served outside the lounge.
Lots of comfortable seating
Finding a comfortable place to sit in an airport can be a nightmare, especially during the peak summer holiday period.
Lounge access would ensure you have plenty of space to relax - even if you’re travelling as a family or group.
Power outlets and Wi-Fi
Aside from food, drink and seats, lounge providers know their customers want superfast Wi-Fi and lots of plug sockets.
Peace and quiet
One of the best aspects of airport lounges is that they are much quieter and more peaceful than the rest of the airport. This means you might be able to enjoy a nap (do set your alarm though!), or simply de-stress after the mad rush of reaching the airport.
Some lounges even have areas where you can have a proper sleep - although they are a rarity in UK airports.
Children's play areas
Keeping the children occupied in an airport is no easy task. Thankfully, some lounges have dedicated play areas, with TVs, games and toys.
At time of writing, UK airport lounges with kids play areas include: No.1 Lounge - Heathrow Terminal 3; SkyTeam Lounge - Heathrow Terminal 4; Aspire Lounge - Gatwick North Terminal; My Lounge - Gatwick North Terminal, and No.1 Lounge - Gatwick South Terminal.
Catching up on work
For those travelling on business, the economic argument for a lounge pass could make a lot of sense: something as simple as a table and chair in a quiet area can make catching up on work or having an online meeting a lot easier.
Add fast Wi-Fi, complimentary refreshment, and of course, plenty of plug sockets, and it’s easy to see why lounges are popular among business travellers.
Can you stay in the airport lounge overnight?
It's possible to get a cat nap (or more) in an airport lounge. However, some lounges may frown upon this.
Others may have a limit on how long you can stay, even though they may be open 24/7.
If you really need to catch up on some sleep, consider a sleeping pod or a transit hotel.
How do I book an airport lounge?
Main ways to book an airport lounge:
- Book at the front desk
- Book online
- Get free/discounted access with your credit card
- Get a Priority Pass or similar
With most airport lounges, you can simply buy access at the front desk. However, you'll probably be paying full price.
It may be cheaper to book ahead online - so a little planning could save you money.
Credit cards with lounge access
Some credit cards include lounge access - either for free or at a discounted rate (usually around 50%).
Some credit cards may offer a few free visits, then charge at a discounted rate.
In the UK, a number of credit cards include free or discounted lounge access. These include:
- Premier World Elite Mastercard from HSBC U.K.
- Barclaycard Avios Plus credit card
- The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold credit card
- Santander World Elite Mastercard
Some credit cards come with a high annual fee. For example, The Platinum Card by American Express costs £575 per year. Others are much cheaper, such as Santander World Elite MasterCard (£15 per month), which affords access to 1,000 LoungeKey lounges for free.
Priority Pass
Priority Pass affords access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide.
There are three tiers: Standard £69 (£24 per visit); Standard Plus £229 (10 free visits, then £24 per visit); and Prestige - £419 (free visits).
For frequent travellers this might be a good option. It doesn't matter which airline you're flying with, or in which class.
Are airport lounges worth the money?
If you have the expendable cash available, airport lounge access (or Priority Pass/applicable premium credit card) could be a good deal.
You'll get somewhere peaceful to rest or nap, and you'll also (usually) have access to free food and refreshments.
For those who need to catch up on emails and business calls etc., lounges have the necessary facilities, and are far more conducive to work than an overcrowded airport Starbucks!
On the other hand, for families travelling on a budget, the money might be better spent on food, drink and activities at the destination.
In general though, lounges make air travel more pleasant.
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