Compare Edinburgh Airport Lounges & Find Your Best Option

Last updated on March 28th, 2026 at 08:11 pm

I have visited all 3 paid access Edinburgh airport lounges.

They are all quite different. Each lounge has different facilities, food offerings, seating and space, views. There are different childrens facilities and spaces for working.

Access to these lounges is on a paid entry basis. This means you can access these lounges no matter which airline or class of travel you are flying. You can book direct with the lounge operator or through a third party site.

All 3 lounges are also accessible via airport lounge membership schemes. This includes Dragonpass and Priority Pass membership. These membership schemes are great value for those of us that use airport lounges more than 3 -5 times a year.

Read on for all the details you need to know, or just grab a great deal on airport lounge membership with my exclusive rate available to readers.

Read on for details of each of the lounges;

• Plaza Premium Lounge
• Aspire Lounge
• Escape Lounge

Quick Guide to Edinburgh Airport Lounges

Lounge	Location	Opening Hours	Best For	Atmosphere	Food & Drink
Plaza Premium	Gate 16	4am to 10pm every day	Workspace Quiet Space	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Aspire Lounge	Gate 16	4.30am to 8pm apart from Saturday 4.30am to 7pm	Airport Views Large Worktable	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Escape Lounge	Gate 4	Tuesday & Wednesday 4am to 9pm, 4am to 10pm every other day	Food Large Tables	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐

Edinburgh Airport Lounges – Quick Overview

Edinburgh Airport offers three paid-access lounges for travellers. These lounges provide food, drinks, and comfortable seating regardless of airline or ticket class.

Plaza Premium Lounge (Gate 16) is the largest option, featuring runway views, hot food service, and full bar. Open 4am-10pm daily. It is now the Turkish Airlines lounge, although it does accept paid entry guests.

Aspire Lounge (Gate 16) includes family booths with TVs, runway views, hot and cold buffet, and tended bar service. Premium food and cocktail upgrades available for additional fees. Open 4:30am-8pm (7pm Saturdays).

Escape Lounge (Gate 4) is the newest facility with calming décor, three hot dishes, and varied seating including cocoon chairs. No runway views. Open 4am-10pm most days.

Access options range from £32-£47 per visit when booking direct or through third parties.

You can access these lounges via pay-as-you-go entry or through an airport lounge membership scheme — here’s how to get Priority Pass if you want lounge access without having to book each time.

Edinburgh Airport Lounge

Plaza Premium Lounge Edinburgh

• Location Details: Near Gate 16 on the upper level. Take 3 flights of stairs or the lift up to the lounge. There is a WHSmith Newsagent at the entrance area.
• Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• What I Love: The quiet area with runway views and a relaxing fireplace area for a cosy vibe (it’s an electric fireplace obvs!)
• Seating Available: Lounge chairs, sofas, tables and chairs, individual chairs, bar stools
• Amenities: 🍳 Breakfast & All Day Menu 🍷 Tended Bar 📶 WiFi ☕ Hot Drinks Machines ✈Runway Views 🔌 Power Sockets 🚾 In Lounge 🧸 Childrens Area
• Price Range: £££
• Best For: Quiet space, working space and airport runway views
• This lounge is for you if: You want to enjoy a dedicated quiet area, runway views or a childrens area
• Read More: My full review of the Plaza Premium at Edinburgh Airport
  

The Plaza Premium Lounge at Edinburgh Airport is the largest of the 3 paid access airport lounges.

It is located at Gate 16 on the upper level, with access via a lift or 3 flights of stairs.

The lounge has 3 main areas. The quiet area has runway views and a nice lounge feel with a realistic electric and lounge seating. The main area is spacious with a variety of seating options and big windows, with one side having runway views. This is where the bar and self service buffet is. The third area is a separate family room with childrens play equipment, soft drinks equipment and games tables.

The Plaza Premium has a hot buffet that runs all day. Once breakfast finishes there is generally a meat based hot dish and a vegetarian hot dish available. The fully tended bar offers a variety of drinks, with Edinburgh Gin cocktails available for an extra charge.

There is a mix of seating including lounge seating, bar stool seating and individual seats.

