Airport lounges might be nice locations to calm down earlier than your flight, and having access to them is one among our favourite status and credit card perks right here at TPG.
Once you go to an airport lounge you possibly can take pleasure in complimentary food and drinks whereas stress-free in a quiet, snug place away from the hustle of the primary airport. You will additionally have the ability to cost your gadgets, obtain a couple of TV exhibits courtesy of free Wi-Fi or get some last-minute work performed earlier than your flight. A few of the extra upscale lounges might even have facilities equivalent to a spa, a la carte eating and showers.
This fashion of fancy airport expertise might appear to be it is just for the journey elite, however typically the important thing to accessing an airport lounge is so simple as holding the best credit card.
In case you’ve by no means been in a swanky airport lounge earlier than, listed below are some easy do’s and don’ts to assist maximize the expertise for your self in addition to respect your fellow passengers.
Associated: TPG readers’ favorite airport lounges around the world
Do your homework
Relying on the airport and your fare sort (financial system class, firstclass, enterprise class), you might have entry to a couple of lounge.
For instance, in the event you’re flying on an Oneworld business-class flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), you might have entry to a number of lounges with various facilities, such because the American Airways Flagship Lounge or the Qantas Worldwide First Lounge.
Equally, at London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) you’d have the ability to entry the Cathay Pacific Enterprise Class Lounge, Qantas Worldwide Lounge and, after all, the British Airways Enterprise Class Galleries Lounges.
To get probably the most out of your lounge entry, examine on-line earlier than you journey to reply these questions:
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- What lounges do you’ve got entry to?
- What is taken into account one of the best lounge out of your choices?
- What are the situation, opening hours and entry insurance policies of your most well-liked lounge(s)?
Associated: The best lounges at London Heathrow — and how to get inside
If you do not have standing or a premium-class ticket, there are nonetheless methods to entry lounges. Lounge passes like Priority Pass help you entry a large community of impartial lounges worldwide, typically together with eating and facilities like showers and quiet areas.
Associated: The 9 best Priority Pass lounges in the US
For instance, Precedence Go offers you entry to over 1,300 lounges globally, together with the Membership ATL at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport (ATL) and the Escape Lounge at Minneapolis-Saint Paul Worldwide Airport (MSP).
Membership prices range, beginning round $99 yearly for restricted entry, although many premium bank cards embrace Precedence Go membership or Precedence Go lounge passes as a complimentary profit.
Bank cards that provide Precedence Go advantages
A number of bank cards supply Precedence Go advantages, together with premium journey playing cards just like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and The Platinum Card® from American Express (enrollment required).
You will additionally discover Precedence Go advantages included with some lodge bank cards just like the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (enrollment required) and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
Different playing cards that provide Precedence Go advantages embrace:
*The knowledge for these playing cards has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Associated: 10 credit cards that offer Priority Pass airport lounge access
Do arrive early sufficient to take pleasure in it
When you have entry to a really wonderful lounge, just like the spectacular Chase Sapphire Lounge at LaGuardia Airport (LGA), you need to have sufficient time to take pleasure in it.
It might not make sense to go away house at 4 a.m. to have time for a cocktail earlier than the solar rises. However suppose you’ve got a flight at a extra civilized hour. In that case, it’s best to plan your check-in to permit sufficient time to expertise every thing, together with a glass of bubbly, a view of the runway from the roof terrace and a meal within the formal eating room.
If check-in to your flight opens three hours earlier than departure and it’ll take you about half-hour to examine in, cross by way of safety and stroll to the lounge, that provides you round 90 minutes within the lounge earlier than boarding begins.
This can be a good period of time to discover and take advantage of the lounge.
Dashing in late with solely 5 minutes to scarf down a sandwich and a drink is not probably the most stress-free begin to a flight.
Associated: 5 ways to ensure you have lounge access before your next flight
Do contemplate reserving prematurely
Some lounge manufacturers help you pre-book your go to, and this may be useful if you wish to guarantee entry even throughout peak journey instances when lounges can shortly refill. As an illustration, Plaza Premium Lounges, Aspire Lounges, and The Membership lounges all supply reserving choices on their web sites.
The prices for reserving prematurely range by location however usually vary from $30 to $60 per individual.
Advantages embrace assured entry (which might be essential throughout busy durations) and typically precedence entry, sparing you from potential wait instances. In case your plans change, many of those lounges permit modifications or cancellations inside an inexpensive discover interval.
Do a full lap of the lounge on arrival
One of the best locations to take a seat in a lounge won’t at all times be obvious while you first stroll in.
A phrase of recommendation: The seating close to the doorway or the buffet can typically be busy and never very stress-free.
