Travelers are flocking to airport lounges in search of complimentary food, drinks and perhaps most importantly, a chance to relax away from the hordes of travelers at the gate.
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Travelers are flocking to airport lounges in search of complimentary food, drinks and perhaps most importantly, a chance to relax away from the hordes of travelers at the gate.
Knowing that you'll have a comfortable and relaxing place to go after the stress of airport security may change how you feel about your trip. For many travelers, an airport lounge experience helps to reduce anxiety and makes spending time at the airport more enjoyable — which helps to start their trip off right.
The Cons of Airline LoungesIf the lounge is crowded, you might still be able to find a seat, but you could be waiting longer for drinks and have to put up with more noise. If you decide to take your family on your business trip, which some travelers choose to do, take note that not all lounges are family friendly.
Most major airlines sell annual memberships that provide unlimited access to their lounge networks, even if you're not flying in a premium cabin. The cost varies depending on whether you have elite status and whether you're buying a new membership or renewing.
You can stay overnight and sleep at 24-hour airport lounges, as long as they don't have any rules on how long you stay. Many airport lounges close at night or limit access to just a few hours before your flight. Go to your airport lounge program's website to review hours and rules at the lounge you want to visit.
In other words, smart-casual is a good rule of thumb to follow when deciding what to wear in an airport lounge. This means being neat and presentable without being too formal. However, you will find that there are several airport lounges that don't care what you wear as long as you're not offending anyone.
In most airport lounges, you're allowed to stay for 2-3 hours before departure or after landing. Some also offer extended stays for upwards of 5 hours.
In our airport guides, we include lounges that economy-class travellers can access by paying at the door, purchasing a lounge pass or joining a lounge membership program.
Some lounges don't allow you to take food and beverages from the lounge. However, some won't mind if you take a couple of sealed items like bags of crisps, a yogurt or bottled soft drinks for your onward journey.
You can get free access to an airline lounge by redeeming miles or opening a credit card with lounge benefits. Airline elite status also comes with lounge benefits. If you're a U.S. military member on active duty, you might qualify for free lounge access with select airlines.
Centurion Lounges are definitely a worthwhile benefit if you're able to use them three or four times per year. I'd estimate that visiting the Centurion Lounges in both Dallas and Denver saved me $180+ on food and alcohol.
If airlines give you something for free, always take it (even if you don't like cookies). Getting a credit card for the lounge access: Tricky. Because these lounges will be available to anyone with the same card, they will likely be crowded almost by default.
Airport lounges provide a standard of service that cannot be mirrored outside the lounge doors. For that reason, a dress code helps to maintain lounge users' expectations.
Many lounges don't even require that you be flying their airline! Most of the lounges that sell day passes belong to U.S.-based airlines like Alaska Airlines (Alaska Lounge), American (Admirals Club), and United (United Club).
Each credit card company sets the terms of Priority Pass Select; while they all include at least 10 free visits to Priority Pass lounges, only some allow unlimited free visits. Others allow you to bring unlimited guests for free, while some cap free guests at two, and yet others still charge for guests.
A recent Airport Experience Research report found that over 57% of those classified as frequent flyers have accessed a lounge at some point during their life ? when the survey was conducted in past years, that number hovered around 40%.
Choosing a Priority Pass membership which is right for youAs a Priority Pass Member, you'll have access to 1,400+ airport lounges and travel experiences worldwide, allowing you to enjoy your time at the airport on both your outbound and return journey. Many payment cards offer complimentary Priority Pass membership.