Why You Should Visit An Airport Lounge The Next Time You Fly!
For many travellers, ‘Airport Lounge’ is a mystery!
But, if you’ve been to one before, you’ll know that it’s actually a place of tranquillity amongst the hustle and bustle of airport rush.
It’s a common belief that airport lounges are only accessible to business or first class flyers, but that’s not entirely true.
If you travel only a few times a year, you might have a tough time justifying the cost of an annual lounge membership. However, some programs let you in on one-day or short-term passes and the benefits of it are significant!
So if you reach the airport early and are wondering what to do, here are a few reasons to go and visit an airport lounge!
Quiet & Peaceful
One of the most attractive benefits of a lounge is that it offers you a secluded getaway from the large crowds.
Airport lounges offer large, comfortable chairs, with plenty of space to stretch out your travel tiredness away.
You can pass your time by reading magazines or catching up on the news and other entertainment on TV.
It’s a comfortable space with great facilities that are exclusive only to you and other guests in the lounge.
Great Place To Work
Lounges are great when you want to get some work done!
Apart from the peaceful surrounding, lounges offer you wi-fi & desks with power sources where you can use your own laptop or notebook.
In fact, these days lounges have business centers where you can make copies & send a fax or book a conference room for a meeting.
Exclusive Customer Service
Airline-affiliated lounges are typically staffed with employees who have full access to the airline’s reservation systems and flight details.
They can help you with just about anything like checking on upgrades, changing reservations, verifying flight connections, you name it!
Also, airport lounge agents are much more readily available as compared to those at the customer service counter with long lines in front of them.
Food & Beverage
All lounges offer some amount of complimentary food and snacks along with tasty beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic).
However, the quantity and choices are dependent upon the affiliated airline and the lounge.
In some lounges, you’ll find full buffet meals, while others offer snacks and heavy appetizers.
Some lounges also offer deluxe meals and premium branded drinks , which are available for purchase.
So, skip on that fast food and indulge yourself to culinarily delights, along with your favourite drink.
Worldwide Network
Airline-sponsored lounges are typically located in the airline’s most important airports, generally near the boarding gates.
Apart from airline lounges, there are other independent airport lounges you can become a member of, such as the “Plaza Premium Lounge” which has 160 lounges all over the world.
So, if you’re travelling abroad and have a connecting flight to catch, you can relax before your flight and take advantage of lounge facilities anywhere in the world.
Now that we’ve told you why you should visit an airport lounge, let us tell you how you can enter one.
Try Pay-Per-Use Lounges
These are independent lounges that can be accessed by any traveller, regardless of the airline or flight class.
Pay-Per-Use lounges are the perfect solution to unexpected delays and extended layovers, by offering exclusive facilities at a small fee depending on the hours of your stay.
These are typically a bit expensive but it’s definitely worth a few hours of stay.
Price: Approx. Rs 5000 for a Day Pass*
Join Independent Lounge Networks
These memberships offer access not just to a specific airline lounge, but also to a large network of independent lounges across the world.
Try “Priority Pass” for economical yearly memberships to more than 1000 lounges or The “Plaza Premium Lounge” membership for a First-Class experience.
Price:
Priority Pass: Approx. Rs 7000 per year*
Plaza Premium Lounge: Approx. Rs 2000 per visit*
Sign Up For Frequent Flyer Programs
If you travel by a specific airline (or airlines in the same alliance) frequently, it is best to join their frequent flyer program.
You can earn miles on every flight you take to attain elite status and get complimentary access to partnered airline lounges.
Choose a program that suits you best, depending on the locations and frequency of your travels.
Frequent flyer programs can be signed up for free. However, Just remember to put in your membership number while booking a flight.
Read More about “How To Save & Spend Frequent Flyer Miles Like A Pro”
Use Credit Card Privileges
Besides exclusive travel benefits and rewards, several credit card companies offer access to airport lounges.
For instance, American Express or HDFC come with credit cards which offer complimentary access to many domestic/international lounges, and reduced rates for the rest.
To choose the right one, check the credit card perks before applying!
Request For A Free Upgrade
Asking for a free upgrade is never a bad idea!
The airline staff at the check-in counter has the power to give free business-class upgrades and access to their lounges as long as there is availability.
So dress well, be polite and it might just be your lucky day!
If you want to know more about different lounges available at your airport, look no further. Simply download the AirWhizz App to get information about prices and locations of different airport lounges along with real-time flight updates and Airline Information.
* Please note that all prices mentioned here are only indicative. They are meant to give you a general idea. For the actual price and other details please refer to your airport lounge’s official website.
