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Is Everything Free in An Airport Lounge – Yes and No! ✈

is everything free in an airport lounge

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.

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Is Everything Free in An Airport Lounge?

Here’s What’s Always Free

Most airport lounges have several things that are always free.

Free in the sense that your visit to the lounge includes these things.

You will have to pay to access the airport lounge, more on that later.

So what are the free things?

WIFI

  • Wifi in airport lounges is generally not limited by time.
  • You can use WIFI for as long as you are in the airport lounge. You can also connect as many devices as you need to.
  • The WIFI is usually faster than any free WIFI provided in the public area of the airport.

Comfier Seating

Airports are big fans of those metal seats aren’t they! In some airports it can even be difficult to find a seat.

Airport lounges generally have a variety of seating options. These could include sofas, armchairs, tables, desks and lounging chairs.

Lounges will often have a selection of seating available. There will be options for solo travellers, couples and groups.

Snacks and Drinks

  • All airport lounges include snacks and drinks for guests.
  • These will often include soft drinks, hot drinks and some alcoholic drinks.
  • Snacks vary. They could be things like cakes, biscuits, soup and sandwiches.

Now let’s look at other things that lounges might provide for free.

Is everything free in an airport lounge?

Still Free But Not Available in Every Lounge

Hot Food

Some lounges provide hot food to guests.

This may be available all the time, or at certain times of the day.

For example, No1 Lounges provide a hot buffet breakfast. From lunchtime this switches to hot buffet items that are available for the rest of the day. The hot buffet items could include a pasta dish and a curry dish for example.

Childrens Areas

Some airport lounges provide dedicated childrens areas. These might have some basic play equipment for children to enjoy.

Entertainment Areas

Large screens or small movie theatres might be available in some lounges. I once watched a World Cup football match on a big screen in an airport lounge. It was a great experience.

Toilets

Lounges may have their own toilets available for guests. This saves going out of the lounge to the toilets in the main part of the airport building.

These toilets are generally nicer, with nicer facilities and toiletries for guests.

Better Views

Many lounges will have views of the airport runways or the area where planes are coming and going. This can make for an interesting visit, watching all the things that happen to get flights in and out again.

Reading Materials

Many lounges provide newspapers and/or magazines for guests to browse. They are for guests to enjoy while they are in the lounge rather than taking them away.

Now let’s look at what things you might have to pay for in an airport lounge.

Is everything free in an airport lounge?

Premium Drinks

Most lounges will include some alcoholic drinks in the visit cost for free.

If you want to enjoy something extra special, such as Champagne or Prosecco, there is often a charge.

Many lounges offer ‘premium’ cocktails or ‘signature’ drinks. These are generally extra.

Showers

Showers may be available for free in an airport lounge. It’s always worth checking, especially if you are on a layover.

Several airport lounges charge an extra fee to use the shower. For this charge you can expect fresh towels, toiletries and the use of a hairdryer.

But there is something impotant to remember

is everything free in an airport lounge post image showing vip lounge sign

Is everything free in an airport lounge?

Remember You Need to Pay to Access an Airport Lounge

Whatever airport lounge you visit, you will have to pay to use it.

You will either have to buy a one-off visit pass, or join an airport lounge membership scheme.

That means that whilst things are free while you are in the lounge, you will have to pay to get through the door.

That said there’s an important calculation to consider.

Airport Lounges Can Be Cheaper

If you are planning to eat a meal and drink alcohol at the airport before you fly then an airport lounge (providing it does hot meals/hot buffet) can work out cheaper than just eating and drinking in the airport.

If that’s the case then yes everything in an airport lounge is free because it costs the same as you were going to spend anyway!

Is Everything Free in An Airport Lounge? – Conclusion

  • Most things are free in an airport lounge (although of course, you have to pay to access the lounge!)
  • If the lounge serves hot food then that can make it great value, and more so if you include a glass of wine or beer – it’s probably going to be cheaper/the same as eating in the airport.
  • Remember not to overindulge in any alcohol – you still have to be fit to fly.
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