In case you do a lap of the lounge, you will get your bearings on the place every thing is (together with the loos, charging factors and doable runway views), and you may also spot the quieter and extra peaceable locations to calm down. That is notably helpful in the event you intend to work from the lounge earlier than your flight.
Associated: Best credit cards for airport lounge access in 2025
Do not be scared to ask for assist
Lounge facilities might range extensively, and there might be options you are unaware of. Many premium lounges embrace luxurious facilities equivalent to:
- Showers: Accessible in lounges just like the Cathay Pacific Lounge at Hong Kong Worldwide Airport (HKG) and American Airways Flagship Lounges at John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) and Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA).
- Sleep pods: Present in lounges just like the Turkish Airways Lounge at Istanbul Airport (IST).
- Gyms or spa companies: Current in top-tier lounges just like the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at LHR.
Do not hesitate to ask the lounge reception employees what facilities can be found. In case your lounge does not supply such companies, they could even direct you to a accomplice or close by lounge that does.
Do not take your eye off the time
Many lounges — particularly impartial, third-party lounges — is not going to make boarding bulletins to keep away from disturbing the atmosphere.
If you’re indulging on the bar, time can fly by. Neither the lounge nor the airline will probably be very sympathetic in the event you miss the flight since you loved your self an excessive amount of. Earlier than you enter the lounge, set an alarm for boarding time in your telephone.
Most airline apps will notify you of flight updates in actual time, so ensure you obtain your service’s app beforehand.
Associated: How to avoid flight delays and cancellations
Do regulate your little ones
Airports might be nice locations to wear down younger vacationers earlier than an extended flight, however do not let that come at the price of different vacationers. Nice airport lounges might have a small children’ play space with toys, books and actions, typically in an enclosed room the place children can let off steam with out bothering friends.
It is a good suggestion to stay on this room together with your younger ones to oversee them. Bear in mind, different youngsters within the room might not converse the identical language, so communication might not come simply amongst their friends.
If there isn’t any baby play space, at all times watch your children carefully. The primary part of the lounge just isn’t a playground; different passengers will not recognize them operating by way of the area or leaping on the furnishings.
Associated: Having a 7-hour layover with kids can drive any parent bonkers — here’s how I got through the experience
Do not disturb the peace
FaceTiming family members? Watching a video? Taking an pressing enterprise name? These are tremendous actions in an airport lounge, supplied you put on headphones.
In case you’re taking a confidential name, contemplate ducking into a personal area if out there — you by no means know who might be listening.
Associated: How to choose a credit card for airport lounge access
Do not take extra space than you want
Airport lounges are primarily public areas you share with strangers.
Whereas there could also be a temptation to unfold your baggage and coat throughout a number of seats to present your self as a lot private area as doable, there won’t be sufficient seating for all friends if everybody did this.
Backside line: Do not take up extra space than you want.
Associated: A guide to guest policies for airport lounges
Do not go overboard simply because it is free
You may be tempted to eat and drink as a lot as doable as a result of it is free, however do not. In case you drink an excessive amount of, you won’t even be allowed on the flight, and in the event you eat an excessive amount of, you may break your urge for food to your inflight meal later. In case you plan to go straight to sleep on the aircraft, you may wrestle since you’re too full.
In case you would not eat that a lot at house earlier than mattress, do not do it in an airport lounge.
Finest bank cards for lounge entry
Whereas the strategies under aren’t the one credit cards that have lounge access as a perk, they’re good ones to contemplate if lounge entry is necessary to you.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card affords limitless complimentary entry for you and two friends to greater than 1,300 lounges, together with Capital One Lounges and the Accomplice Lounge Community. Learn our full overview of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
The Platinum Card from American Specific gives entry to the American Specific World Lounge Assortment, together with Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Airspace lounges, Escape lounges, Plaza Premium lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (when touring on same-day Delta flights). (Efficient Feb. 1, 2025: Eligible Platinum cardmembers will obtain 10 visits per eligible Platinum Card per 12 months to the Delta Sky Membership or to Seize and Go when touring on a same-day Delta-operated flight)*. Learn our full overview of the Amex Platinum card.
Chase Sapphire Reserve will get you entry to greater than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide after a simple, one-time enrollment in Precedence Go Choose and as much as $100 software payment credit score each 4 years for World Entry, Nexus or TSA PreCheck. Learn our full overview of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
*Enrollment is required for choose advantages.
Backside line
Lounges could make your airport expertise way more pleasant. In case you’re a frequent traveler or just want to add one thing particular to your subsequent trip, it is value trying into how one can entry them through your bank card standing or whether or not it is value paying money to get inside.
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