A common question I receive on social media is – are airport lounges worth the price? If you had asked Elena this question before I started using airport lounges, I would say they are not worth it because you can pay for a nice airport restaurant. After having my daughter I find that airport lounges can be worth their gold weight. Oh boy, how wrong could I have been?
I mean, don’t get me wrong, not every lounge is of the same standard, but after having tasted some amazing lounges and the easy option provided when travelling with a baby or a toddler, I cannot live without having access to some quiet space in the airport.
This is one of the reasons I pay the hefty price of American Express Platinum due to the unlimited access to lounges, which is cheaper than chasing airline status or flying business.
Are Airport Lounges Worth It?
I am a big fan of airport lounges sometimes. See, before I even started the travel hobby in depth, I didn’t even know you could get an airport lounge and chill before your flight.
In fact, I once had lounge access after a very expensive plane ticket, and I didn’t know it until it was too late to use it. 19-year-old me still regrets it.
Now, to think my child asks me if we are going to the lounge when we enter an airport is a far cry from how I grew up. She is five!
What Exactly Are Airport Lounges?
For those who might be new to the concept (like I was a few years ago!), airport lounges are dedicated spaces where you can escape the chaos of the main terminal. They’re like a sanctuary within the airport where you can relax, work, or even freshen up before your flight.
Every lounge offers slightly different amenities, but typically you’ll find:
- Complimentary food and drinks (yes, really!)
- Comfortable seating (much better than those terminal chairs!)
- Clean, less crowded bathrooms
- Reliable WiFi
- And in some cases, extras like showers or prayer rooms
The really fancy airline lounges (like Qatar Airways’ Al Safwa lounge in Doha) even offer incredible experiences like spa services, private rooms, and restaurant-quality dining. I still dream about the pavlova I had there!
Pros and Cons of airport lounges in general
Pros
- Airport lounges offer a comfortable and relaxing environment away from the hustle and bustle of the airport.
- They often provide complimentary snacks, drinks, and Wi-Fi access.
- Lounges may have private seating areas or even showers for travellers who need to freshen up before their flight.
- Some lounges also offer business services such as printing or faxing documents.
- Great if you are travelling with kids and you want to eat and relax in a quiet space
- It is a good value if you have a long layover; many lounges have lounge-style chairs where you can relax and sleep.
Cons:
- Airport lounge access usually requires an annual fee or membership in a loyalty program, which may not be worth it for occasional travellers.
- Many lounges are overcrowded during peak travel times, making it difficult to find a quiet place to relax. Especially the ones where you have to pay for an annual membership or given as a credit card perk.
- Lounges have limited hours, so if your flight is delayed, you may not be able to use the lounge facilities or stay long if you have a very long layover. Some lounges restrict the visit times.
- Not all airports have lounges, so you won’t be able to take advantage of them unless you’re flying out of one that does.
The cost of using an airport lounge varies depending on the type of membership you choose and your airline status (if applicable).
For example, some airlines offer discounted rates for their members, while other companies require an annual fee for access to their lounges worldwide. Some third-party companies also offer memberships.
Different types of Airport Lounges
As I mentioned earlier, not every lounge is of the same calibre; some are indeed worth their weight in gold, while others are less so. Now, let’s explore the different ways you can access an airport lounge.
1. Airline Lounges
All big airlines have a flagship lounge which is only available if you are flying in business / first class with the airline or if you have a frequent flyer status with them. Usually, the airline’s base flagship lounge is impressive, like the one in Doha for Qatar Airways, Virgin Atlantic, the Clubhouse in London and many more.
Access to the lounge: You cannot visit these lounges unless you meet the above requirements.
2 Credit Card
This is actually my favourite way to get into lounges now, and here’s why. Many travel credit cards offer lounge access as a perk.
For example, the American Express Platinum card (which I have – referral included) gives unlimited access to Priority Pass lounges worldwide for me and a guest.
As a single mum, this is the cheapest option to not stress about travelling with a five-year-old. Also, since we fly economy or budget airlines, we can still enjoy some “luxury”.
Many travel credit cards will offer a perk of airport lounge access through them. Depending on the membership price and the calibre of the card you chose.
For instance, the American Express Gold, regarded as the best free card for newcomers in the hobby, provides four complimentary entries per year, whereas the Amex Platinum allows unlimited visits (naturally, there is a difference in the membership cost of the card). You can use my referral for extra points for the Amex Gold card.
Numerous cards in the USA offer various promotions, and other credit cards worldwide have different policies regarding lounge access.
You can read about my credit card travel strategy here, but personally, I have an American Express credit card, and as a perk, I get unlimited access to Priority Pass lounges around the world. This is for myself and one guest. Make sure you always do your financial due diligence since this is not financial advice.
