You Don’t Have to Spend Your Layover In the Crowded Airport Terminal

Few things are worse than a long airport layover. Angry business travelers, screaming children and overprotective moms can make your terminal wait a whole lot longer. Add a flight delay, and you’ve got a recipe for an unpleasant, if not miserable, experience.

Airport lounges exist for those who would rather relax with a meal, a beverage and a newspaper—who am I kidding, a tablet— in their hands and wait for their flight in a less noisy area. Sounds great, right? But how do you access these lounges? Luckily, there are multiple ways of leaving the hustle and bustle of an airport terminal behind.

Business/First Class Ticket

Flying in a premium cabin comes with a comfy seat (often lie-flat), a tasty meal and fancy champagne at 10,000 feet. It is also a sure way of scoring lounge access while on the ground. Most major airlines have built at least one lounge in their hubs and in some focus airports, and these lounges are available to passengers who sit up front. Simply show your boarding pass at check-in, and you’re good to start relaxing before your flight.

Elite Status

Passengers who fly enough to earn elite status with an airline can benefit from being on the road all the time. As an elite member, you can access that airline’s lounge as well as some partner lounges. Keep in mind that some airlines impose limits on the number of times you can visit a lounge at no cost, but the option is available to frequent flyers who didn’t purchase an annual membership.

Lounge Membership

If you are a road warrior who flies the same airline, or alliance, it can make sense to invest in that airline’s club annual membership. Depending on the airline, the type of membership and guesting privileges, a club membership will set you back $450 to $1,100 annually. And if your employer pays for it, that’s fantastic. I suggest you take advantage of the option…and show some appreciation for your employer.

Day Pass

But what if flying in a premium cabin or being an elite is too rich for your blood? Well, it doesn’t mean you can’t access airport lounges. Many United States-based lounges sell day passes for one-time visits. Depending on the lounge, expect to shell out $45 to $59 per person. If airport meal prices make you cringe and your layover is long enough, purchasing a day lounge pass can be a good investment.

Priority Pass Membership

Priority Pass is a network of airport lounges and includes more than 1,000 lounges across the world, some of which are run by airlines, and some are airport-run. Priority Pass membership can get you into any of these lounges, but you have to invest some money up front. Depending on the membership and the number of visits you get, expect to pay $99 to $399 per year. Investing in lounge access can make sense for frequent travelers who like to get work done while on the road and save money on meals.

Premium Credit Cards

Many premium travel credit cards offer cardholders some sort of lounge access. For example, United MileagePlus Club Credit Card includes United Club membership as well as access to some Star Alliance lounges. Chase Sapphire Reserve Card comes with Priority Pass membership, and The Platinum Card from American Express is the crème de la crème of cards with lounge access, which offers complimentary visits to The Centurion Lounge, Delta Sky Club and Priority Pass lounges.

Hefty membership fees on these credit cards can make you raise an eyebrow ($450 to $550 per year), but they can be worth lounge access alone, never mind all the other perks, including travel protections, baggage delay insurance and bonus points.

In Conclusion

Lounge access isn’t an unattainable commodity meant for premium passengers anymore. Simple folk sitting in the back of the plane can enjoy free Wi-Fi, a drink and some snacks, too. Personally, I’ve entered airport lounges with my Amex Platinum Card or the complimentary Priority Pass membership associated with it, and that’s my preferred way of getting access, but it’s not the only option.

What’s your preferred way of accessing airport lounges?

 

 

[Image Source: AVIA BavARia/Wikimedia Commons]