How To Get Frequent Flyer Airport Lounge Access
Airport lounges provide a quiet environment away from busy crowds and can offer comfortable seating, free drinks / snacks, internet access (often WiFi) and other office facilities. If you are a regular air traveller, here a few tips to help you get into the lounge before or after your flight: |
1. Fly First or Business Class. By booking flight tickets in the 'upper-class' cabins, most airlines will allow you to gain free one-time access to a frequent flyer lounge - either their own or that of an alliance partner. Get to the airport early to make full use of the facilities. Some major airlines also offer arrival lounges where you can freshen up after your flight.
2. Become an Elite Member Frequent Flyer. Bottom-tier frequent flyers usually get complimentary lounge passes. Once you hit mid-tier or top-tier in a frequent flyer program you will be granted full access to an airline's lounges. At some airports you will have a choice of alliance lounges to visit - get to know which lounges are the best in your alliance.
3. Join an Airline Club. Some airlines require you to pay for a membership to their lounge program. For example, American Airlines' Admirals Club costs between $350-$500 annually depending on your AAdvantage status, and gives you access to their Admirals lounges. Similar programs are available on other airlines in the US and Qantas in Australia.
4. Join Priority Pass. If you don't spend thousands of dollars or pounds on business class flights every year then Priority Pass is probably the best way to go about getting regular lounge access. Priority Pass has a contract agreement with over 500 lounges worldwide in 275 cities to provide facilities to its members.
There are three tiers of membership:
Standard Membership costs $99 annually (or £69 UK or €99 in EU). Each visit costs $27 (£15 or €24) and any guests are charged additionally at the same rate.
Standard Plus Membership will set you back $249 (£159, €249) and this will give you 10 free visits. Any more visits are charged at the normal $27 rate, as are all guest visits.
Prestige Membership costs $399 (£259, €399) and this will give you unlimited 'free' access. Guests are charged at the standard visit rate.
With exchange rates volatile the current EU fee is expensive compared to the UK and US fee. Some 'high-end' credit cards include Prestige membership as standard, such as the American Express Platinum in the UK.
Priority Pass Prestige membership can be excellent value if you fly on a regular basis with no restrictions in terms of which airlines you fly or class of ticket you buy. All you need to do is show your membership card and the lounge staff will let you in - if there are any fees due you will be sent the bill at a later date. A couple of notes of caution however - at some larger airports there may not be a lounge in every terminal. And the quality of some third party lounges may not be up to scratch to those run by the top airlines.
5. Join Wexas. (UK residents)
Wexas is a London based travel club which has 25,000 members and costs from £78 per year. Members booking a long-haul flight and 2 nights accommodation through Wexas get complimentary lounge passes for all passengers at one of 22 UK airports. Wexas members can also show their card at 100 lounges worldwide which entitles them to pay for entry.
6. Buy a one-time use pass. If you don't want to pay up for an annual membership program and are not flying first or business class, then consider paying for a one-off visit to a lounge. There are a number of web sites online, where you can book single lounge visits at the airport of your choice.
For example, LoungePass in the UK offers the ability to book lounge visits to one of 130 airports worldwide, including 20 in the UK. Prices range from £13.50 - £30 (approximately $20 - $45) for a single visit of up to three hours.
American Airlines' Admirals Club offer one-day passes for $50.
In Australia Virgin Blue has a series of excellent lounges called "The Lounge". Single entry passes are available for purchase from AU$ 30 online or AU $ 35 at the door. Priority Pass members get complimentary access.
Many Asian third party lounges (eg Plaza Premium in Hong Kong) are open to paying visitors.
7. Resale Market. You can sometimes find one-time lounge visit passes on sale on eBay but always check the precise terms and conditions of the voucher before bidding.
Final note, on occasion some airport lounges can get very busy - in this case you would be better off finding a quiet seat in the terminal itself!
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