The lounge feels spacious and open thanks to the big windows on two sides of the lounge.

This lounge is ideal for families and for those wanting to work in an airport lounge. The quiet area is also good for those of us who are nervous flyers, making a nice calm space before the flight.

The lounge is open from 4am to 10pm every day.

Important Update – Lounge Rebranded to Turkish Airlines

• A short time after my visit the Plaza Premium rebranded to the Turkish Airlines Lounge by Plaza Premium.
• It is still accessible to paying lounge guests.
• The food has changed to offer mediterranean food throughout the day.
• There is now a prayer room, nursing room and a VIP area for guests travelling business class on Turkish airlines.
• Lounge visits are now a maximum of 2 hours for paying guests.

Lounges at Edinburgh Airport

Aspire Lounge Edinburgh (Gate 16)

• Location Details: Near Gate 16 on the upper level. Take 3 flights of stairs or the lift up to the lounge. There is a WHSmith Newsagent at the entrance area.
• Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
• What I Love: The large central table for working – plenty of sockets and good lighting and right beside the buffet
• Seating Available: Lots of tables for 2, some tables for 4, booths (for families), lounge seating
• Amenities: 🍳 Breakfast & All Day Menu 🍷 Tended Bar 📶 WiFi ☕ Hot Drinks Machines ✈Runway Views 🔌 Power Sockets 🚾 In Lounge
• Price Range: £££
• Best For: Large communal table to work at or smaller tables at the edge of the lounge (these have power sockets)
• This lounge is for you if: You want a prebookable lounge
• Read More: My full review of the Aspire Lounge

The Aspire Lounge is located beside the Premium Plaza lounge. It is on upper level near Gate 16 and accessed via 3 flights of stairs or a lift.

The Aspire Lounge offers family booths for famlies of 4, or maybe 6 if you have younger children. These booths have TVs. There are 4-6 of these available on the right hand side as you enter the lounge.

The Aspire Lounge has large windows with runway views on one side of the lounge. It also has a variety of seating, with plenty of tables for 2, some tables for 4, lounge seating and a large central table with power sockets – ideal for working.

There is a hot and cold buffet running thoughout the day. Breakfast finishes at midday and after that there is a hot meat based dish and a hot vegetarian/vegan dish available, alongwith salads and snacks.

The tended bar offers alcoholic drinks, with drinks machines providing hot drinks for guests.

The Aspire Lounge offers guests the chance to upgrade their meal and drink options for an extra payment. Food options include build your own burgers with chips for £8. Drink options including cocktails for £5, spirits for £2 and Cider of the Month for £3.

This lounge is ideal for families wanting their own more private space. It is also good for guests wanting to combine lounge access with an upgraded meal or drink service.

The Aspire Lounge is open 4.30am to 8pm apart from Saturday 4.30am to 7pm

Edinburgh Airport Lounge Guide

Escape Lounge Edinburgh

• Location Details: Near Gate 4. It’s right next to the British Airways lounge.
• Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• What I Love: The calming colour scheme and the greenery in the lounge
• Seating Available: Lots of tables for 2, larger tables, sofa type seating, lounge seating
• Amenities: 🍳 Breakfast & All Day Menu 🍷 Tended Bar 📶 WiFi ☕ Hot Drinks Machines 🔌 Power Sockets
• Price Range: £££
• Best For: Finding a quiet corner and the best food
• This lounge is for you if: You want a lounge nearer gates 1-10 and you want a good meal
• Read More: My full review of the Escape Lounge

The Escape Lounge Edinburgh is the newest of the 3 paid for access lounges at Edinburgh Airport. It was previously an Aspire Lounge, but has been given a fresh new look by Escape.

The Escape Lounge is situated by Gate 4 and it is also close to Gate 9 which is just across the terminal building from the lounge.

The location of the Escape Lounge means it does not have airport apron or runway views. It’s on the other side of the terminal building, so lounge views are of the Fast Park car parking area and the multi-storey car park.

The lounge has a calming and relaxing feel, with a soothing green and cream colour scheme complimented by plants throughout the lounge.

