How Do Airport Lounges Work:
The way airport lounges work is very simple but many people don’t really understand who can access them.
Airport lounges are basically exclusive ‘departure waiting areas’ that offer passengers a range of facilities.
These facilities include:
- Complimentary Food and Drink.
- Comfortable Seating
- WiFi
- Business Facilities
- Showers
- TV’s
And much more.
Many people believe that you can only use an airport lounge if you are travelling Business or First class. However, this really is not the case and it airport lounges are open to everyone who wants to use them.
In fact, to gain access to an airport lounge, guests must have one of the following:
- Premium Boarding Pass Such as Business or First Class
- Airline Loyalty Card
- Credit Card With Specific Banks
- Paid For Day Pass
As a result of the above, it means that anyone can actually gain access to an airport lounge, regardless of what class they are travelling.
Types Of Airport Lounges:
There are now many different types of lounges available at airports all around the world. These lounges range from airlines having their own lounges for passengers through to independent lounge run by networks and loyalty/memberships programs.
For Example:
Airline Lounges:
Examples of lounges operated by airlines themselves include:
- BA (British Airways)
- Lufhansa
- Etihad
- Emirates
- Virgin
Generally, to access lounges that are operated by the airlines themselves, you will need to be flying Business or First class with that specific airline. However, some Airlines do allow access to their lounges if you are travelling with one of their alliance partners or are a paying member to a loyalty program.
Credit Cards:
As previously mentioned, many lounges allow access if you hold a specific type of credit card. Popular credit cards include:
- American Express
- Barclays Avios Plus
- NatWest Reward Black
- Capital One
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
Independent Lounges:
There are now a large number of independent lounges that are run by different companies. Many of these lounges are operated by companies that offer access via paid memberships programs. Some of the most popular companies and programs include:
- Priority Pass
- Plaza Premium
- No1 Lounges
- Chase Sapphire Lounges
Day Pass:
Purchasing a day pass, allows access to the airport lounge for a small fee. This can either be paid for Online in advance or directly at the reception of the airport lounge itself.
Summary:
As you can see, airport lounges work on a specific system that allows passengers access. There are several different ways to gain access which include holding a Business or First class ticket, via a loyalty program or specific type of credit card.
We hope this short guide has helped provide useful information and offered a little insight into how do airport lounges work.