Ever pay for airport lounge access?

AngryLips · 07-01-2020 01:23PM #1

Just curious to see what people's attitudes are on this. For me, I don't really see much value in it, but I will pay if it's a special trip like a long or long-distance holiday. Also, it depends on other factors as well - such as the time of day I am traveling. Since most flights out of Dublin Airport are early morning, I don't really see much point in using it then since there's a chance I'll be pushed for time going through the airport. Also, if it's a busy time to be at the airport I might think twice, just because I'd rather not be at a lounge that's as busy as the main airside area. Thoughts? What are other people's attitudes to airport lounges?

allybhoy · 07-01-2020 01:31PM

Use Aspire quite a bit with work, i try and spend as little time as possible in Dub on the way out so ive never used the lounges there ,but nearly always use them on the return if i can , very useful as sometimes your unsure what time you will get out of the office at so the flight home can be quite late, if you get out of the office early its a nice place to kill a few hours, the WIFI is usually excellent also which is a big bonus

NSAman · 07-01-2020 01:33PM

Never pay for them, it’s always included in the ticket/loyalty level.

I personally, would rarely use any lounge. On TA flights where you never know what the immigration queue is like, I use 51st and Green.

Normally only ever use the lounge in transfer scenarios, with a long layover, or to grab some Diet Coke cans.... (they never have enough on board).
is it true that it costs 35Euro for 51st and Green?? If so that is crazy IMHO.

Nigel Fairservice · 07-01-2020 01:38PM

I've used the lounge in terminal 1 in Dublin Airport twice. Both times were when I had a couple of hours to kill. I do like the relative calm of the lounge. It would be great if they had a hot food option in the T1 lounge. I'd be tempted to use it more if they did. You'd probably spend €10 - €15 on hot food anyway elsewhere in the airport so if you could get it in the lounge even better. Maybe bundle lounge access with fast track security. I'd be will to pay a bit more for it if it came with hot food and the security (in Dublin Airport).

Dodge · 07-01-2020 01:41PM

Never in Dublin but if you’ve a late flight coming home from somewhere, it’s far better to spend 2/3 hours in an airport lounge than the main concourse

Price and situation dependent obviously

irish_goat · 07-01-2020 01:41PM

NSAman wrote: »

is it true that it costs 35Euro for 51st and Green?? If so that is crazy IMHO.

€35 online, €39 on the door.

I've paid for lounge access if I have a long layover and, as mentioned above, if it's a good time of day. No point buying lounge access in the morning if I'm not really hungry/thirsty. I get a discount through work for lounges so it works out reasonable in some countries.

A group of us had a 4.5 hour layover in Istanbul Sabiha airport and got into a lounge for €11. A pint in the bar outside was €6 so it was a no brainer...:pac:

AngryLips · 07-01-2020 01:44PM

NSAman wrote: »

Normally only ever use the lounge in transfer scenarios

I never thought of that, deffo makes sense in that scenario although I mostly fly direct as much as possible.

AngryLips · 07-01-2020 01:50PM

Dodge wrote: »

Never in Dublin but if you’ve a late flight coming home from somewhere, it’s far better to spend 2/3 hours in an airport lounge than the main concourse

Price and situation dependent obviously

That's interesting, you make a good point - I would never really consider getting lounge access on the return leg of my journey, I guess by then the holiday is over and so is the justification to splurge. But now that you mention it, it makes sense from the point of view that you're most likely to be hanging around at your destination if it's not a morning return flight.

Raytown Rocks · 07-01-2020 01:58PM

Anyone know if you can get a Beer in here?
Website says Cocktails available all right?
Not sure it warrants €70 for 2 of us before a flight to the states

Caranica · 07-01-2020 02:44PM

I've used lounges all over the world, some paid and some status related. The big attraction for me is the oasis of calm in a chaotic airport, especially if traveling solo.

