Cheap airport lounge access

stevie11

EssexExile wrote: »

They are not really lounges like the posh ones at major airports. The last time I used them we went into one, it was full so the nice lady took us down a corridor to another, that was full so we went further & eventually found one that had two seats available. It was so crowded & noisy that we didn't stay long.

I can sort of agree with this comment. The smaller privately run lounges like to be at higher capacity which means they are generating more income. There are always going to be quiet and busy times but the busier they are means more money.

I do like the idea of Priority Pass introducing a credit at airport bars/restuarants, it makes a change from sitting in a lounge with a few curled up sandwiches.

Whereas the airline based lounges access is usually based on airline status, of course there will also be quiet and busy times but I have found the major airport lounges (Oneworld lounges) to be far superior in the main compared to equivelant private lounges with regards to facilities and food & drink offerings and also comfort and service. In one way the airline lounges especially first class have to maintain high standards to keep pax continiuing to fly with that airline as it can be a major perk of the status.

pingu

darren72 wrote: »

Do you get them free with RBS or do you have to pay a monthly fee with your bank to get that ?

yes monthly fee
but they are slowly taking usefull benefits away for me anyway so i might be upgrading my halifax account soon
used to get decent flight/holidays deals with rbs and lounge included
now its 2 per year(might as well get american express every year)

pingu

EssexExile wrote: »

They are not really lounges like the posh ones at major airports. The last time I used them we went into one, it was full so the nice lady took us down a corridor to another, that was full so we went further & eventually found one that had two seats available. It was so crowded & noisy that we didn't stay long.

i see what you mean but booking posh cost a lot and i am not posh or rich:D

Emilybutt12

Hi all,


This may have been asked before but does anyone know whether the airport lounge asks for a boarding pass for access? We fly at 1pm, and to make the most of our 3 hour access I am booking the lounge access to say that my flight is a 12pm which means we can get access from 9am and use it for the full 3 hours as we would have to leave at 12pm to get onto our plane. But will we get to the reception and be asked for our boarding pass which will obvously say 1pm flight and then not be allowed access until 10am. I hope this makes sense.


It is my husband, son and my husbands elderly parents travelling so we want to give ourselves plenty of time to check in, relax and then get on the flight.


Thanks

motorguy

bradders1983 wrote: »

Not my experience of the Manchester ones, last time I was there (early morning on an August weekday) it was dead. You must have got unlucky.

A week on Saturday I shall be using the one at Doncaster/Sheffield Airport, shall report back.

It varies depending on time of year and day of the week.

Over the summer months the Manchester Lounges can be full at times, not so much away from peak times and during winter schedule.

I'm in the Escape Lounge most Thursday evenings.

motorguy

Emilybutt12 wrote: »

Hi all,


This may have been asked before but does anyone know whether the airport lounge asks for a boarding pass for access? We fly at 1pm, and to make the most of our 3 hour access I am booking the lounge access to say that my flight is a 12pm which means we can get access from 9am and use it for the full 3 hours as we would have to leave at 12pm to get onto our plane. But will we get to the reception and be asked for our boarding pass which will obvously say 1pm flight and then not be allowed access until 10am. I hope this makes sense.


It is my husband, son and my husbands elderly parents travelling so we want to give ourselves plenty of time to check in, relax and then get on the flight.


Thanks

They generally do ask for your boarding pass, but i think its generally for name confirmation. At busy times they may be more sticky than at slack times.

motorguy

pingu wrote: »

i quite like lounges at Manchester airport aspire are better than escape
if i book with my bank RBS get it free otherwise under£20 well worth
RBS limiting 2visits per year soon

Funnily as a frequent flyer its the Escape Lounge I would go to every week not Aspire. Better range of hot foods, easier to get drinks (beers and soft drinks are self serve) and IMHO the staff are friendlier.

novelty-socks

stevie11 wrote: »

Whereas the airline based lounges access is usually based on airline status, of course there will also be quiet and busy times but I have found the major airport lounges (Oneworld lounges) to be far superior in the main compared to equivelant private lounges with regards to facilities and food & drink offerings

Would 100% agree on this, based on pay-per-visit lounges in Dublin and Manchester vs. airline lounges in Heathrow, Vancouver, Brisbane, San Francisco and Seattle. The worst of those airline lounges (in my opinion, the United business lounge at San Francisco) was probably on a par with the pay-per-visit lounges. Some of the others are vastly, vastly better.

For example, the United and Virgin lounges at Heathrow are both in a different league. Table service food, extensive bars, haircuts and massages...

bradders1983

bradders1983 wrote: »

Not my experience of the Manchester ones, last time I was there (early morning on an August weekday) it was dead. You must have got unlucky.

A week on Saturday I shall be using the one at Doncaster/Sheffield Airport, shall report back.

As promised:

Only two flights departing that afternoon (mine and a Jersey one which was almost ready to board) so the airport was quiet, therefore the lounge was too.

Cant fault it at all. Hot food topped up constantly (pizza was fantastic) and you could also order a made to order hot dish, I had the fish finger sandwich which wasnt made with cheap looking ones at all.

Waitress service for anything alcoholic, only downside was the draught Heineken was off as someone had turned the cooler off, everything else was on optics and in bottles but this was fine and plenty of other things to go at.

Will 100% use it again

dont_use_vistaprint

If you dont have Virgin Atlantic Gold or similar (takes approx 20 premium class flights) then the annual Dragon Pass is the best option. I wouldn't bother with paying for no.1 Lounge or similar they are not worth it.