Considering whether to use Lounge Pass or Priority Pass?
Here’s my comparison looking at costs for using 3 different airport lounges.
Read on to find out what the best option for you is based on your travel plans.
What is Priority Pass?
Priority Pass is an airport lounge membership scheme. To access airport lounges you pay a membership fee. The costs to access airport lounges depend on the membership you select.
Priority Pass has 3 different membership levels.
Standard is £69 per year. Every member and guest visit is £24 per person.
Standard Plus is £229 per year. The first 10 visits for the member are included, and after that they are £24 per person. Guest visits are £24 per person.
Prestige is £419 per year. All visits are free for members. All guest visits are £24 per person.
What is Lounge Pass?
Lounge Pass allows you to buy access to airport lounges online or through the app. There is no membership or joining fee, you simply select the lounge, pay and download your access.
It’s a pay as you go way to access airport lounges.
Lounge Pass vs Priority Pass – Cost Comparison
The best way to look at the difference between the two schemes is to do a cost comparison for airport lounge access.
For this example I have compared using 3 lounges;
- My local airport lounge in Inverness
- One of the most popular airport lounges in the UK – No.1 Lounge at Gatwick Airport
- Terminal 2 at Schipol Airport
Inverness Airport Lounge
Cost for 1 Visit
Lounge Pass
£25.99 per person
Total Cost £24
Priority Pass Standard
£69 membership fee
£24 per visit
Total Cost £93
Priority Pass Standard Plus
£229 membership fee
Up to 10 visits free
Total Cost £229
Cost for 5 Visits
Lounge Pass
£25.99 per person
Total cost £129.95
Priority Pass Standard
£69 membership fee
£24 per visit
Total Cost £129
Priority Pass Standard Plus
£229 membership fee
Up to 10 visits free
Total Cost £229
Cost For 10 Visits
Lounge Pass
£25.99 per person
Total Cost £259.99
Priority Pass Standard
£69 membership fee
£24 per visit
Total Cost £309
Priority Pass Standard Plus
£229 membership fee
Up to 10 visits free
Total Cost £229
Number 1 Lounge Gatwick
This is a very popular lounge and for that reason Priority Pass offers the chance to pay an extra £6 on top of the visit fee to guarantee entry. Without paying this Priority Pass members could be turned away if the lounge is full of pre-booked guests.
Costs for 1 Visit
Lounge Pass
£40 per person
Total cost £40
Priority Pass Standard
£69 membership fee
£24 per visit plus £6 fee
Total Cost £99
Priority Pass Standard Plus
£229 membership fee
Up to 10 visits free
Total Cost £235
Cost for 5 Visits
Lounge Pass
£40 per person
Total cost £200
Priority Pass Standard
£69 membership fee
£24 per visit plus £6 fee
Total Cost £249
Priority Pass Standard Plus
£229 membership fee
Up to 10 visits free
Total Cost £259
Cost for 10 Visits
Lounge Pass
£40 per person
Total cost £400
Priority Pass Standard
£69 membership fee
£24 per visit plus £6 fee
Total Cost £369
Priority Pass Standard Plus
£229 membership fee
Up to 10 visits free
Total Cost £289
Schipol Airport Lounge In Terminal 2
Cost for 1 Visit
Lounge Pass
£22 per person
Total cost £22
Priority Pass Standard
£69 membership fee
£24 per visit
Total Cost £93
Priority Pass Standard Plus
£229 membership fee
Up to 10 visits free
Total Cost £229
Cost for 5 Visits
Lounge Pass
£22 per person
Total cost £110
Priority Pass Standard
£69 membership fee
£24 per visit
Total Cost £189
Priority Pass Standard Plus
£229 membership fee
Up to 10 visits free
Total Cost £229
Cost for 10 Visits
Lounge Pass
£22 per person
Total cost £220
Priority Pass Standard
£69 membership fee
£24 per visit
Total Cost £309
Priority Pass Standard Plus
£229 membership fee
Up to 10 visits free
Total Cost £229
Priority Pass vs Lounge Pass – Other Things to Consider
Guaranteed Lounge Access
At busy times Priority Pass members may not be able to gain access to airport lounges. This is because lounges will prioritise those guests that have booked directly. (With exception of No.1 lounges where members pay extra to guarantee entry.)
This may be an issue at very busy airports, at peak times or if there have been lots of flight delays or cancellations.
Lounge Pass is the equivalent to booking direct so you will be able to access the lounge.
Other Membership Benefits
Lounge Pass buys you one time access to a particular lounge, with facilities provided as per the lounge details. There are no membership benefits – it’s just a straight purchase for lounge access.
Priority Pass has membership benefits that include free spa sessions (all spas in the US) for example. They also offer discounted car transfers, and meal deals in the airport too.
Lounge Pass vs Priority Pass – Conclusion
- The best option for you depends on the number of times you plan to access a lounge and the cost of entry.
- For less than 5 visits Lounge Pass is likely to be the cheapest option – but it is always worth checking.
- Costs need to be lower than £22.90 to beat Priority Pass Standard Plus membership – providing you are going to using all 10 visits.
You Might Also Like
If you have found this Lounge Pass or Priority Pass article useful you might also like;
Airport Lounge Membership Comparison – Find the best membership scheme for you
Priority Pass Membership – All you need to know about this popular airport lounge scheme
You can find more information on my Airport Lounges page
Further Reading
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