The airport lounge has often been a feature of air travel reserved for the first class and business class fliers. I’m here to tell you that this is no longer the case. These days I always opt for the airport lounge and it is not for the luxury alone. While that is a positive aspect of airport lounges that is not the main draw for me. They offer what regular airport waiting areas cannot. This is what I am going to discuss with you today.
Why use an Airport Lounge
The biggest reason for me is the difference in sound levels. I love the quiet that is a common feature of airport lounges. I personally adore the ability to relax or get on with whatever work I have that needs doing. That can be difficult in the typical airport waiting areas because they are often noisy, and I find it impossible to focus in noise-filled areas.
Sure, some waiting areas may not be noisy as such, and they may even have TV streaming that can serve as some good entertainment for those who need to wait longer hours. Sometimes airports take help from companies like AtmosphereTV to provide their waiting passengers some good old TV time, or simply some relaxing music in the background while they wait. There are people who enjoy this, and I would too, on occasion.
Relaxing before my flight is something I take seriously. I often fly for business and pleasure reasons so I need to be able to calibrate myself to the jetlag I will suffer with after the flight. Depending on the level of jetlag that I suffer with. Having delicious food and drink nearby also makes relaxation a lot easier. The amount of times a small meal and gin and tonic has saved my mood is immeasurable.
The access to electrical outlets and charging stations makes life a whole lot easier as well. Because of how airport lounges are put together, people often do not trip over cables which is one less thing to worry about when listening out for your flight. And if you get worried as I do about when your flight will leave or you have any other questions, staff are always at hand when you need them in an airport lounge. The customer service is often exceptional, in my experience. All these elements come together to provide me with a relaxed feeling that allows me to forget the day’s stress.
Easier ways to get into Airport Lounges
Now you might be wondering if airport lounges are so great then how do I get in one? There are a few options that I will outline for you now. There are more options than you would think. Many premium credit cards often offer varying levels of access to lounges. This is a win-win for most people because so many of us have credit cards anyway.
Most of us do not want to spend a ton of lounges which we why I opt for an annual package. You must shop around though for the best rates. Some can charge upwards of $600 for their annual packages. I personally find $100- 150 much more reasonable. That is often how much I end up paying when I renew my annual subscription.
There are plenty of great rewards programs that can make paying for lounge access a lot cheaper as well. If you regularly fly, you will have no issue converting those frequent flyer points into discounts to get into the comfy fantastic lounges that are in every airport. If you prefer a more flexible package for your access to lounges, there are pay-as-you-go options available at most places too so do your research on the airports you will be staying at so you can get the right package for your usage.
What will Change
Because of the recent global pandemic, we have all been dealing with, there will most likely be a lot of changes happening in airport lounges. The travel industry is going through a period of change now so understanding what might come next can make the transition process smoother for us. Based on what we have seen with many other businesses, it would be fair to assume a lot of changes will be happening.
For instance, we will see reduced capacity in airport lounges, this will come about because of social distancing measures being put in place. Magazines and newspapers were once a staple in lounges, but we will probably see them being retired due to them being impossible to sanitize appropriately. I love food and drink services, but I am confident that those services will change. Self-serve buffets will be a thing of the past because of hygiene reasons. Speaking of hygiene, expect health and sanitizing regulations to intensify with the up and coming changes to reduce the chance of spreading the virus.
To conclude, I love the airport lounges and will continue to support them because of the immeasurable benefits I get from them when traveling. There are a range of different ways we can all get into these luxurious waiting rooms to enjoy a relaxing time before boarding. But we should all expect a lot of change in how they operate.