CheapFlights.co.uk reveals that airport lounges are the travel industry’s best kept secret
Cheapflights, the UK’s leading website for flight comparison, has published research into the UK’s most popular airports to help inform and educate the general public on airport lounge facilities – and how you can access them. The research, which reviewed the usage, locations, cost and features of airport lounges, was designed to break the misconception that using such a ‘luxury’ will break the bank.
An airport lounge can offer a quiet and comfortable place to escape the crowds of the busy departure hall. With increased security and delays, an oasis away from the chaos can help travellers relax and prepare for the journey ahead.
This research tells us whether lounges at our UK airports are worth it or not, and also reveals what facilities passengers can use. The research stretches across lounges at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Birmingham and Manchester. Heathrow, with 35 lounges throughout the airport, has facilities such as a spa, film screenings and showers, whereas, at Manchester, TVs and games consoles are available to keep the kids occupied, which underlines the notion that airport lounges are family-friendly.
The research also looks at how the UK public can utilise their bank accounts and credit cards to gain access to a selection of airport lounges throughout the UK. Those banking privately with Lloyds can gain access to 19 UK airport lounges – and members of the Natwest Black Account can gain entry to over 550 airport lounges worldwide.
The full research is available in the following infographic.
Airport lounge info
Cheapflights’ travel expert, Pleasance Coddington, comments: “UK airports handle over 235 million passengers a year, making terminals a very busy and stressful place to be. Setting off on a holiday abroad can be quite a daunting task, particularly for the nervous traveller or parents with young children. This research breaks the misconception that airport lounges is strictly for business or wealthier travellers. The benefits of certain lounges across the UK clearly demonstrate that they are family-orientated and open to a wider range of demographics than you might think.
“I hope this research will also empower UK bank account holders and credit card users to look into their terms and conditions to see if they qualify to use airport lounges as part of their banking benefits.”
A priority pass is only £69 and then £15 per flight? That’s awesome value for money to have some space that is relaxing. If only I had known about this earlier!
Your site does not appear to point out SUFFICIENTLY that access to most of them is restricted to frequent flyers or 1st Class and Business Class Passengers.
In other words there are only a few that allow Priority Pass, Diners etc such as Servisair Lounges.
These lounges are not available at Terminal 5 LHR or MAN Terminal 3 which is a disgrace
(at least LHR T5 have an excuse as it is exclusive to BA) but MAN T3 should have facilities for transferring passengers such as a Servisair Lounge or companies such as Priority Pass should be speaking to the owners of Lounges in MAN T3 such as BMI / Flybe ? to allow access.
It should also be said that access to lounges in other terminals is usually restricted unless you are travelling through them.