I love an airport lounge. It’s an upgrade for my whole flying experience.
My airport lounge membership comparison compares lounge access, including:
- Dragon Pass and Dragon Pass free membership
- Priority Pass
- LoungeBuddy
- Aspire & Swissport
- Lounge access with travel credit cards.
Read on to find the best option for you.
Airport Lounge Membership Comparison – Quick Guide
If you are short on time here my quick overview.
| Standard Membership Cost per visit | Standard Plus or Preferential Membership Cost per visit | Prestige Cost per visit | Find Out More | |
| Priority Pass | 8 visits = £32.62 | 10 visits = £22.90 16 visits = £23.31 | 18 visits = £23.27 24 = £17.45 | Priority Pass |
| Priority Pass With Professional Traveller Discount | 8 visits = £30 | 10 visits = £18.30 16 visits = £20.43 | 18 visits = £20.94 24 = £15.70 | Priority Pass |
| Dragon Pass | 8 visits = £29.50 | 10 visits = £21.60 16 visits = £22.50 | 18 visits = £21.05 24 visits = £15.79 | Dragon Pass |
| Lounge Pass | Pay as You Go Access to Airport Lounges Around the World | Lounge Pass | ||
| Your Travel Extras | Pay As You Go Access to Every UK Airport Lounge | Your Travel Extras |
My Quick Summary
- Dragon Pass is the best membership option based purely on the airport lounge access price (if you take advantage of my special discount then Priority Pass is better value)
- Priority Pass is the best airport lounge pass for the number of lounges you can use. You can also use some of their lounges for longer periods.
Best Airport Lounge Memberships
Airport Lounge Membership Comparison – Membership Schemes
What’s the Best Airport Lounge Membership?
The best airport lounge membership scheme is the one that provides the best value for you. This depends on your travel plans and how often you use airport lounges. Airport lounge membership is generally better value for more than 3 lounge visits a year.
Airport lounge membership schemes can be a great value way to access airport lounges.
The best scheme depends on when, where, and how often you plan to use airport lounges.
Other factors include whether you will be regularly travelling with guests.
Let’s check out the various ways to access airport lounges starting with Priority Pass.
Airport lounge membership comparison
Priority Pass
- One of the most popular airport lounge membership schemes
- Standard Plus plan works out to £22.90 per visit based on 10 visits
- My special discount rates means that Standard Plus works out to £18.30 per visit based on 10 visits
Priority Pass is probably the most widely known of the airport lounge membership schemes.
Members can access over 1600 lounges in 600 cities, across 148 countries!
Below are the costs for each of the Priority Pass membership levels.
I’ve also shown how lounge costs vary with the number of visits you make.
Priority Pass Membership Levels
Priority Pass has 3 membership levels.
Here are the costs for each membership level.
Standard Membership
- £69 per year annual membership fee – no lounge visits included
- £24 per lounge visit for the member
- £24 per lounge visit for guests
Priority Pass Standard Membership Cost Per Visit
- 6 visits per year = £35.50 per visit
- 8 visits per year = £32.62 per visit (Standard Plus is a better option)
- 10 visits per year = StandardPlus is a better option
Standard Plus Membership
- £229 per year and includes 10 lounge visits for the member.
- Every visit over 10 is charged at £24 for the member.
- All guest visits £24 per person.
Standard Plus Membership Cost Per Visit
- 10 visits per year = £22.90 per visit
- 12 visits per year = £23.08 per visit
- 14 visits per year = £23.21 per visit
- 16 visits per year = £23.31 per visit
- 18 visits or more Prestige Membership is a better option
Prestige Membership
- £419 per year includes unlimited visits for the member
- £24 for guest visits
Prestige Membership Cost Per Visit
- 18 visits per year = £23.27 per visit
- 20 visits per year = £20.95
- 22 visits per year = £19 per visit
- 24 visits per year = £17.45
I have an exclusive Priority Pass membership rate available for you.
Up to 30% discount depending on your membership level.