If you have a larger family, your spouse can obtain a supplementary card so that everyone has access to the lounge. If only one of you holds a card, you can pay extra for each guest to enter the lounge, which is typically charged to your credit card bill. This option is also more economical than booking directly with the lounge or through Priority Pass.
If only one of you has a card, you can pay extra per guest to visit the lounge, and normally, you will pay for that through your credit card bill.
This also is cheaper than booking directly with the lounge or Priority Pass.
3 Third Party Airport lounge providers
You can also buy a membership for airport lounges from third-party standalone companies like PriorityPass and Lounge Key to name a few big players.
These lounges are usually not as nice as the airline lounges but still are decent and offer basic facilities like food, and drinks; many offer showers and a quiet space to wait for your flight. I love the app LoungeBuddy, which reviews airport lounges and categorises them by the facilities and your status.
The cost of accessing these lounges varies based on the specific lounge you wish to enter. Priority Pass, which I currently hold, offers various membership levels and access options that you can explore on their website. You can purchase access in any amount that suits your needs.
Another option, particularly in the UK and at smaller regional airports, is to pre-book or purchase access at the door. Prices for this vary, and especially during the summer, my local lounge becomes extremely difficult to access.
However, it remains a viable option and typically costs around £20-30. This same principle applies to airport lounges abroad, so if you don’t have a membership but seek ad hoc access, checking the available airports and lounges is a wise choice.
How to get into airport lounges for free?
Sadly there is nothing that is free unless you have a friend who can allow you to enter a lounge with them. You can have a “free” option with a travel credit card, but again, you are most likely to be paying a monthly or yearly fee for the card.
The only free option available if you are new to the American Express Gold Card is that, for the first year, your membership fee of £145 is waived, and you also receive four complimentary lounge passes to use. However, if you do not cancel after your first free year, you will be charged the annual fee.
Are Airport lounges worth it when travelling with kids?
Yes!
Let me be completely honest – travelling with my daughter has made me truly appreciate airport lounges. If you’ve ever tried chasing a toddler around a busy terminal or struggled to find a clean, quiet space to change a baby’s diaper, you’ll understand why I say this!
Many lounges, especially in larger airports, have surprised me with their family-friendly features. For instance, the Thessaloniki airport lounge had a lovely children’s corner that kept my daughter happily occupied, and Athens airport had a prayer area where I could pray. This kind of setup makes the pre-flight experience so much more manageable.
The practical benefits are significant too:
- A quiet space where kids can move around without you constantly worrying
- Easy access to food and drinks (no more hunting for snacks with a hungry child!)
- Clean, less crowded bathrooms
- Comfortable seating where little ones can actually rest
One quick tip, though – always check the age policy for children. I learned this the hard way once when I had to pay extra for my daughter because I didn’t realize that particular lounge considered children over 2 as adults. Some lounges are more generous, allowing kids up to 6 years old in for free.
Wellcome Lounge in Jeddah airport as well as the Saudi Airlines lounge ( accessible via status) have some areas for the kids. The Primeclass Medinah airport lounge does as well.
I am also hoping to check out the Centurion lounges in the US soon insha’Allah, since they are also a perk of my Platinum card.
Airport Lounges for Leisure travellers
If you don’t fly as often but still fancy the occasional splurge, or if you consume alcohol, lounges can offer decent value when booked on an ad-hoc basis. It all hinges on how frequently you travel and whether a membership is worth the cost for your family.
I appreciate my third-party access, as it allows me to use the airport lounge even when flying in economy or with low-cost airlines from small regional airports. It simply provides me with greater flexibility.
Is It Really Worth the Price?
Here’s how I look at it – if you’re an occasional leisure traveller who maybe flies once or twice a year, paying for individual lounge access might make sense for special occasions. However, if you’re like me and travel several times a year, especially with my daughter, having a credit card with lounge access can offer incredible value.
Let me break down the math from my own experience:
- Average lounge entry: £25-30 per person
- Traveling with 2-3 people: £50-90 per visit
- Multiple trips per year: This adds up quickly!
Before renewing my Amex Platinum, I calculated that I’d saved approximately £300 solely on lounge access for myself and my daughter.
The annual fee I pay for my credit card is easily offset by just a few lounge visits, not to mention all the other card benefits.
In conclusion, whether airport lounges are worth it or not depends on your travel style and what you seek from your experience.
For me, the “upgraded” experience is worthwhile as I perceive the value of using lounges to outweigh the annual credit card fee I pay. I travel several times a year, and for two or three people, I would have spent well above the membership fee I pay for my Amex card.
As I get older, and now as a single mother, I value my sanity and comfort more, as travelling can be exhausting. If I can make the experience less stressful for both my child and myself, then I will gladly do so.
Additionally, if I were to wander around the airport terminal, perusing the snacks and shops, I would likely end up spending more overall than the cost of the lounge. Yes, I’ve been there too!
Overall for me, airport lounges are definitely worth the expense because I use them a lot throughout the year.
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