Last updated on October 10th, 2026 at 03:57 pm

I’ve flown through Edinburgh Airport plenty of times, all of them on work trips. If you flying through Edinburgh and are working then this is for you as I am comparing the best Edinburgh Airport lounge for business travellers.

Working at Edinburgh Airport in the main part of the airport is quite hard. There are loads of annoying announcements for a start, which make concentrating difficult. This combined with uncomfortable seating means that a lounge is the best option if you want to get any work done during your airport visit.

But which of the 3 paid access lounges is best for working? I have visited and worked in all 3 so I am going to compare them all so you can find the best one for you.

As a business/working traveller I am always looking for a comfortable work area with space for my laptop, paperwork etc. Good WIFI is important but not as important as power sockets and a quieter space helps. There also needs to be good food and drink to keep me going when working too.

In this article I am going to go through the differences between each of the paid access lounges;

• The Turkish Airlines Lounge by Plaza Premium
• The Aspire Lounge
• The Escape Lounge

Edinburgh Airport Executive Lounges – Quick Overview

Edinburgh Airport offers three paid-access lounges for business travellers – the Plaza Premium, Aspire, and Escape Lounge. Located near Gates 4 and 16, these lounges provide food, drinks, and comfortable seating regardless of airline or ticket class.

• Plaza Premium Lounge (Gate 16) is the largest lounge, featuring runway views, a quiet area, hot buffet service, and full bar. Open 4am-10pm daily, it’s ideal for business travellers needing workspace.
• Aspire Lounge (Gate 16) has runway views, a 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) has a hot and cold buffet, and varied seating including cocoon chairs. There are no runway views. Open 4am-10pm most days.
• Access options range from £32-£47 per visit when booking direct or through third parties. Priority Pass Standard Plus Membership gives access at £20.60 per visit (1 of 10 included visits)

Edinburgh Airport Lounge Comparison Business Travellers

Lounge	Location	Opening Hours	Best For	Workspace Quality	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	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐

Business Traveller Edinburgh Airport

Plaza Premium Lounge Edinburgh Airport (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 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
• 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 with airport runway views

How to Get Access to the Plaza Premium

• Buy access directly on the Plaza Premium site – £40.50 per adult for a 2 hour stay, or £67.50 for a 5-hour stay
• Loungepair is a great value way to access lounges – buy a pass and use it anytime within a year
• Access via an airport lounges membership scheme such as Priority Pass.The cost to enter depends on your membership level. I used my Standard Plus Membership which meant my visit worked out at £20.60

Read my full review of the Turkish Lounge by Plaza Premium

Edinburgh Airport Workspace

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

How to Access the Aspire Lounge at Edinburgh Airport

• Buy access directly on the Aspire Lounge Site – £46.99 per adult for a 3 hour stay
• You can book through Edinburgh Airport – £43.99 per adult for a 3 hour stay
• Buy access through a third party site such as LoungePair – £30 for a 3 hour stay and refundable if you can’t use your pass
• Access via an airport lounges membership scheme such as Priority Pass. The cost to enter depends on your membership level. I used my Standard Plus membership to visit and it cost £20.60

Read my full review of the Aspire Lounge Edinburgh Airport

Business Traveller Edinburgh Airport

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

How to Access the Escape Lounge at Edinburgh Airport

• Buy access directly on the Escape Lounge Site – £38.99 per adult for a 2.5 hour stay
• Buy access through a third party site such as LoungePair.
• Access via an airport lounges membership scheme such as Priority Pass. The cost to enter depends on your membership level. I used my Standard Plus Membership which meant this visit cost £20.60

Read my full review of the Escape Lounge Edinburgh

Edinburgh Business Lounge Quick Decision Helper

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

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

Airport Lounge Membership

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 – £419 with unlimited member lounge visits.

Whether you’re connecting to a domestic flight or heading abroad, having reliable lounge access means you can work, relax, or prepare for meetings in peace. If you want predictable access across flights, here’s how to get Priority Pass so you don’t need to book pay-as-you-go entry every time

Quick Business Lounge 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

• All of the Edinburgh airport paid entry lounges are suitable for working in.
• The Aspire and the Escape Lounge are pre-bookable which guarantees entry at peak periods.
• The Plaza Premium offers the best working options with quiet space, runway views, tables and high bar stools with a high table. This is not prebookable though.
• The Escape Lounge is the best option for working if you want to prebook. It is best for flights from gates 1-10, otherwise it can be quite a long walk to the other end of the terminal building.
• If you plan to use airport lounges regularly then a Standard Plus Priority Pass membership is great value at only £20.60 per lounge visit for 10 included member visits. Why not get yours now and give yourself a treat?

Edinburgh Airport Hotel

Get a great Edinburgh airport hotel deal right here

Related Edinburgh Airport Resources

• My Comparison of All the Edinburgh Airport Lounges
• Turkish Airlines Lounge by Plaza Premium Review
• Escape Lounge Review
• Aspire Lounge Review
• Best Edinburgh Airport for Nervous Flyers
• Best Edinburgh Airport for Travellers with Additional Needs
• Airport Travel Resources – money saving tools & resources for your airport visit
• How to Get Priority Pass
• Priority Pass Membership