I’ve listed the membership prices and the revised costs per visit if you use this offer.
Special Standard Membership Rate
- £48 per year (no visits included)
- £24 per lounge visit for the member
- £24 per lounge visit for guests
Special Standard Membership Rate Cost Per Visit
- 6 visits per year = £32.00 per visit
- 8 visits per year = £30 per visit
- 10 visits per year = StandardPlus is a better option
Special Standard Plus Membership Rate
- £183 per year – 10 lounge visits for the member included
- £24 extra lounge visits for the member
- £24 for every guest lounge visit
Special Standard Plus Membership Cost Per Visit
- 10 visits per year = £18.30 per visit
- 12 visits per year = £19.25 per visit
- 14 visits per year = £19.92 per visit
- 16 visits per year = £20.43 per visit
Special Prestige Membership Rate
- £377 per year with unlimited lounge visits for member
- £24 for every guest visit
Special Prestige Membership Rate Cost Per Visit
- 18 visits per year = £20.94 per visit
- 20 visits per year = £18.85
- 22 visits per year = £17.13 per visit
- 24 visits per year = £15.70 per visit
Just click the banner below to take advantage of this special rate.
If you want a more detailed review of Priority Pass then check out my Ultimate Priority Pass Membership guide, which has more details including the best membership level and some hints and tips from me.
Now let’s take a look at DragonPass
Dragon Pass
- Preferential Membership works out at £21.60 per visit based on 10 visits
- You can buy single-visit passes through the DragonPass website
Dragon Pass members can access 1300 lounges all over the world.
You buy lounge access online or use their membership app.
DragonPass also has 3 memberships.
I’ve listed the costs below and worked out the costs per visit.
Dragon Pass Membership Levels
Standard Membership
- £68 per year with 1 free visit for the member
- £24 for every additional member visit
- £24 for every guest visit
Standard Membership Costs Per Visit
- 6 visits per year = £37.60 per visit
- 8 visits per year = £29.50 per visit
- 10 visits per year = £28.40 per visit
Preferential Membership
- £168 per year with 8 included visits,
- £24 for extra member visits
- £24 for every guest visit
Preferential Membership Cost Per Visit
- 10 visits per year = £21.60 per visit
- 12 visits per year = £22 per visit
- 14 visits per year = £22.28 per visit
- 16 visits per year = £22.50 per visit
Prestige Membership
- £379 per year with unlimited visits for the member
- £24 for all guest visits
Prestige Membership Cost Per Visit
- 18 visits per year = £21.05 per visit
- 20 visits per year = £18.95 per visit
- 22 visits per year = £17.22 per visit
- 24 visits per year = £15.71 per visit
Now let’s look at DragonPass costs with free membership.
Dragon Pass with Free Membership
A little trick can save the cost of a Dragon Pass membership. This means all you need to pay is the lounge entry fee.
Sign up for a free account at Regus (an office workspace company). With your membership, you get free Dragon Pass membership.
Before you visit, you must purchase one lounge pass through the app.
Here is all the information about how the scheme works from Dragon Pass.
Best Airport Lounge Access Memberships
Aspire and Swissport
Aspire membership would be a great option if you regularly travel with a guest.
However, it’s been off-sale for a couple of years now.
The website said it was coming back on sale in 2023 and it’s the beginning of 2025 and still no sign.
They had two membership schemes;
- Aspire and Swissport Lounge Membership – for access to lounges above £259.99 which includes unlimited visits for the member and 1 guest (Please note annual memberships are currently off sale but hopefully returning in 2024.)
