Is Everything In Airport Lounges Free? Yes, Mostly, Sort Of…

Over the years, airport lounges have definitely become a lot more “mainstream,” especially as they’ve increasingly been monetized. Sometimes there’s confusion about what is and isn’t included when visiting lounges, either because someone is new to visiting lounges in general, or because they might be new to a particular type of lounge.

With that in mind, I’d like to talk about that a bit in this post — is everything in airport lounges free? There’s a bit of nuance and grey area, so it’s not necessarily that straightforward…

Once you’re in an airport lounge, stuff is mostly free

If you’ve accessed airport lounges before, you know that there’s huge variance in terms of the quality of lounges, ranging from first class lounges, to business class lounges, to Priority Pass lounges.

One thing is relatively consistent, though — the basic services in the lounge are supposed to be included if you have access. So you can generally expect that food, drinks, showers, and other amenities, will be complimentary, unless noted otherwise.

As I’ll get into in more detail below, there are some exceptions, but that’s the general concept. Personally, I operate under the assumption that stuff in lounges is free, unless there’s an obvious reason to believe otherwise, whether it’s an explanation from an employee, or a menu with prices.

There’s also typically not a limit to how much you can consume (though there are exceptions). So regardless of whether a lounge has a buffet or a la carte dining, you can knock yourself out. Some lounges do have a cap on alcoholic drinks, both to manage costs, and to make sure people don’t get too wasted.

What might not be free in airport lounges

The truth is that there are so many different kinds of airport lounges, so there’s not going to be a single consistent policy as to what’s included and what isn’t. Where will you find situations where lounge amenities aren’t included?

Specific to lounges operated by US airlines (so this includes American Admirals Clubs, Delta Sky Clubs, United Clubs, etc.):

• All the food at the buffet is complimentary, though in some situations there may be premium meals available for purchase, with a price clearly indicated on the menu
• Basic alcohol is complimentary, while premium alcohol may be available for purchase, with a specific price listed on the menu
• Showers are complimentary, and available on a first come, first served basis

With Amex Centurion Lounge, Capital One Lounge, and Chase Sapphire Lounges, you’ll typically find even fewer things available for purchase, with just about everything complimentary.

Beyond that, there are some exceptions to be aware of globally. Here are some that come to mind:

• Some airport lounges offer spa treatments, which are only available to certain types of guests (sometimes a subset of those who have access to the lounge); also, there may be a complimentary basic spa treatment, with add-on spa treatment options at an extra cost
• While lounges with shower facilities offer them on a complimentary basis more often than not, some contract and Priority Pass lounges may charge extra for these, so you’ll be informed of those charges
• Some regions have quirks when it comes to what they include; for example, last time I visited a domestic lounge in Kazakhstan, food and drinks weren’t included, but rather had to be purchased at an extra cost
• Some top lounges (like the SWISS First Lounge Zurich) have cigars in their smoking rooms that are available for purchase, and those aren’t usually included
• Some lounges have lounges within a lounge; for example, the Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Garden Lounge Doha has a Louis Vuitton Lounge within it, where everything is available for purchase

Bottom line

The general expectation is that once you enter an airport lounge, most things are included, ranging from food, to drinks, to shower rooms. Now, there are some exceptions and quirks. For example, some lounges sell premium drinks at an extra cost, or charge extra for some additional amenities, like cigars, spa treatments, etc.

I realize the answer probably isn’t as straightforward as some had hoped. If you’re a lounge newbie, generally assume that once you enter the lounge, everything is included, unless told otherwise. This says nothing of tipping in airport lounges, which can also be a bit tricky (at least in the United States).

What has your experience been with airport lounge inclusions?