I’m a huge fan of Airport Lounges, however they’re not all the same and it’s important to do some research beforehand to pick the best suited to your needs and desires. I can say that they all are infinitely better than sitting sardined amongst the throng of people in the general waiting areas of the airport. But some have much better amenities than others, so what I like to do is look online for reviews, if I can find them, of each lounge in the airport I’m spending time in and decide from there.
If you’re enjoying a Business or First Class ticket, you most likely will have included access into the airport lounge affiliated with your flight or if that’s not available, one of the lounges from a partner company. For example, American Airlines is partnered with British Airways, so you would have access to both lounges if available at your destination. Most likely it will be an American Airlines lounge in the US and the British Airways lounge across Europe. If you’re flying Economy and don’t have a lounge pass included in your ticket, it’s well worth the $50+ expense to enjoy an airport lounge during your layover.
So what’s available to you when you enter? The basics are more legroom, which means larger comfy chairs often with access to a side table that has a usb port or outlet to plug in any tech devices you carry. There is usually a buffet with hot and cold food, a wide assortment of beverages, sometimes alcohol and attendants to keep everything fresh and well stocked. These buffets vary from a few items to many and the best lounges have labels that tell you such things like “Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free or specifically any allergens.” As someone who is Gluten-Free and primarily Dairy-Free, this is really important to me. If the food isn’t labeled, I always ask an attendant to find out what I can eat. More often than not though, if you have dietary restrictions, it’s best to prepare ahead of time and bring your own snacks in case the only thing available to you is fruit and/or salads.
Other amenities include bathrooms within the lounges that offer hand wash, hand cream and mouthwash. And some of these lounges also offer showers and rooms to nap in. This is a huge plus, but I’ve only found a few lounges that offer this, so if these are a necessity for you, look online beforehand to make sure these are available.
The last thing I would highlight are the flight boards. Almost all airport lounges have their own flight board showing you arrivals and departures, and you can always ask the lounge attendants at the front check in desk to update you on your flight at any time.
So there you have it! A short, but sweet inside scoop into the benefits of airport lounges while traveling. It’s a must for me now if I have a significant layover and I’m excited for you to have the same experience. Give yourself this gift of comfort and peace and your trip will be that much better!