- Platinum Plus Lounge Membership – £399.99 which includes all lounges above plus London Heathrow Terminal 5 plus Cologne, Dublin, Faro, Geneva, Graz, Helsinki, Larnaca, Sofia, Zurich, Dubai, Kigali, Kingston, Montego Bay, Nairobi (Please note annual memberships currently off sale but hopefully returning in 2024)
Aspire has access to lounges across the UK and in some European countries as follows;
- Belfast
- Birmingham
- Bristol
- Edinburgh
- Humberside
- Glasgow
- Inverness
- London
- Gatwick
- London Heathrow Terminal 3
- Liverpool
- Luton
- Manchester
- Calgary International
- Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau
- Copenhagen
- Helsinki Vaanta
- Amsterdam Schiphol (26 & 41)
There was also access to Heathrow Terminal 5 but only with a Platinum Annual Membership. This also gave access to more European countries.
Even though memberships are off-sale you can still book individual lounge access online through Aspire with lounge access costing around £25 per person.
Now let’s look at Lounge Pass costs.
LoungePass
- A good option for occasional worldwide airport lounge access
LoungePass is an online directory of worldwide airport lounges that you can book at a discounted price.
It has over 650 lounges at 350 airports worldwide.
Prices are from £25 per person per lounge visit.
The price varies depending on the location.
They also offer non-lounge options such as meal deals at airport restaurants.
Your Travel Extras
- A good option for occassional UK airport lounge access
Your Travel Extras is a great option if you want to book airport lounge access at UK airports.
They cover every airport lounge in the UK.
The site is simple and super easy to navigate.
They only do airport lounges and airport parking – nice and simple!
LoungeBuddy
- A good option for finding out if you can access airport lounges through your flight tickets or other membership
LoungeBuddy has an online site where you can book lounge access.
You need to book for each time you want to use a lounge.
Costs are from £20 per person per visit, depending on lounge location.
Use of the Number 1 Lounge in Gatwick Airport is from £40 per person.
It also has an app where you can enter details of your airline ticket, membership schemes etc and it will let you know if you are eligible to use any airport lounges.
2025 Update – LoungeBuddy is going to stop operating at the end of January 2025
Bank Account & Credit Card Scheme Memberships
Some credit cards and bank accounts have benefits which include access to airport lounges.
Finder has an easy comparison of airport lounge access cards.
The top one currently is American Express Preferred Rewards which offers two free visits per year.
As with all credit cards the devil is in the details.
Whilst you might get free membership you may still have to pay the lounge entry free.
If you want to know some good travel credit card options you might find my post about getting Priority Pass for free helpful. I’ve picked out the top credit cards offering Priority Pass.
Airport Lounge Membership Comparison Pros and Cons
When thinking about airport lounge membership there are some things to consider.
Pros
- Airport lounge membership can offers good value if you are using lounges more than 3-4 times a year
- Membership schemes generally have a large selection of lounges
- Being a member means you don’t have to book and pay in advance. This gives you the flexibility to use a lounge when it suits you.
- DragonPass and Priority Pass also offer the chance to pre-book busy lounges so you are guaranteed entry.
Cons
- At busy times some lounges restrict access to lounges to only those that have booked directly. This means sometimes you might not get access to a lounge (unless you have prebooked).
Airport Lounge Membership Comparison – Conclusion
- Airport Lounge Membership is generally a better value option if using lounges more than 3 times a year.
- If your decision is just price Dragon Pass offers the cheapest airport lounge access. (Unless you use my special rate which makes Priority Pass better value)
- Priority Pass is the best option if you want the biggest lounge selection, 24-hour customer support (plus multi-language support), guaranteed entry for a small booking fee at the busiest lounges and other membership benefits such as transfers.
Airport Lounge Membership Comparison FAQs
Which Is The Best Airport Lounge Card?
The best airport lounge card is the one that offers the best value for you given the number of times you plan to use it and where you plan to use it. Check out my quick quiz (at the top of this page) which will tell you which option is the best for you based on your individual requirements.
Is It Worth Paying For An Airport Lounge?
It is well worth paying for an airport lounge if you intend to use all of it’s facilities. An airport lounge generally includes free snacks and drinks, upgraded WIFI, more comfortable seating, toilets, and a quieter environment than the airport main building. If you value these things then yes an airport lounge is worth paying for.
How Long Can I Stay in An Airport Lounge?
