Airport lounges: How does it work? How much does it cost? How to get there?

Recently, I have been lucky enough to be able to access airport lounges during my travels. Like many, I have often wondered what is behind those beautiful doors of “Airport Lounges”, “VIP Space” or “Lounge Space”.

Let me explain how it works.

An airport lounge: what is it?

An airport lounge is a space that allows passengers to wait for their flight in more comfortable conditions than traditional waiting areas at boarding gates.

These spaces are rented :

• Either by airline companies who make them available to their customers
• Either by private companies that market access to these fairs
• Either by bank cards such as Mastercard or American Express which offer access to their premium customers.

In these lounges, one systematically finds :

• Comfortable armchairs
• Unlimited Wifi
• A bar with soft and alcoholic drinks (the number of alcoholic drinks is sometimes limited).
• A buffet (the quality is very uneven depending on the lounge, it can be a real feast or a very minimalist snack)
• Toilets
• Information screens for flights

Depending on the fair, you can also find :

• A massage parlor
• A hairdresser’s salon
• Showers
• Beds
• …

These services are usually charged extra.

These VIP lounges allow passengers to wait for their flight in comfortable conditions, away from the frenzy and noise of the terminal. They are particularly appreciated when you are in transit for long hours between two flights.

Airport lounges are open over a very wide time slot, some are even open 24 hours a day

Where are these airport lounges located?

Airport lounges are generally located at the gate level, after security checks. In large airports, there may be several different lounges in a terminal.

Is it possible to access the airport lounges when a flight arrives?

This is a question that often comes up: airport lounges are rather designed for waiting for a flight but can be accessed upon arrival. For some travelers, it can be a great way to save a meal 🙂

Already, in many airports, this is simply not possible: lounges are located after security checks, impossible to access when a flight arrives

However, this isn’t the case everywhere, especially in small airports. We have seen this in Mexico in the airports of Merida and Oaxaca, where the lounges are located before the entrances. We were in a hurry to get to our accommodation, so we did not go to the lounges in either case.

If the lounge is located before the security controls, there isn’thing to prevent you from accessing it even if you aren’t at the start.

How do I get to the airport lounges?

There are several ways to get access to these fairs:

• If you have a business class ticket, you have access to your company’s VIP lounge (but your company must have a lounge in the airport from which you are departing)
• If you have a Mastercard World Elite card, you can access the 1000 airport lounges in 120 different countries (please note that the N26 card isn’t concerned unless you are a UK resident).
• If you have a Revolut card (Premium or Metal only) you can access the 1000 lounges of the Collinson Group. You have one free access per year and can buy additional access for £25 (about 30 euros)
• You can purchase access directly on site at the lounge counter. Prices vary, but on average you should expect to pay about 40 euros. Objectively I find it expensive but why not if you have a very long stopover and you want to be able to rest.
• By having a Priority Pass card, which I’ll tell you more about just below

The Priority Pass card

Priority Pass is a subscription that provides access to 1300 lounges in 600 cities in 148 countries. You’ll find at least one in every international airport.

Priority Pass offers 3 different packages:

• The Standard offer at 89 € per year allowing you to access the salons at the price of 28 € / visit
• The Standard Plus offer at 259 € per year offering you 10 visits. Additional visits will be charged 28 €.
• The Prestige offer at 399 € / year offering you unlimited access to all the lounges.

The Priority Pass subscription is really ideal because it is the way to access as many lounges as possible. You’re pretty sure you’ll find one near your boarding gate.

With the Prestige offer, you can even allow yourself to test all the lounges in your terminal until you find the one you prefer.

Please note that in addition to the Priority Pass, you must be in possession of a boarding pass for the same day to be admitted to the lounge.

Honestly, I find that unless you travel a lot, the fares are still very high (but that’s probably what keeps the lounges crowded and “VIP”).

The American Express Platinum card allows you to benefit from a Priority Pass Prestige membership free of charge