I received a question about whether you have to pay extra for things once you’re inside an airport lounge. The answer to this is probably obvious to most OMAAT readers, but there’s also a bit of nuance and grey area, so perhaps it’s not that straightforward, and is worth discussing in a post.
Continue reading: Is Everything In Airport Lounges Free? Yes, Mostly, Sort Of…
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I sometimes find puzzling things that are or aren't even offered (with or without an additional fee). For example, the lounge in Yerevan has exactly one (1) electrical outlet and non-functional WiFi. You can get far better food, better WiFi, and more power, out in the concourse.
The most jarring example of being charged for something was being charged for a shower in the Royal Jordanian lounge in AMM.
Years ago, there was a guy in the DCA Admirals Club who would proactively find people who had just sat down and asked them, “can I get you a (food item)?” with zero mention of any charge.
If you say yes, he’ll bring it to you, and when you’re done eating, he’ll ask for your card.
Pretty shifty if you ask me.
Unrelated, but TK203 pulled a BA move and is diverting back to Istanbul, 8+ hours of flying to nowhere.
I think the biggest grey zone is around the duration of allowed stay in the lounge included in the entry. I mean, a lot of lounges (especially contract/Priority/Dragon Pass etc) indicate "maximum 3-4 hours" of stay. Has anyone actually ever been ejected after that? Do you have to pay after that or what? Never heard of it, and would be curious to hear from others if that's ever enforced?
Side note - the cigars in the SWISS First Lounge A in ZRH were still free last month (just have to ask staff to open the box), and have never been charged on any of my visits since 2016...
There are 2 things for certain that are not free of in airport lounges.
1. Misbehaving children.
2. Pets aka. fake service animals.
Why not? Some lounges have great bartenders. Doesn’t hurt to leave a few bucks.
Lounges are lately not worth the effort. Long queues and waits make the entire proposition not worth it.
Recent stop at lounge in SXM - one drink ticket for a drink, the rest needed to be paid for. Wild.
I've never had to wait in line to get into a United Club. Maybe you're just flying the wrong airline. And by "wrong airline", I mean the repulsive Delta.
I can’t believe a lounge would encourage someone to smoke a cigar before a flight. I would hate it if I had to sit next to someone like that on a flight.
There are contracted lounges that charge for use of the showers and/or for towels for the showers.
Depends where. I had been doing a mini tour of Asia, and I had basically no meal expenses between the airport/airline lounge food and the included hotel breakfasts. And the lounges were often busy but still comfortable.
Huge queue outside the Delta lounge at Montreal, as I waited for my KLM flight. The queue was positioned alongside a moving walkway — hence nowhere to lean (because the only surface was a moving handrail), and of course nowhere to sit. Those of us with limited mobility experiencing increasing pain. Delta apparently couldn’t care less, its staff just demanding a boarding pass inspection every half hour. The reason for which was never entirely clear.
I confess, this did not feel to me like a “premium” experience. More like a very cr@ppy one.
It’s just a single data point. Though one that’s been repeated each time I’ve flown out of Montreal. In general, I try to avoid US airlines. Even the premium ones.
Most folks do not tip in a lounge so doing so kinda ruins it for everyone else. Part of the problem is that US domestic lounges charge for premium drinks, so cash may change hands.
In fact I prefer the foreign model where you just help yourself to drinks. It's not like pouring wine or beer is difficult, and most folks can make a decent cocktail the way they like it.
telling the truth, Paul?
I don't believe DL operates a SkyClub at YUL.
AF operates a lounge for it and KLM's passengers and it is in a different location than DL's flights due to US pre-clearance.
Pretty sure it was Montreal. But I travel a lot so sometimes lose track. Their website certainly doesn’t list it. How infuriating.
Actually you’re quite right; it was the Delta Sky Club in JFK T4. Search for photos and you’ll see the travelator outside the entrance, against which you can’t lean when the queue extends for eternity. Dunno why I confused JFK with Montreal. Clearly the jet lag is getting to me.
I tip the wonderful bar staff at the PHL Centurion Lounge at least $20 every time I go through there. Mainly because they deserve it, but also a small part of it is to make up for the rude freeloaders like you, Bob.
In the UK lounges have to make sure people are fit to fly so they need to make sure people are intoxicated when they reach the gate. Some lounges have introduced a limit of 2 or 3 drinks to help with this.