Was in the T1 lounge in Dublin last week when the airport was bedlam with people flying away for NYE or home after Christmas. It would have been well worth paying for if I'd had to. Not the best lounge in the world but far from the worst.

all the bais · 07-01-2020 02:50PM

Long layover in Istanbul so paid then. Was rotten too. Was rippin!

whomitconcerns · 07-01-2020 02:54PM

Never paid individually, get them with the American express priority pass. They are definitely worth it for layovers. And the lounge in Dublin can be handy for a quick sandwich and a coke before a flight

grimm2005 · 07-01-2020 03:04PM

I've used the T1 lounge in Dublin airport a couple of times. I'd only use it for evening flights before a trip. I think it's worth it for €25 if you intend on having a few drinks and filling up on sandwiches etc. If you're having a couple of drinks and a bite before your flight it pays for itself imo. It's a shame there's no hot food but what's there is grand and plenty of bits and pieces to keep you going. It's calm and quiet and I've been able to get a decent seating area for a group of us both times so in certain cases I'd recommend it.

Greg81 · 07-01-2020 03:06PM

I've used the lounge in terminal 1 in Dublin Airport few times. Did not paid for that. I would say it covers all the basics but I would never pay for that €35/39.

On the other end I have paid €50 for a lounge at Sydney airport and have to say it was well wort it. Especially that I could refresh (take shower, change clothes etc) before my 10hrs flight. Also they had hot food bar, good choices of alcohol and snacks.

irish_goat · 07-01-2020 03:10PM

chef wrote: »

Anyone know if you can get a Beer in here?
Website says Cocktails available all right?
Not sure it warrants €70 for 2 of us before a flight to the states

In Dublin? Cans of Guinness and Heinken available as well as bottles of Eight Degrees, afaik. There is officially a limit of 2 drinks per person but not sure if this is ever really enforced either.

Tabnabs · 07-01-2020 03:10PM

Have used several in airports around Europe when flights have been delayed or meetings finished early. As someone said above, an oasis of calm from the busy concourse. Worth it when the company is paying for it, otherwise, meh.

Amsterdam now has 0% Heineken which is good when having to drive at the destination.

Caranica · 07-01-2020 03:18PM

Greg81 wrote: »

I've used the lounge in terminal 1 in Dublin Airport few times. Did not paid for that. I would say it covers all the basics but I would never pay for that €35/39.

Terminal 1 lounge is €25

tomwaits48 · 07-01-2020 03:31PM

irish_goat wrote: »

In Dublin? Cans of Guinness and Heinken available as well as bottles of Eight Degrees, afaik. There is officially a limit of 2 drinks per person but not sure if this is ever really enforced either.

I can confirm from multiple personal experience it most certainly is not enforced.:pac:

Time Magazine · 07-01-2020 03:46PM

I usually have lounge access covered by loyalty programs, but I have paid $60 for lounge access :eek: That was to cover four and a half hours in O'Hare airport though.

Aer Lingus lounge in T2 is definitely not worth paying for. There's free drink (whiskey, wine, beer) and coffee and soup, but no proper food. You're better off spending the 12 euro or so in the restaurant next to duty free.

51st and Green is nice, but is barely worth paying for. You can get a fry, better coffee than in Aer Lingus lounge (there's a barista), and plenty of drinks. It's also much larger than the Aer Lingus lounge and has a lovely view of the run way so gets you in holiday mode. It's a little too expensive for what you get unless you want to splurge though.

ted1 · 07-01-2020 03:55PM

The new eastern lounge isn’t to bad. In that they have a warm breakfast. Better than the T1 and T2 lounge.

Not sure if you can pay into it

VG31 · 07-01-2020 03:58PM

Time Magazine wrote: »

Aer Lingus lounge in T2 is definitely not worth paying for. There's free drink (whiskey, wine, beer) and coffee and soup, but no proper food. You're better off spending the 12 euro or so in the restaurant next to duty free.

