START
There are some fabulous lounges in airports across the world.
Traveling can be exhausting, and hanging around an airport for hours before your flight or during transit just adds to the general fatigue. But if you can rest in a lounge, eat and drink non-airplane food, get connected to free Wi-Fi, and maybe even sleep for a while before having a shower, things perk up immediately.
Whether you have achieved certain frequent flyer status with an airline, are lucky to be traveling with a member with access, spent lots on specific credit cards, subscribe to a lounge service, or will simply be paying at the door, here are some of the best lounges that you can get into without flying premium class.
1 OF 12
Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge South
WHERE: Hamad International Airport, Doha, Qatar
HIA is one of the world’s busiest transit hubs, and transiting through here often means hours of layovers. But if you don’t want to leave the airport to have a look around, you can relax in the stylish Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge South. While on the pricey side, with unlimited access for around $120, it includes access to sleeping pods, dining options, alcoholic drinks, shower facilities with amenities provided, business areas, and more–in effect, potentially saving you money on an airport hotel.
How to gain access: If you are flying Qatar Airways, you can book access online by adding the service to your ticket, or simply pay at the door.
Cost: Depending on the length of stay, access starts at $64
Location: Concourse A, Level 3.
2 OF 12
Marhaba Lounges
WHERE: Dubai International Airport , Dubai, UAE
Another popular transit and vacation hub in the Middle East is Dubai, with a plethora of lounges available in the various terminals. Apart from the dedicated premium class lounges, which you can generally pay at the door to get access to, one popular service is to use the Marhaba Service. This is a meet and greet service, guiding you through transit, arrival, or departure, with dedicated lounges open whether you use the full service or not.
How to gain access: Search out the Marhaba lounges and pay at the door. Or, if you want another option, tour providers such as GetYourGuide offer premium lounge access passes.
Cost: Depending on the length of stay, access ranges between $50 and $175
Location: Marhaba Lounges are located in each of the three terminals, with extra lounges on each concourse in the larger Terminal 3.
3 OF 12
The Plaza Premium Lounge
WHERE: Changi Airport , Singapore
In Changi Airport, when you have a long transit time or need to relax, there are plenty of options. The Plaza Premium Lounge in departures at Terminal 1 offers superb Singaporean cuisine, sleeping areas, showers (including one wheelchair accessible), bar, lounge seating, and more. It’s worth noting that at Changi, the public lounges are only open until 10 pm, whereas the departures and transit lounges are open 24 hours.
How to gain access: Easy pay-at-the-door
Cost: The basic three-hour package, including snacks, a hot meal, and one beer, starts from $43. At the Plaza Premium, a three-hour stay with a shower costs $60.
Location: Public lounges are in every terminal. The Plaza Premium can be found at Terminal 1 departures, level 3.
4 OF 12
Kyra Lounge
WHERE: Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong
The Kyra Lounge is both a relaxing as well as stimulating place to spend three hours before your flight. Great light-fittings, a stunning bar, comfortable chairs in front of floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as quiet work areas, plus unlimited Dim Sum and other locally inspired food, make it a great place to gather yourself after a visit to Hong Kong.
If you are lucky enough to have an American Express Platinum Card, then head straight to the rather plush Centurion Lounge instead, also in Terminal 1, near Gate 60.
How to gain access: Pay at the door.
Cost: Around $80 for up to three hours
Location: Terminal 1, level 6, by Gate 23.
5 OF 12
Plaza Premium Lounge
WHERE: Melbourne Airport, Melbourne, Australia
Whenever you find yourself at an Australian airport, you know there’s a long flight ahead, so starting in a lounge is a good policy. Melbourne is another airport that offers a Plaza Premium Lounge, like Changi, and, incidentally, some 130 other international airports. What is great about this one is that it offers food prepared with local ingredients, local wines and beers, and, IYKYK, good Melbourne coffee. You might even spot the kangaroos from the window in the morning or the afternoons.
How to gain access: Pay at the door, or go online for a 10% discount.
Cost: From AUD57 ($37) for a two-hour stay, AUD63.90 ($42) for up to five hours
Location: Terminal 2, International Departures, near Gate 9.
6 OF 12
The House
WHERE: Sydney International Airport, Sydney, Australia
For a bit of class before heading into your economy seats, try The House at Sydney International Airport. With waiter service and tablecloth-decked tables, you can enjoy fine dining food options, or just help yourself from the buffet, which changes according to the time of day. Add some premium Australian wines, craft beers, or simply coffee, and have three hours of downtime before your flight. If you’ve come straight from an Outback adventure, you can even shower before your departure, although there is a smart-casual dress code, so no shorts.
How to gain access: Pay at the door, or book online, opening hours 5 am to 10 pm daily.