Generally, the maximum stay is 3 hours. If you are buying a one-time pass online some schemes only allow a 2 hour visit. If your flight is delayed you can stay in the lounge until your flight departs.
How Do You Become a Member of An Airport Lounge?
You can either buy access on a pay-as-you-go basis – either through the airport or online via sites such as Holidayextras. For more regular use you can join a membership scheme such as Priority Pass or Lounge Pass which gives you discounted lounge access. Another option is if you have a travel credit card where one of the benefits gives you lounge access.
Airport Lounge Membership Comparison Video
Further Reading
If you have found my Airport Lounge Membership Comparison article useful you might also like;
Dragon Pass vs Priority Pass – which is best for you?
Airport Lounge Access vs Pay As You Go – an easy way to calculate if lounge membership makes sense for you based on your travel plans
Find lots more information on my Airport Lounges page
Further Reading
Selected posts title
✈ Compare All The Airport Lounges At Gatwick North Terminal
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✈ No1 Lounge North Terminal Gatwick – All You Need to Know
Planning a visit to the No1 Lounge North Terminal Gatwick? Check out my review including pictures to see if it’s the right lounge for you. Read on for everything you need to know to plan your visit. No1 Lounge North Terminal Gatwick – Overall Rating Food ⭐⭐⭐ Service ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Overall Value ⭐⭐⭐ No1 Lounge North… Read More »✈ No1 Lounge North Terminal Gatwick – All You Need to Know
✈ Plaza Premium Lounge Gatwick North Review – All You Need to Know
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✈ What’s The Difference Between Priority Pass and Lounge Access?
If you are wondering what the difference between Priority Pass and airport lounge access is then read on to find out what you need to know. Don’t miss my exclusive Priority Pass membership discount below! 👇 Recommended Reading What Is The Difference Between Priority Pass And Lounge Access? When thinking of airport lounges it is… Read More »✈ What’s The Difference Between Priority Pass and Lounge Access?
✈ Does Priority Pass Give Free Meals? Find Out Here
Some Priority Pass lounges offer free meals as part of the lounge access, whilst some just offer snacks and drinks. Find out all you need to know right here and make the most of your Priority Pass membership by using lounges that have hot meals. Read on for everything you need to know. Recommended Reading… Read More »✈ Does Priority Pass Give Free Meals? Find Out Here
✈ Are Drinks Free At Priority Pass Lounges? Yes and No!
If you are wondering whether drinks are free at Priority Pass, the simple answer is that most drinks are free. However, there are some things to know when drinking in airport lounges. Read on for all the information you need to ensure you can enjoy a drink and enjoy your flight too. Recommended Reading Are… Read More »✈ Are Drinks Free At Priority Pass Lounges? Yes and No!
✈ Here’s Which UK Airports Have Priority Pass Lounges
Here’s a list of all the UK airports that have Priority Pass lounges that members can access. You can find more details on the lounge facilities, opening times and whether they do meals in my full Priority Pass UK Lounges post Recommended Reading Which UK Airports Have Priority Pass Lounges? Priority Pass is a membership… Read More »✈ Here’s Which UK Airports Have Priority Pass Lounges
✈ Is Priority Pass Worth It? Here’s How to Work it Out
Wondering whether Priority Pass is worth it? Wonder no more! Read on for this guide to help you decide if Priority Pass is worth it for you Recommended Reading Is Priority Pass Worth It? To decide if Priority Pass is worth it for you there are a few things to consider. How Many Flights Are… Read More »✈ Is Priority Pass Worth It? Here’s How to Work it Out
Is Everything Free in An Airport Lounge – Yes and No! ✈
If you are wondering if everything is free in an airport lounge the answer is – it depends. I’ve been using airport lounges for years and they make flying easier to deal with. Read on to learn what is always free and what generally isn’t. Recommended Reading Is Everything Free in An Airport Lounge? Here’s… Read More »Is Everything Free in An Airport Lounge – Yes and No! ✈