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Original poster

Airport lounges with children

35 replies

Frustratedmama22 · 15/03/2023 16:16

My children are 1 (nearly 2) and 4 years old. I’m thinking of booking the airport lounge for our upcoming holiday, just not sure if it will be worth it. I can get it for £79 for all four of us, just not sure we’d spend that on food and drink out of the lounge.

If you’ve been in one with children, what were the pros and cons of it?

Thanks

OP posts:
MrsBunnyEars · 15/03/2023 16:23

I’ve actually found being out of the lounge better with my toddler (2 flights in, lots out). She’s not fussed about free food, but she does like lots of space to walk about and interesting shops to look at.

Unless you’ve got a long transfer so want somewhere quiet for a nap or something, I wouldn’t bother.

QuillBill · 15/03/2023 16:25

I don't think you could get the value on food, but at least you can sit down and relax in a civilised way.

Although thinking about it I never let my dc sit down at an airport! Keep them moving.

MrsMitford3 · 15/03/2023 16:26

Some lounges have smaller designated areas for children so make sure what you are booking allows you the space that you want!

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jellycakeandicecream · 15/03/2023 16:27

Some are wonderful. Others are basically a bottomless brunch surrounded by rowdy people trying to drink as much as they can to get 'value' out of the lounge.

daretodenim · 15/03/2023 16:32

Depends what sort of lounge it is and whether you have a child that needs to use their energy before a flight or is happy being relatively still. Also depends on the airport because some have small play areas - and how long you think you'll be in the airport for AND how close the lounge is to the departure terminal!

Lots of factors!

maddy68 · 15/03/2023 16:36

I'm not sure. Will they take advantage of the food and drink ? Probably better saving your money and just finding a more child friendly environment so they are entertained in the play areas and not getting shushed by business people working in the lounges

Knullrufs · 15/03/2023 16:44

I use lounges a lot and I rarely see people with kids in there. There must be a reason — I wouldn't have thought an airport lounge is an especially great area if you're four. I think the 'value' is for adults, not children.

Many of the lounges are targeted at a business audience. Several airports have dedicated family/kid space that is separate to the lounges.

The lounges I use tend to be full of either people working, or middle-aged men drinking quadruple whiskeys alone.

DuvetDownn · 15/03/2023 16:48

I’m not sure if you’ll get your money worth’s but it’s a nice start to the holiday.

berksandbeyond · 15/03/2023 16:49

The ones you pay for are terrible. Not relaxing at all.

CatOnTheChair · 15/03/2023 17:06

Find the kids area in the airport, and let them go wild. Much better than making them sit.
The only airport lounge we used to use was a) free with DHs credit card and b) in one of the shitest airports I've had the misfortune to need to use. It's a totally random one, and I guarantee you aren't using it for your holiday!

Oblomov23 · 15/03/2023 17:24

I doubt I'd bother. Surely at that age they wouldn't benefit much, nor would you.

Favouritefruits · 15/03/2023 17:30

I’m tight and I have always forked out for the airport lounge with my children, it saves me so much energy and angst. Children are safe and in a secure area, no wondering where to eat or drink, no faffing about in shops, just airport lounge straight to the gate, perfect!

tuvamoodyson · 15/03/2023 17:30

berksandbeyond · 15/03/2023 16:49

The ones you pay for are terrible. Not relaxing at all.

I’ve found them to be quite the opposite! Rarely have seen any children in any of them tbh

AtLeastThreeDrinks · 15/03/2023 17:39

I wouldn’t bother, spent more time trying to keep DC quiet / out of people’s way. I only enjoy lounges when I can sit, read and enjoy the free food and drink! Which airport are you flying from? Heathrow has soft play areas for kids at each terminal. Think you’d be better off wearing them out and grabbing sandwiches. The food at some lounges can be hit and miss (that said, others are great! But will you really enjoy a sit-down serviced meal with young kids?)

Whosaysyoucanthaveitall · 15/03/2023 18:10

We use the airport lounges everytime we fly which is probably every 6 weeks or so - I have a 4yo and it’s perfect for her. The food is always pretty kid friendly, comfortable seating, tables for colouring in/games/magazines and decent Wi-Fi for iPads. We have a standard set up - quickly through security, WHSmith for her to choose a magazine (that’s the most painful part of the journey) then straight into the lounge.
it works well, and in a busy airport you’re not standing with hoards of people looking for seats.

Pseudonamed · 15/03/2023 18:14

I go to lounges to get away from other peoples kids as do a LOT of people especially those of us that travel for work. Would never have brought mine in to them when they were young.

NotJohnWick · 15/03/2023 18:17

Wouldn't bother. By the time you've checked in luggage at the desk, then buggy at the next desk, then gone through security, and gone to the loo and changed a nappy and got the bigger one to have a wee, in my experience you have enough time to let them look at the toys in WH Smith or similar, buy some sandwiches and snacks in Pret, and it's time to go join the boarding queue.

Original poster
Frustratedmama22 · 15/03/2023 18:55

There’s three lounges at this airport, one of them in adult only for people like yourself that wish to get away from children around the airport.

OP posts:
Sorryyoufeelthatway · 15/03/2023 18:57

Not all children are feral, screaming for ipads and running about ffs.
We always go to the BA lounge before flights. Its much calmer, space to sit, eat and chill. Enjoy!

Lcb123 · 15/03/2023 18:59

I wouldn’t bother - I’ve never had time at the airport to do more than a quick toilet stop and walk to the gate! If there’s massive queues at check in and security, which is likely, you’ll miss out.

SheilaFentiman · 15/03/2023 19:00

Have taken mine to BA lounges when little and they were fine. Not sure I would pay for it but it is a nice experience!

TheChosenTwo · 15/03/2023 19:07

We spend more than that just sitting and having a meal before a flight so it would be better value for us. But my dc are older teens and 11 so we tend to just hang about in the terminal/eat/shop for the one hour we end up having before our gate is called.
Dh and I often book a lounge when it’s just the two of us, it’s just quieter, guaranteed seats somewhere chilled and we both have a few drinks. Certainly not the point of rowdiness but definitely more than one or two depending on how long we’ve got before our flight.
There are adult only lounges which we book and ones you can use with children.
To be honest though, they seem a bit of a waste for us, we don’t ever have hours to kill and in fact always ends up being a bit of a rush just getting through all the security checks etc.

KenAdams · 15/03/2023 19:10

Which lounge is it? It makes a difference.

mindutopia · 15/03/2023 19:22

I wouldn’t bother. I enjoy an airport lounge, but only for sitting down in peace and relaxing. You’ll be stuck sitting down the whole flight trying to contain the chaos. Use the airport to wander and play and get the energy out. I’ve never spent that much either just wandering around the airport even having a meal.

AviMav · 15/03/2023 19:26

At £79 I would give it a try. Chances are your kids will love it if adults are separate and have their own lounge. Otherwise I would of said no

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