An airport lounge has long been considered among the finer things in aviation, a pleasant way to count down the hours until departure with a glass of champagne in hand.
But new research shows that most lounges in the UK are expensive and lacklustre – and travellers are being warned to consider whether their money would be better spent in a pub or restaurant elsewhere in the airport.
Consumer group Which? anonymously visited 28 lounges across the country, rating each from one to five stars based on the facilities, food and drink, and whether there were runway views, designated quiet areas or spaces for families.
Hardly any impressed the reviewers, and only a third managed a score of three stars or above.
Bottom of the rankings was Club Aspire in Terminal 5 at Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport, which was only awarded one star.
The undercover inspector complained of plates that were stained and dirty, and noted the floor was covered in crumbs – despite their visit being at the start of the day.
The food was described as ‘very poor on the whole’, with a breakfast selection featuring ‘congealed’ scrambled eggs but no mushrooms or tomatoes.
The lounge would set you back £42.
Club Aspire, found in Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport, landed at the bottom of the rankings and was rated only one star by Which?
If passengers were to visit the Fortnum and Mason bar elsewhere in T5, they could enjoy a luxury afternoon tea for one, including finger sandwiches, scones, a selection of cakes and a pot of tea, for £35.
Or The Wetherspoons in the terminal, The Crown Rivers, offers a large breakfast for £14.50.
The Daily Mail has approached No1 Lounges, which operates the lounge in Terminal 5, for comment.
Heathrow’s other lounges were similarly expensive and unimpressive.
Which? said that over the past two years, their inspectors have made 10 visits to Heathrow lounges and have yet to find one to recommend.
Paying more doesn’t guarantee a better experience. Newcastle Airport is home to the most expensive space in the survey, with a visit to Suite by Aspire costing £68.
However it was only ranked two-and-a-half out of five, with researchers never receiving a promised welcome drink or table service – despite the lounge professing ‘the top-tier hospitality of a five-star hotel’, which it combines ‘with the fine dining you’d expect from a critically acclaimed restaurant’.
The lounge also claims to benefit from ‘opulent seating’ to enjoy the airfield views but that section was closed when Which? visited.
Holidaymakers might find other options for food and drink elsewhere in the terminal, including the Wetherspoons or the Fortnum and Mason bar
As an alternative in Newcastle, Bar 11 offers a full English breakfast for £16.99 with what researchers called ‘spectacular’ views of the runway.
The cost of lounge access when Which? first began their reviews in 2017 was £25, and some included access to spas and showers.
The spas have gone and access to showers now costs extra, the prices have skyrocketed.
The average price of lounges visited for this study was £42 – a 68 per cent increase in eight years.
London Gatwick South’s Clubrooms lounge made the best impression, with three-and-a-half stars out of five.
It was one of few that offered table service, the food was ‘delicious’, prosecco was included and guests were handed a free bottle of water when they left. It cost £44-£50, depending on how far in advance it was booked.
The only other three-and-star rating was Birmingham Airport’s Clubrooms – in fact, the Clubrooms brand were the only lounges that inspectors said felt ‘genuinely luxurious’. The Midlands lounge cost £48.
Which? warns that for many of the lounges, travellers should avoid paying full price.
Newcastle Airport is home to the most expensive lounge in the survey, with a visit to Suite by Aspire costing £68
It found that the lounges’ own websites were never the cheapest place to purchase access, with some package holiday providers and credit cards offering entry.
‘There was once a time when an airport lounge was a special treat, but our latest results say quite the opposite,’ said Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel.
‘Instead of paying over £40 for a lukewarm buffet breakfast on a dirty plate, you can get a lot more for your money by visiting a bar or restaurant inside the airport.’
‘There are some better lounges, but make sure you get in for free, or at least for a reduced price. Look around for deals online or through your bank or holiday provider.’
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