Airport Lounge Hacks

Ballard

I flew business to get lounge access and it was good but I didn’t want to eat and drink too much before a long haul flight. I valued the priority security almost as much tbh.

I’m off to the Philippines in November and that will probably be more worthwhile as I have around 3 hours in Dubai each way so I will be able to shower and relax. Both are in the small hours so I doubt that I’ll be interested in any food or drink that’s on offer.

stevie11

Ballard wrote: »

I flew business to get lounge access and it was good but I didn’t want to eat and drink too much before a long haul flight. I valued the priority security almost as much tbh.

I’m off to the Philippines in November and that will probably be more worthwhile as I have around 3 hours in Dubai each way so I will be able to shower and relax. Both are in the small hours so I doubt that I’ll be interested in any food or drink that’s on offer.

Some of the Business/first class lounges have full sit down dining which can in some cases be better than the offering in the air.

It is handy to have a shower before or after a flight but one of my fondest memories of a lounge was the complimentary massage in the Hong Kong Cathay Pacific Lounge

This is going off topic now and not getting the OP his free lounge access.;)

colcheslad

An unscrupulous and immoral way to achieve the lounge for free (and proper airline / alliance lounges) is to buy a fully refundable business class ticket and simply apply for a refund once you're through.

Only in theory though, of course!

Westin

colcheslad wrote: »

An unscrupulous and immoral way to achieve the lounge for free (and proper airline / alliance lounges) is to buy a fully refundable business class ticket and simply apply for a refund once you're through.

Only in theory though, of course!

Unscrupulous, immoral and a bit of a phaff do you not think?

Just Pony up the £20 odd quid if the lounge access is that important and you have no other status or airline cabin fare entitlement.

I think the Op probably now has his answer that there is no free trial offer of a lounge.

shapala

colcheslad wrote: »

An unscrupulous and immoral way to achieve the lounge for free (and proper airline / alliance lounges) is to buy a fully refundable business class ticket and simply apply for a refund once you're through.

Only in theory though, of course!

I thought being a tight Scot I was bad but that takes the biscuit :T:rotfl:

Agree that the paid for lounges can be very average and also they have time limits normally of 3 or so hours, though I've never seen anyone thrown out. However, if you do have a long wait between flights, I would pay for the privilege to have a drink, read a paper and a nice sit down rather than being in an overcrowded airport terminal (as most are these days) and pay over the odds for food and drink. If it's only an hour or two you have, I wouldn't bother imo.

Jane_B

For free, or trial promotions are not done with airport lounges. If you had prepared earlier you could have taken out certain credit cards which offer 6 visits to selected lounges throughout the year, or unlimited (as per Amex)

either pay to enter, or don't. Your choice. I personally wouldn't ever travel now without using them, as I have got used to them, and can't stand waiting in the general airport any more. But to each their own. Free food and drinks are worth it for most.

stevenhp1987

colcheslad wrote: »

An unscrupulous and immoral way to achieve the lounge for free (and proper airline / alliance lounges) is to buy a fully refundable business class ticket and simply apply for a refund once you're through.

Only in theory though, of course!

https://nypost.com/2014/01/29/man-uses-first-class-plane-ticket-to-eat-free-for-a-year/

Saw your comment and remembered about this! People have actually done this before... very unscrupulous though!

zagfles

stevenhp1987 wrote: »

https://nypost.com/2014/01/29/man-uses-first-class-plane-ticket-to-eat-free-for-a-year/

Saw your comment and remembered about this! People have actually done this before... very unscrupulous though!

Brilliant! Top moneysaving :money:MSE should do a news item! And not really more "unscrupulous" than a lot of other moneysaving hacks.

slinga

We're flying Business Class from LHR to Singapore.


LHR to Frankfurt with Lufthansa and Frankfurt to Singapore with Singapore Airlines.


I'm told that the Senator Lounge in Frankfurt has poor food selection and the furnishings are a bit IKEA.


Can we use the Air Canada Maple Leaf lounge instead???


And is there any protocol about which lounges you can use if flying BC.

Keep_pedalling

slinga wrote: »

We're flying Business Class from LHR to Singapore.


LHR to Frankfurt with Lufthansa and Frankfurt to Singapore with Singapore Airlines.


I'm told that the Senator Lounge in Frankfurt has poor food selection and the furnishings are a bit IKEA.


Can we use the Air Canada Maple Leaf lounge instead???


And is there any protocol about which lounges you can use if flying BC.

As you are flying BC with Star Alliance airlines yes you can.

https://www.aircanada.com/uk/en/aco/home/fly/premium-services/maple-leaf-lounges.html