The half-term holidays are just around the corner, and for families planning a short getaway, there’s a deal on airport lounges that could make your journey remarkably stress-free. Competing for a spot in crowded departure areas and shelling out for average airport grub can mar the excitement of travel, but airport lounges aren’t exclusive to VIPs or the deep-pocketed.
For a fee of £48 each, a Priority Pass gives you access to escapes from the hustle and bustle at take-off. Membership opens doors to over 1,700 airport lounges globally, covering gems like Heathrow Airport, London Gatwick Airport, Manchester International Airport, among others.
Those jetting off to Vienna can enjoy a buffet at Vienna Lounge at Vienna Airport, the proud recipient of the recent “Lounge of the Year” accolade from Priority Pass.
These havens typically present a spread of complimentary fare – from light bites to substantial meals and refreshments – offering an economical respite from costly airport restaurants. Ellie Kemp from the Manchester Evening News experienced such serene luxury first-hand, finding a welcome departure from the typical airport turmoil.
Whether it’s settling into plush seating or revelling in tranquil surroundings, these lounges provide solace to weary travellers, allowing them to recharge comfortably before their next leg.
In a recent experiment, Ellie decided to test out the service before her trip to Paris for the Manchester Evening News. She said: “Passengers usually pay a set price to access a lounge, in return for a selection of food and drink nestled away from the hustle and bustle of the Departures waiting area. Manchester Airport, which flies passengers to more than 160 destinations, has nine lounges across its three terminals.”
“The Escape Lounge promises ‘an oasis of calm’ and is the most economical option, priced at £48 per person instead of £69 with a £24 visit fee. Having never tried a lounge before, I decided to see if that really was the case at Terminal 1 – and I can’t believe I ever waited so long.”
After passing through security checks, Ellie compared the entrance process of the lounge to a hotel check-in.
Upon entry, after interacting with two staff members, she was free to partake in the buffet and order from the bar. Reflecting on her experience, she observed: “As I had arrived at 11.30am, the food was being swapped over from breakfast to lunch. A selection of sandwiches, tomato soup, two salads and some nachos were on one buffet bar, with pastries and cakes nearby.”
Ellie raved about her airport lounge adventure, noting: “The trio of sandwiches – cheese, egg or chicken and mayo – looked freshly made and I was instantly drawn to them – which is unusual, as I very rarely fancy sandwiches. To begin, I went for a chicken sandwich and a portion of nachos with salsa and sour cream. The sandwiches really were as good as they looked; light, delicious and the perfect ratio of filling to soft bread.”
She didn’t stop there, as she further indulged in the available cuisine: “For my next course I opted for some hash brown bites, pasta and vegetable curry – which were all top quality, especially the curry, which admittedly I do still think about from time to time now.”
Two hours later, a sense of calm aided by the occasional Prosecco, left Ellie primed for her journey. She concluded: “I fell asleep easily on the plane after my time in the lounge, so for longer-haul flights I would be looking forward to booking again. It’s changed my approach to travel for the better and just demonstrates that some pre-flight downtime – and a splash of luxury – ahead of a long day of travel does wonders for putting your mind at ease.”
Ellie compared it to the prices at the Giraffe restaurant based in Terminal 1. She noted: “Overall, I drank two glasses of prosecco and strawberry juice at the lounge. Two 125ml glasses of Il Baco Seta Prosecco at Giraffe would have put me back by £17, while a cranberry juice would’ve cost £3.75. That’s more than a third of my lounge ticket already spent on drinks.”
“I had a total of two chicken and mayo sandwiches – which would be roughly equivalent to two lots of toast from Giraffe and would have cost me £6.50. The pasta, curry and hash brown concoction, and the portion of nachos and salsa, I would say is equal to the average cost of a ‘main’ restaurant meal – such as a Katsu curry or lasagne. So that would have been £14.”
“And for dessert, I enjoyed the muffin and pastry, which would have been worth around £6.50, or the equivalent to a cheesecake from Giraffe. All in all, I had around £47.75 worth of food and beverages at the lounge – saving me £17.76.”
Ellie also pointed out extra discounts for fliers eager to emulate her thriftiness; these bargains extend not just to Manchester but over 1,700 airports globally. A stellar deal is on offer with Priority Pass, which is slicing 30% off their usual annual membership rate, bringing it down from £69 to a mere £48.
Despite an additional £24 charge per lounge visit, this deal often works out cheaper than purchasing a one-off lounge pass. This is particularly advantageous for frequent travellers as the more lounges are utilised, the more cost-effective Priority Pass becomes.
To illustrate potential savings, the first visit and sign up for a new Priority Pass customer would total £72 (£48 annual fee + £24 visit fee), with subsequent visits costing £24 each. Therefore, four visits over two trips abroad would amount to £288.
Priority Pass lounges also offer a range of benefits depending on the location. These include the option to pre-book airport lounges to avoid disappointment, access to a variety of wellness packages with Be Relax Spas before a flight, and preferential rates at car rental locations.
Alternatively, one-time airport passes can be booked at Heathrow Airport lounges starting from £37 with Expedia or from a selection of UK airport lounges at Holiday Extra for roughly the same price.