Airport Lounges

[ChatterMonkey]

Are they worth it...?

Im flying in a couple of weeks (just me and DP) amd looking at possibly booking airport lounge for before, but trying to figure out if the cost is worth it...! Are they as fancy as im imagining?

Its a morning flight we are in, but would probably be having a few drinks (time has no meaning in the airport...!) And some breakfast.

Is the cost worth it?

They aren’t generally that fancy but good for food and few drinks, phone charging, comfier chairs and more peace. I love them and think they’re worth it for special trips

Depends on the cost, if you can get a reasonable deal then it's worth it to get a comfy seat guaranteed instead of competing for seats at the departure gates. The food wasn't amazing last time we used one but it was worth it for the peace and quiet. The one coming back from the USA was better, they had a better selection of snacks and drinks.

Most of the ones you just pay for are fairly average. I try not to be in the terminal for that long, so a few danish pasties and flat cava isn’t worth it for me, even though the peace is nice!

But the fancier airlines’ lounges can be nice, if you have some sort of deal to get into them.

They are ok. Nothing fancy. We've done Gatwick, Manchester and East Midlands and all were rammed so you still struggled to find seats together.

I had access to one recently at Heathrow that just came with economy tickets. Let’s just say I think it’s called Aspire for a reason. Next time I won’t bother with it.

Others are fine, and can be rather nice.

I've been in lounges for work trips and they are ok, but I've always thought I wouldn't spend my own money on it. Better to get nicer food in the terminal

The one's you pay for aren't fancy at all. The food isn't generally good either, I wouldn't pay unless I had a long wait between flights. There are some nice airline ones if you go business or first class, depending on the airline.

I only bother with airline lounges. I find third party lounges mediocre

Agree but I'd still go for a lounge in LGW or r LHR in the summer just for a decent seat, charging points and no queues for the toilets. I never pay full price though.

Only the business/first class lounges are worth bothering with imo.

When my flight was delayed for twelve hours, just after I'd gone through security and immigration at Gatwick, I booked into a lounge (though three hours was the longest I could stay). It wasn't fancy, but at least it was quieter, and I timed it so that I could eat All The Food and All The Drink, to make the cost worthwhile.

I've also used lounges abroad on non-direct long haul journeys, where the stop at the hub airport was more than a couple of hours. Also worth it, and seemed less of an indulgence and more like part of the holiday.

The ones you pay for are crap. Not worth it.

They are no longer fancy as people can just book. When it was only business or first passengers they were much better. I wouldn’t bother unless included in your flight.

I find them worth it.

My other half hated the fact I like to be everywhere very early.

But if we can also use a lounge and he gets free drinks he is fine. He makes sure he gets his £30 worth. I don't drink so value for he is less. But I also appreciated nice loos when feeling a bit apprehensive pre flying.

We never bother on way home.

Ba are rubbish but virgin, gulf etc are quite nice. Virgin upper is lovely at Heathrow

Which airport?

BA Gatwick Business Class lounge is divine - almost worth missing your flight for. BA Heathrow Business Class lounge is akin to a school dining hall - just noisier and with worse food.

We get access to airport lounges through our bank account. It's a nicer place to wait than the terminal. I don't drink much so it's mostly soft drinks and coffee. Snacks rather than full meals. I think if you have to pay for the lounge at Glasgow it's £29 and that's definitely not worth it.

I booked one at Heathrow and really didn't rate it. The breakfast was rubbish.

I have a dragon pass with my RBS bank account which gives me lounge access at most airports.

I travel a quite a bit for work but not enough to get lounge access that way.

Love my dragon pass. Saves me a fortune in food costs and gives me a nice quiet comfortable seat to chill in before my flight.

It's just a more relaxing way to travel. I would definitely pay

I've never seen anyone getting sloshed in the lounge.

We paid for the Terminal 5 Aspire lounge at Heathrow when we went to the US. It seemed to just be an afterthought, squashed on a mezzanine at the edge of the airport, really narrow and crowded-feeling, bustling, not at all luxurious. It was hard to find a table. There were tables with dirty plates and glasses on everywhere. Food average. It didn't even have toilets, you had to leave the lounge to go to the loo! It wasn't worth it.

In contrast on the return journey from LA we were business class. The business class lounge at LA was amazing. Felt exclusive. Large, quiet. Loads of free places to sit, quiet corners which felt private. Calm atmosphere. Food really good. Once in the UK we had use of the business class lounge at Heathrow T5. It wasn't good in comparison. Far far too many people. Staff couldn't keep up with the mess. Hard to find a seat for 4 of us together which had a proper table we could eat at. It was just a real step down in terms of the luxury feeling of LA business class.

Do you research. Some of them are just not worth it.

If you pay for the lounge at Liverpool you don't even get sparkling wine or champagne included. It's extra! What a rip off. I would bet my last penny they had to start charging for it on top of the price of the lounge cos of all the hen parties getting ratarsed on prosecco. If you want to pay 40 quid a head for a breakfast buffet and a seat then crack on but you'd be a fool to in my opinion.

Wow must have taken a lot of effort to be so judgmental...

I wouldnt plan on getting pissed, but a glass or two of bubbly on a much awaited for holiday isnt 'crass'...