An airport lounge turns the wait after security into something closer to a rest: a seat you do not have to hunt for, food and drink, and somewhere quiet to charge a phone or open a laptop. Whether it is worth the money depends on how long you will be waiting, who you are travelling with, and what you would have spent in the terminal anyway. This guide sets out what you get, what it costs, who it suits, and how to book one well.
What you get
- A seat and some quiet. The main thing most people are paying for, especially on a busy holiday morning when every terminal seat is taken.
- Food and drink. Most lounges include a buffet or light menu, soft drinks, tea and coffee, and alcoholic drinks for adults. Premium items, such as champagne or cocktails, often cost extra.
- Wi-Fi, charging and flight screens, so you can work or watch for your gate without leaving your seat.
- Sometimes more. Some lounges come with fast-track security: the 1903 Lounge at Manchester Terminal 3 includes it, and pre-booking a lounge at Gatwick often includes priority security too.
Rules vary by lounge. Some are for adults only, including the 1903 Lounge at Manchester Terminal 3, and alcohol is only served to adults everywhere. Check the lounge's own terms before you book for a family.
What it costs
Booking ahead is almost always cheaper than walking up. At the Escape Lounge in Manchester's Terminal 2, for example, Escape lists pre-booked entry from £41.99 against £55 on the door. At Bristol's Escape Lounge, it is from £43.99 pre-booked against £55 walk-in.
Children usually pay less, typically for ages 2 to 11, and babies under 2 often go free, though some lounges charge from age 3 and a few do not admit young children at all. Prices change with the date and time, so compare them for your flight on your airport's lounge page, for example Manchester, Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Birmingham or Edinburgh.
To work out whether it pays for itself, add up what you would spend airside anyway: breakfast, coffee, a couple of drinks and something to keep the children going. If that comes close to the lounge price, the lounge is mostly paying for the seat and the calm.
Who a lounge suits
- Early departures. If you are through security at 5am with two hours to fill, breakfast and a proper seat make the start of the trip.
- Families who want a table. Somewhere to sit together, with food and drink to hand, is worth a lot with small children.
- Long waits. If you have arrived early to beat the traffic, or the flight is delayed, a lounge is a far better place to wait than a crowded gate area.
- Working before a flight. Wi-Fi, a table and charging points.
It is less worth it for a short wait, for example on a hand-luggage-only trip where you arrive close to the gate time, or at an airport where the lounge you can reach does not suit your flight. At Stansted, the Essence by Escape lounge is in the satellite for gates 1 to 19, which Ryanair and easyJet passengers cannot reach.
Timing your entry
Lounge entry is usually timed. Most lounges let you in from about two and a half to three hours before your flight, and many cap the stay at around three hours. The Escape Lounge at Bristol, for example, opens three hours before departure.
- Get through security first. Lounges are airside, so allow for the queue before your entry time.
- Book the right terminal. At airports with more than one terminal, such as Heathrow and Gatwick, you can only use a lounge in your own departure terminal.
- If your flight is delayed, many lounges let you stay on, but check the lounge's terms, and keep an eye on the screens: the lounge will not hold the plane.
- Leave for the gate in good time. Some gates are a long walk from the lounge, so go when your gate is shown, not when boarding is called.
If you are planning the whole day, our how early to arrive guide shows how the two-hour margin and a lounge booking fit together.
How to book, and what to check
- Book ahead, especially in the holidays. Walk-in entry depends on space on the day, and busy lounges turn people away at peak times.
- Check the terminal and the gate area the lounge serves, and that it is airside after security.
- Check who counts. Whether children and babies need a booking, and the age limits for adults-only lounges.
- Check the cancellation terms before you pay, in case your flight changes.
For everything else to sort before a trip, see the Before You Fly checklist, and for paying and bookings, the booking FAQs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I book an airport lounge on the day?
Often, yes, either online or at the door, but walk-in entry depends on space and usually costs more. At Manchester's Terminal 2 Escape Lounge, for example, it is £55 on the door against from £41.99 booked ahead. In the school holidays, book in advance.
Are drinks included in an airport lounge?
Usually soft drinks, tea, coffee and a selection of alcoholic drinks for adults are included, along with food. Premium drinks such as champagne often cost extra, and alcohol is only served to over-18s.
What happens to my lounge booking if my flight is delayed?
Many lounges let you stay on if your flight is delayed, but terms vary, so check them when you book. Keep watching the departure screens, because the lounge will not hold your flight.
Can I take children into an airport lounge?
In most lounges, yes. Children usually pay a lower rate, typically for ages 2 to 11, and babies under 2 are often free. Some lounges are adults only, such as the 1903 Lounge at Manchester Terminal 3, so check before you book.
Sorted before you fly.
