How to get access to the best airport lounges, using Priority Pass, Amex and more

While the likes of Zoom might have partially killed off the days of executives racking up obscene numbers of air miles, even not-particularly-frequent fliers could benefit from investing in a pass that gives you access to plush airport lounges. 

It’s not possible to get into a first-class lounge without a business or first class ticket, but there are plenty of luxe airport spaces owned by private companies that will give you access regardless of your plane ticket. But you’ll either have to pay extra for entry, or hold certain financial products.

These lounges can provide a haven from the hustle and bustle of the main airport, and usually offer – among other things – complimentary food and a fully-stocked bar. 

Here, Telegraph Money outlines your options for getting through the doors.

The convenience of a Priority Pass

Priority Pass is an airport lounge access subscription service, where frequent travellers can benefit from extra airport amenities without having to fly first class. 

There are three subscription options. Standard membership costs £69 a year and you can gain lounge access for £24 per person – that is, you and a guest. For Standard Plus membership, you’ll pay £229 a year, for which you’ll get 10 free visits, and extra guests cost £24. The Prestige tier costs £419 offering unlimited visits – though guests are still £24 a pop.

There are 1,300 lounges and travel experiences you can access, spread across 600 cities in 148 countries.

The key appeal to airport lounges is that they’re a quieter space away from the usual airport chaos, and should provide things like comfier seating options, as well as a few free services, which can vary. They won’t be as luxurious as a first class lounge, but you’d certainly expect them to be better than the cramped rows of plastic seating on offer to the rest of the airport crowds.

Most lounges tend to include free drinks and “light bites” (though some more premium options may have larger meals), free Wi-Fi and charging points, and quiet spaces to work or relax. Some also have conference rooms, showers, spas and sleeping options – but you might have to pay extra to use them.

There are other perks that come with a Priority Pass. For example, you can go to The Grain Store at London Gatwick’s South Terminal, show your Priority Pass and get £15 off the food and drink bill for each pass holder. 

You might also want to consider its rival scheme, Dragon Pass, which gives you access to a global range of over 1,100 lounges with three memberships to choose from. 

The Classic plan costs £68 a year and comes with just one free lounge visit. The Preferential plan gives you eight visits a year, and the Prestige package comes with unlimited visits at £379 a year. All tiers allow you to buy extra passes for you and guests at £24 each.

Amex Platinum Cardmembers

American Express Platinum Card holders get Priority Pass membership as a perk of their credit card, which entitles you to unlimited complimentary lounge visits. If you give a partner (or friend or family member) a supplementary credit card, which is free, they get Priority Pass membership, too. 

With your card you not only get access to Priority Pass lounges, but can also access lounges provided by Delta Sky Club, Plaza Premium Lounges, Centurion lounges. Access even extends to Eurostar lounges.

The Platinum card comes with other benefits including travel insurance and retailer discounts – and has a £575 annual fee.

The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card also entitles you to Priority Pass membership for four lounge visits a year. This can be you and three others once, you and a friend twice, or you by yourself four times. This Amex card is free for the first year, and £160 a year after that. 

Amex is not the only credit card option for airport lounge access. For example, Mastercard has a deal with LoungeKey – a network of worldwide lounges. No membership card is required, you just show your credit card.

The Santander World Elite card costs £15 a month and gives you free airport lounge access for you and additional cardholders through LoungeKey. 

The HSBC Premier World Elite card – at £195 a year – also allows access to the LoungeKey network.

Other ways to get lounge access

Buy a day pass

You can buy a pass for privately-owned lounges such as No1 Lounges, which operate under a few brands, too – My Lounge, Club Aspire, and Clubrooms. It has several lounges in the UK – including at Heathrow terminals 3 and 5, Gatwick, Edinburgh and Manchester – and some further afield in Las Vegas, Orlando and Atlanta.

Lounge prices at Heathrow airport start from £35 per person. You can buy a pass on the day, but you run the risk of it being full and it might be cheaper to book in advance.

Access via packaged account perks

Some packaged bank accounts include airport lounge access among their list of features, but there may be minimum income restrictions and they come with monthly fees. 

For example, the NatWest Premier Reward Black account, which costs £31 a month, comes with DragonPass membership among the list of benefits.

Elsewhere, Barclays current account customers can buy the “Travel Plus Pack”, which costs £18 a month, and gives you six free airport lounge passes a year DragonPass – as well as travel insurance, car breakdown cover and access to a concierge service. 

Use airport lounge discounts

Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club, the frequent flier programme, offers lounge perks to members. It says there are discounts on day passes to No1 Lounges at Heathrow Terminal 3, Gatwick and Birmingham. And No1 Lounges also offers a free glass of champagne for Virgin Atlantic passengers who book their entry in advance. 

HSBC’s Premier credit card (no annual fee) allows customers to access the LoungeKey network with each visit at a rate of £20 per person. 

Barclays Avios Plus card customers can get a discounted rate of £18.50 per lounge pass, per person via DragonPass. The credit card has a monthly fee of £20.