I don't go to lounges in Dublin as I usually try to arrive as late as possible. I did use the Aer Lingus lounge once as it was included in the ticket. It's shockingly bad for an airline's lounge at their primary hub. Not hot food whatsoever and a very limited selection of other food.

I often pay for lounges if I have a long layover as it much more comfortable and quiter (usually) than sitting in the terminal. In Edinburgh it's worth paying for a lounge just to get away from the constant barrage of announcements. I've been to the Aspire Lounge (Edinburgh), BA Galleries North & South Lounges (LHR), Iberia Velázquez Lounge (Madrid), Neptuno Lounge (Madrid), ANA Lounge (Lisbon) and Aspire Lounge (Zurich).

The worst one I've been to was the Aer Lingus lounge. In general I look up reviews first to make sure the lounge isn't a waste of money. The BA Galleries lounges are probably the best I've been to but they can be very busy.

ted1 wrote: »

The new eastern lounge isn’t to bad. In that they have a warm breakfast. Better than the T1 and T2 lounge.

Not sure if you can pay into it

You can but it costs €50!

Creamy Goodness · 07-01-2020 04:49PM

Paid to get into an Etihad first class lounge in Abu Dhabi as I had gold and a few colleagues with platinum were going in. But I got a spa treatment, shower, 3 course meal and unlimited Bordeaux that it was well worth it.

Would not pay to use any lounge in Dublin they're all piss compared to other International lounges.

irish_goat · 07-01-2020 05:28PM

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

Paid to get into an Etihad first class lounge in Abu Dhabi as I had gold and a few colleagues with platinum were going in. But I got a spa treatment, shower, 3 course meal and unlimited Bordeaux that it was well worth it./QUOTE]

Much did that sting you?

I'll likely be going through Doha this year and it's €68 to get in there.

Creamy Goodness · 07-01-2020 05:34PM

irish_goat wrote: »

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

Paid to get into an Etihad first class lounge in Abu Dhabi as I had gold and a few colleagues with platinum were going in. But I got a spa treatment, shower, 3 course meal and unlimited Bordeaux that it was well worth it.

Much did that sting you?

I'll likely be going through Doha this year and it's €68 to get in there.

It was roughly €75.

irish_goat · 07-01-2020 06:13PM

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

It was roughly €75.

Pricey but I suppose you'd pay the same for dinner and wine in a nice restaurant anyway.

ted1 · 07-01-2020 09:54PM

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

It was roughly €75.

Any discount for having Gold?

Creamy Goodness · 07-01-2020 10:55PM

ted1 wrote: »

Any discount for having Gold?

That was the discount. Normal entry is AED500.

Tails142 · 07-01-2020 11:05PM

Flying out on our honeymoon we got into the etihad lounge in Dublin. Thought it was brilliant, had a 3 course meal, can't remember what we paid, not much anyway, 25 euro or something. Worst part was that they boarded us with all the others in the lounge on our flight into first class and we had to walk through to steerage like the bums that we are... Wish we could do it again!

bungaro79 · 07-01-2020 11:24PM

I've a 6 hour layover in Heathrow so I've been wondering about using a lounge to break the wait before I fly to Tokyo. Anyone have any experience of using the lounges in Heathrow and if they're worth it?
thanks

mrmorgan · 07-01-2020 11:30PM

never paid for them, but use it for work.

i always say that if you are going away for the weekend, instead of drinking a load of the ****ty pints in the airport bar.... pay the 30 quid and go to the lounge and take full advantage

Agent Smith · 08-01-2020 10:12AM

Had a 6 hour layover in JFK, So paid the $45 for the Delta Lounge. The way i figured it, I'd spend money on Food, and a few Drinks while i was killing time, this way I'd Get fed and get somewhere comfortable to wait.

an hour till my flight, I went and had a shower, and got my flight nice and refreshed and squeeky clean!

Ever pay for airport lounge access?

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