I frequently see mention of arrivals lounges, but I've never gone to one and I'm not sure I understand how it works.

In my experience lounges are always inside security, so how do you get back there after you've collected luggage?

Do you go back through Security?

JFK for example? After customs, you are fed right out through the sliding doors into the arrivals..um corridor...then right out of the buliding.

Do you go back upstairs and through security again? With Luggage?

Or do you go up as though you are transferring? If so, they don't check for onward boarding pass?

Also, assuming I get that part sorted out, and I want to meet someone in the lounge who is arriving (JFK terminating), I'm thinking of buying a fully refundable ticket just to go inside.

Are there any tricks? Are they really fully refundable? (I just don't trust expressions like that when written by an airline!) No $10 fees, $50 service charges, limitations, etc on a "fully refundable" ticket?

I can still get a refund after I check in, get a boarding pass and go to the lounge as long as I don't board? Also, as a courtesy (maybe just for good Karma) would you go right to the lounge desk and tell them you're not getting on the plane so they can resell it?

Thanks all!

-R