Cost: From AUD36 ($23) for one hour to AUD75 ($49) for up to three hours
Location: Terminal 1, International Departures, Pier C.
7 OF 12
Chase Sapphire Lounge
WHERE: JFK Airport, New York City
If you fly relatively frequently, for the Chase Sapphire Lounge at JFK alone, it is worthwhile considering a Priority Pass membership, which starts at around $74 per year, allowing access to all sorts of premium lounges around the world. This Sapphire Lounge is akin to a private club, with art, a bar, pre-bookable private rooms and showers, even self-guided meditation for those a little jittery before their flight. And – Priority Pass members receive one complimentary visit per annum to a Chase Sapphire Lounge in New York JFK, New York La Guardia, Hong Kong, and Boston.
How to gain access: You need to have a well-used Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card or be a Priority Club Member.
Cost: One complimentary visit with Priority Pass per year, then $110 after.
Location: Terminal 4, JFK, near Gate A2.
8 OF 12
Club Aspire Lounge
WHERE: London Heathrow, Terminal 5, London, UK
Heathrow is famously sprawling, so the lounges you might be interested in depend very much on which terminal you are flying from. One of the best pay-to-enter lounges is the Club Aspire Lounge in Terminal 5. A wide open space with enormous windows overlooking the runway, quiet corners, a fully equipped bar, and a huge selection of food, including a decent pancake station in the morning.
How to gain access: At reception or online, open 5 am to 9 pm.
Cost: From £45 ($60) per stay, with delay cover.
Location: Terminal 5, near Gate 18.
9 OF 12
No1 Lounge
WHERE: London Heathrow, Terminal 3, London, UK
Flying Delta or American Airlines from Terminal 3, but want to try Virgin Atlantic’s famous hospitality? At No1 Lounge, you can. With a fully tended bar, hot dishes and snacks, a cosy mini cinema, views across the runway, and meeting rooms, in case you need to work before heading off, the lounge is open to all Virgin Atlantic guests, as well as all other airline passengers, no matter which class they are flying.
How to gain access: Any airline, any class, pay at the door or online. Open 5 am to 10 pm.
Cost: £38 ($51) per visit, with delay cover.
Location: Terminal 3, main concourse, near Gate 10.
10 OF 12
The Miracle Lounge
WHERE: Suvarnabhumi International, Bangkok, Thailand
Just getting to the airport in Bangkok through the city’s chaotic traffic can be utterly exhausting. Once through the check-in procedures, you will be ready for a relaxing lounge, and the Miracle Lounge delivers. Clean lines, a little garden area (Concourse D only), endless beverage options, and lovely Thai food–it will be a wrench to leave to catch your flight.
How to gain access: There are Miracle lounges in all the different concourses, some of which are dedicated VIP lounges, but book through GetYourGuide, and you can enter for a couple of hours.
Cost: $32 for up to two hours.
Location: International Departure Terminal, various lounges at concourses A, C, D, F, G, and G (Block 1).
11 OF 12
Airport Lounge World
WHERE: Munich International Airport, Munich, Germany
In Munich Airport, lounges are – generally speaking – not necessary, as you have superb facilities, shops, and an open-air beer garden to address all your needs. However, should you find yourself at Terminal 1 in this airport, then your entertainment options are severely limited, and the Airport Lounge World is a very good idea to grab some food, sit comfortably, and relax before your flight. And, one personal favorite quirk of this lounge is that you get jars of sweet treats and corn chips to nibble, as well as “proper” food, such as grilled German sausages. (Note: as of publication, this lounge is undergoing construction.)
How to gain access: Book online for easy access between 5 a.m. and 10:15 p.m.
Cost: Book online, for Euro 57, around $66 for up to three hours.
Location: Terminal 1, Module B, Level 6
12 OF 12
The Loft by Brussels Airlines / Lexus Lounge
WHERE: Brussels Airport, Brussels, Belgium
Okay, so this one needs a bit more effort, but it is a multi-award-winning lounge, combining Belgian hospitality (think beer, chocolate, TinTin and the Smurfs) with Japanese philosophy and design (think super polite staff, stylish décor, and even the plants being chic). It offers everything you want from a lounge: showers, sleeping pods, meeting areas, massage chairs, great food and drink, a kids’ play area (with said Smurfs), all in an enormous space, with a separate VIP area for those flying in premier class. The lounge itself is worth flying on Brussels Airlines, or any other Star Alliance (such as United) flight.
How to gain access: Passengers on Brussels Airlines or Star Alliance, as well as Star Alliance Gold Members. Note that the lounge is closed on Monday, Thursday, and Friday (at least to economy passengers)
Cost: Free to premium flyers and Star Alliance Gold cardholders, but economy passengers of Brussels Airlines (or Star Alliance members) can pay for access online, from Euro 49 ($57).
Location: Terminal A, Level 2, near Gate A42.