How to get into airport lounges on the cheap

Did you know you can access airport lounges without spending loads of money, being a business traveller or a frequent flyer? 

If you find the right deal, a lounge pass might help you spend less money at the airport and enjoy a bit more comfort before your flight.

According to Holiday Extras, people spend an average of £36.88 each at the airport.

But the price comparison site has lounges available for less, starting at around £30.39 per person.

And they tend to include most things we buy in the terminal, like food, drink and Wi-Fi, as part of the price.

We've taken a look at some of the ways you can buy a pass without breaking the bank...

First, an introduction to airport lounges

Airport lounges can be quite different to airline lounges, which, as expected, are offered to luxury airline passengers.

They tend to provide free food, drinks, snacks, free WiFi and maybe some magazines. In some cases, they have TVs, showers and games to play, too.

"One‑off lounge passes can start from around £20 per person, and when food and drinks are included, this can work out better value than buying snacks and coffees individually in the terminal," says Kara Gammell, finance expert at MoneySuperMarket.

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But they're not usually as luxurious as the ones provided by airlines, which are typically offered to first or business class passengers or those with elite frequent flyer status.

Airport lounges are open to anyone who buys a pass, regardless of the class they are flying in.

Five ways to save money on a pass

1. Always shop around

Before you book directly through the lounge operator, it's worth checking other sites to see if there's a difference in price.

You can book your access through several websites, including Holiday Extras, Lounge Pass and Travel Supermarket.

It's worth checking the airport's website too.

Last year, consumer champion Which? found the lowest prices were often through Holiday Extras or the specific airport's site.

When we looked at booking the Gatwick No 1 South Terminal lounge for two people in July, we found the airport and the lounge operator were offering the lowest price at £80.

We found a booking for two at the Aspire Lounge Terminal 3 at Manchester Airport for £60.78 through Holiday Extras, which would have cost £75.98 through the operator's website.

It's also worth booking far in advance to get the best savings, Which? said.

2. Check your credit card - and your current account

You might already be able to access airport lounges as a perk of your credit card.

"The biggest potential savings often come from checking what benefits you already have before booking," says Gammell.

Some bank accounts and credit cards may include free or discounted lounge access, even when flying economy.

American Express Gold card members can access lounges around the world, and they get four complimentary lounge passes every year. Any extra visits are offered at a discounted rate.

See the full list of lounges available with the deal here.

Santander, Barclaycard and HSBC all offer access as well.

Here's a look at the credit cards that give customers the perk, put together by Moneyfacts...

There are also three banks offering access as a perk...

It's important to consider all elements of these accounts before you sign up, and you should read all the terms and conditions.

3. Annual memberships

If you're planning on using airport lounges regularly, it might be worth considering an annual membership.

These are offered by schemes such as Priority Pass, Dragon Pass or Executive Lounges by Swissport.

Prices, and what you get for your money, vary depending on the provider and the package you got.

To give you an idea, Priority Pass gives you access to more than 1,800 airport lounges around the world.

A standard plus subscription, recommended for "the regular traveller", costs £229 a year. It gives you 10 free visits and then you will pay a reduced fee of £24 for any extra passes.

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Prestige, for the "frequent traveller", costs £419 a year and gives you unlimited free lounge passes.

If you're not a regular traveller, they are unlikely to be worth your money.

If you are a MoneySuperMarket SuperSaveClub member, you can save up to 45% on airport lounges with a Priority Pass.

4. Sign up to mailing lists

If you can handle a bit of email admin, signing up to a mailing list can bag you a discount.

Stansted Airport is offering a 15% discount on its airport lounges, meaning you could pay as little as £22.09, if you sign up to its newsletter - see the deal here.

No1 Lounges is offering 10% off your first visit to one of its lounges when you sign up to receive its latest offers and updates.

Escape Lounges will give you a code to get 15% off your first visit to any of its UK airport locations when you subscribe to its newsletter.

5. Are you a key worker?

NHS staff, emergency services, social care workers, armed forces and teachers are some of the people who can get a discount on airport lounge bookings.

They can bag a deal by holding a Blue Light Card.

Discounts are available at Priority Pass, Holiday Extras, Priority Booker, No1 Lounges and Escape Lounges.

6. It's always worth an ask

You know the saying - if you don't ask, you don't get.

Well, it's worth applying that when it comes to airport lounge access.

If you are travelling for a special occasion, it's always worth asking at the check-in desk to see if they'll give you a couple of passes.

MoneySavingExpert says it's more likely to work if there's one or two of you rather than a big group.

(c) Sky News 2026: How to get into airport lounges on the cheap