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Why Bother with Airport Lounges?


British Airways First Galleries Lounge, Heathrow Terminal 5
British Airways First Galleries Lounge, Heathrow Terminal 5

Despite the perceived exclusivity that comes with airport lounge access, more and more lounges across the globe are getting filled with passengers. Many of my friends have always questioned whether airport lounges are worth the getting to the airport early for, and some in fact question whether it is worth to pay for access.


This post will cover my take as to why airport lounges are an essential part of travel and some top tips on how you can make the most out of your journey.


Airport Lounge Access


Qatar Airways Lounge and Plaza Premium Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 4

The first thing on the agenda is the type of lounges. Generally, you'll find that there are two types of airport lounges globally: Airline-Based and Private-Based lounges.


Access to airline-based lounges primarily comes with the purchase of a business or first-class ticket. This is particularly common for long-haul journeys, where such tickets typically include entry to the relevant lounges of the airline or, in cases where the airline doesn't have its own lounge, entry to lounges of partner airlines or alliances.


Some airline lounges also offer entry based on your membership/status with the airline. For example, if you're simply flying on an Economy ticket, you may very well find that you still have access to the Business lounge of an airline if you have substantial status or membership with that said airline.


Private-based lounges are simply lounges that are contracted by third-party operators and not airlines in airports globally. Since 2016, there has been a substantial rise in these lounge operators, with popular brands such as Plaza Premium, Club Aspire, and more being on travellers' radar when embarking on a journey.


Most of the time, these lounges are paid-per-entry lounges, with prices ranging from RM150-RM300 per entry depending on the location of the lounge. However, if you're a holder of a high-end or premium-level credit card, the chances of you having access to these lounges are high.


In Malaysia, I observe that credit cards like the Maybank 2 Cards Visa Infinite and the CIMB Preferred Visa Infinite are generally popular at lounge receptions. There is also a third entry point for private-based lounges, and that lies within lounge memberships such as Priority Pass, LoungeKey and DragonPass.


These memberships grant you access to its network of private lounges globally, but they do not own or operate these lounges.


Airport Lounge Amenities and Offerings


Alcoholic Beverages and Cocktails are usually included in the lounge access

Lounge access generally includes a buffet

Now, let's get down to the main point of why airport lounges are worth your attention: Food and Beverages. Generally, airport lounges have self-serve buffets which offers a variety of cuisine depending on which lounge or airline you're travelling with.


If you gained access to the lounge with free access as stated above, this essentially means that you have an unlimited food offering.


Here's why this is significant: Airport restaurants and food are generally on the higher end of the price spectrum, and its definitely not unusual to find yourselves questioning whether you should just starve for your journey or fork out RM30 for a meal at Mcdonalds.


Ala Carte Dining with Table Service at the Qantas First Lounge, Singapore Changi Terminal 1

While most lounges offer food in the form of a buffet, higher-end lounges and lounges with more exclusive access even offer ala carte fine dining. This is usually found in First Class airline lounges like the Qantas First Lounge Singapore above, but even private-based lounges like the Plaza Premium First offer ala-carte dining as opposed to a buffet.


For travellers in premium cabins, it is absolutely essential to visit the airline lounge before your flight, as the experience is generally considered part of the journey and you wouldn't want to waste a single penny off the flight ticket you purchased.


Shower Suites, Qantas First Lounge Singapore Changi Terminal 1

Of course, food and drinks aren't the only amenities offered at lounges. At the more upscale or refined lounges, you'll also find that showers are offered.


This is generally useful if you're transiting for a long-haul flight and you have plenty of connection time before your next flight.


For those of you who travel frequently to UK or Europe via Emirates or Qatar, if you're on a premium ticket, do check out the shower suites available at the lounges. You'll find that the shower suites at each lounge are generally refreshed and cleaned after each use, providing maximum peace and quiet.


Top Tips for Airport Lounge Connoisseurs


1. Always plan in advance


Depending on which airline you're taking or which airport you're flying from, always plan and research in advance which lounge you should go to, and where the lounge is located. Also plan how long it takes from your lounge to your boarding gate, because the last thing you want is to miss your flight from having too much fun in the lounge!


If you're planning to visit a private-lounge like Plaza Premium Lounge, always check and see which credit card you're holding that grants you complimentary access to the lounge. If you have several credit cards that grant you access, always go for the credit card that has no conditions attached to the access. Many credit cards offer lounge access but cheekily set a spending requirement.


If you're on a business/first class ticket, make sure to be well aware of what lounges you have access to. Most of the top airlines are part of an airline alliance. The three largest alliances are Star Alliance, SkyTeam and Oneworld. Let's say you're on a Business Class ticket flying Malaysia Airlines (which is part of the Oneworld alliance).


You actually also have access to any lounge that is also part of the Oneworld alliance, such as Qatar Airways, since Qatar is also part of the Oneworld alliance. In this example above, you'll definitely want to visit the Qatar lounges instead of Malaysia Airlines as the food and amenities are generally more high-end!


2. Arrive at least 3 hours before your flight


This sounds like a lot of time, but assuming you reach the airport 3 hours before your flight, take 30 minutes off check-in, and take one hour off the boarding time, you're essentially left with 90 minutes at the lounge, and this includes the time taken to travel to the lounge and the gate.


Most of the time, you'll generally find that an hour at the lounge is sufficient just to grab a meal or perhaps a quick shower.


Mammoth Queue at British Airways Check-In Counters, Heathrow Terminal 5

I generally like to arrive at least 4 hours before my flight so that I can explore multiple lounges (if I have access) and enjoy my time in the lounge without rushing.


If you're visiting a high-end lounge, you should definitely take the time to explore the lounge and have a couple of meals before your flight.


3. Always keep an eye on the status of your flight


Every year, thousands of passengers miss their flights due to spending too much time in the lounge. The good news is that most, if not every lounge out there generally has flight information screens inside the lounge.


Most lounges also do not have boarding announcements given that passengers in the lounge fly different routes. So, once you've had your meal and your visit to the washroom, lounge back at any sofa or chair that has a bird's eye view of the flight information screens.


Flight Information Screen, Plaza Premium First, KLIA Terminal 1

Flights generally go from "Gate Open" to "Boarding" to "Final Call" and "Gate Closed". I generally wouldn't wait for the "Boarding" status to be displayed at my flight before I leave the lounge just to allow for buffer time. Most of the time, I simply head to the gate one hour before my flight departs.


Final Thoughts


I hope that you've enjoyed reading this introduction to airport lounges. I wanted to do things differently at Refined Points, and instead of talking about all the supposed "glamour" of airport lounges, you'll find that the true luxury lies with the value of the lounges itself.


Stay tuned to upcoming reviews of lounges globally!

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