A hot and cold buffet runs throughout the day with 3 hot dishes available. When I visited this included Aubergine Mousakka and a mushroom and cream pasta with garlic bread. All three were really nice.

There is tended bar, with beer on tap and bottled beer available from a self service fridge. There is also a hot drinks machine.

Seating varies from tables for 2, to armchair lounge seating, larger tables, individual seating and large swivel cocoon seats in the windows.

The Escape Lounge is open on Tuesday & Wednesday from 4am to 9pm and 4am to 10pm every other day.

How to Choose the Right Edinburgh Airport Lounge

Here is a quick decision helper to help you find the right lounge.

Best For	Airport Lounge
Gates 1-10	Escape Lounge
Gates 11 and Over	Aspire or Plaza Premium Lounges
Solo Travellers	Plaza Premium or Escape Lounge
Runway Views	Aspire Lounge or Plaza Premium
Quiet Space	Plaza Premium or Escape Lounge
Food Quality	Escape Lounge

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How to Access Edinburgh Airport Lounges With Entry Costs

OK I to be honest here. If I was paying the book direct or full prices for accessing airport lounges then I might find lounge access poor value. Paying £46.99 to access an airport lounge for 3 hours is expensive.

However, I use Priority Pass Standard Plus membership. This means that I get 10 airport lounge visits a year included for £206, making each lounge visit £20.60. That makes using a lounge generally the same cost, or lower cost, than having a meal in the airport. That makes lounge access great value. I generally work in airport lounges and am a nervous flyer so lounge access is great at helping me keep busy and calm before my flight.

There are several ways you might want to access Edinburgh airport lounges.

Book Direct

Book directly with each lounge operator

• Escape Lounge Edinburgh – £38.99 for 2 hours
• Aspire Lounge Edinburgh – £46.99 for 3 hours
• Plaza Premium Edinburgh – £40.50 for 2 hours

Book Through Edinburgh Airport

• Aspire Lounge – £43.99 for 3 hour stay
• Plaza Premium – £40 for a 2 hour stay

Book Through a Third Party

LoungePair

• Plaza Premium – 3 hour refundable pass (can refund if not used or plans change) £34
• Aspire Lounge – 3 hour refundable pass (can refund if not used or plans change) £34
• Escape Lounge – 3 hour refundable pass (can refund if not used or plans change) £32

LoungePass

• Plaza Premium – 3 hour stay £45
• Aspire Lounge – 3 hour stay £41.99

Credit Card Access

Some credit cards have Priority Pass membership as a reward. Often the benefit is Standard Membership. If this is the case then each visit costs:

• £24 for each member visit
• £24 for each guest visit

Airport Lounge Membership Schemes

DragonPass

DragonPass offers 3 levels of membership as follows;

• Classic Membership – £68 per year including 1 member lounge visit
• Preferential Membership – £168 per year including 8 member lounge visits
• Prestige Membership – £379 per year including unlimited member lounge visits

Priority Pass

Priority Pass offers 3 levels of membership as follows;

• Standard Membership – usually £69 but available to you today for £48. All lounge visits £24
• Standard Plus Membership – usually £229 but available to you today for £206. Includes 10 member lounge visits, with extra member visits £24
• Prestige Membership – usually £419 but available to you today for £377 with unlimited member lounge visits.

Quick Cost Comparison

• On a visit to Edinburgh Airport I checked the costs of eating in the airport. If I went to Wetherspoons and had their cheapest main meal with a beer the cost would be £15.00. Compare that to using one of my Priority Pass Standard Plus Membership included visits which works out to £20.60 for each visit.
• That means I get a much better environment for working and relaxing, with faster WIFI, unlimited hot and cold food and unlimited drinks (within safe flying limites) for only £5.60 extra. That makes Priority Pass great value.

Frequently Asked Questions

Edinburgh Airport Lounges – Final Verdict

• There is a great choice of lounges available to travellers at Edinburgh Airport with 3 pay to access lounges available.
• Each lounge offers something different to travellers from quiet space to different food and drink options.
• I love the views and the quiet area in the Plaza Premium lounge and the food in the Escape Lounge!