Tips And Works

There can be precious little to do at an airport between checking in and taking off if you have bought all your souvenirs and don't fancy sitting in crowded departure lounges. In these days of heightened security, you may have hours and hours to while away before you board the airplane. Investing £16-£20 in a couple of hours in an airport lounge could be the answer. They can be a haven of air-conditioned peace and quiet in busy airports, and they have recently opened up to all travellers not just business people bound for that big meeting in Beijing.

Airport lounges offer free soft and alcoholic drinks, tea, coffee and snacks, tv, fax, email and internet access and local and international newspapers and magazines. Some of the more luxurious lounges have spas, gyms, showers, steam cleaning, shoe shining and, in some cases, babysitting.

I have a very early flight. Can I stay in the lounge all night?

No. Most lounges allow passengers to stay for about two hours prior to departure. They usually keep the same hours as the airport so will not be open over night anyway. Opening times of 6am to 10pm are typical.

Can I bring my children?

Depends on what age they are. While some lounges offer babysitting, many specify that only children over the age of 12 are allowed. In lounges which welcome children they must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

I'm interested in doing some recreational surfing, how do I book a lounge?

The airline you are flying with may operate its own lounges. For example, access to British Airways’ lounges is available to passengers travelling in First, Club World and Club Europe, plus Silver and Gold Executive Club members. British Airways lounges include the First, Terraces and Executive Club lounges operated by (or on behalf) of BA and the oneworld partners. Terraces is one of the British Airways lounge types and offers drinks and snacks, business and online facilities (BT Openzone wireless broadband, use of a Combiz PC), washrooms, sanctuary (with sofas, daybeds and recliners), library and quiet area.

Open to Flying Club Gold members, Virgin's Clubhouses at Heathrow and Gatwick are closer to private members' clubs. They are the last word in luxury offering massages, manicures or haircuts, drinks and a delicious menu. At Heathrow, there is even a ceiling-to-floor Japanese water wall that runs into the swimming pool. In addition, there are Executive Lounges at Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester airports, operated by Servisair/GlobeGround.

bmi's lounges are open to business travellers and Silver or Gold members of the airline's Diamond Club as well as passengers on a short-haul Premium Economy ticket. Along with the usual benefits of complimentary refreshments, newspapers and television (Sky in the bmi business and diamond club lounges at Heathrow, Durham Tees Valley and Belfast City airports), wireless internet access is available in the lounges at Aberdeen, Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London Heathrow and Manchester airports.

Members of Rewards4all, Flybe’s new Frequent Flyer Programme, and passengers with Premium Economy Class tickets have access to the airline's 11 lounges. WiFi access, complimentary drinks, magazines and snacks are available. Executive lounges are available at Belfast City, Birmingham, Southampton, London Gatwick, Aberdeen, Jersey, Guernsey and Inverness. Economy Plus passengers can also use partner lounges in several airports around the UK and Europe such as Bristol, Cardiff, Manchester, Berne, Bordeaux, Dublin, Faro and Milan.

I'm a budget traveller...

For price-conscious travellers, easyJet has opened easyJetLounges, the result of a partnership with Servisair, the airport lounge operator. easyJetLounges have all the usual perks - beverages and soft drinks, newspapers, internet and email access - and cost between £16 and £20 per person. They can be found in most of easyJet’s European bases. Book on easyJet's website.

Servisair also allows customers to pre-book access to 50 airport lounges around the UK, Europe and worldwide, regardless of airline or class of travel, via its website. Prices start from £12 and vary by destination.

Alternatively, book with a travel extras website

• Airport lounges offers lounges at Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton and Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, East Midlands, Bristol, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Leeds Bradford Airport from about £17.50 per person.
• Visit baa.com to book a lounge at Gatwick (North and South terminals), Stansted, Heathrow terminals 1-4, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Southampton.
• BCP: book lounges (up to a three-hour stay) at 18 UK airports including London Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, Belfast, Cardiff, Manchester and Newcastle from £12.95 per person.
• Holiday Extras: at 16 airports around the UK including London Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton, Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, Manchester and Nottingham East Midlands. The website has a handy list of what is available at each of the airport's lounges. Arrive up to three hours before departure for about £13.50 per person.