There’s something about the business class airport experience that always feels a bit magical to me. Not just the dedicated check-in desks or the thought of sinking into a lie-flat seat later on, but the little luxuries before you’ve even boarded the plane. The calm atmosphere of a lounge away from the bustle of the busy terminal, the free-flowing drinks, and the feeling that your holiday has already started before take-off. For years, though, I assumed airport lounges were reserved for people paying eye-watering business-class fares.
Thankfully, that’s not really the case anymore. While airline-run lounges from the likes of British Airways or Virgin Atlantic tend to only be available to business and first class passengers, frequent flyers or premium card holders, many UK airports now have independent lounges that anyone can book into – no matter where you’re sitting on the plane.
And honestly, some of them are far more affordable than you’d expect.
Access to UK airport lounges can start from as little as £32 per person, with some overseas lounges costing even less. But while there are plenty of standard lounges offering the usual buffet and self-service drinks setup, I wanted something that felt a little more special for my partner and me before our trip to Seville. Somewhere that felt less like a waiting room and more like the start of the holiday itself.
That’s how I ended up booking Clubrooms by No1 Lounges at Gatwick South. According to Holiday Extras, it’s their most popular lounge at the flight hub.
From the moment we arrived, it immediately felt different to the usual airport lounge experience. Instead of wandering around trying to find a seat with a decent plug socket and joining the inevitable buffet queue, we were greeted by staff and shown directly to our table by a dedicated waiter who looked after us throughout our stay.
It’s one of the reasons Clubrooms has built a reputation as one of the more luxurious lounge experiences around. The lounges are adults only too, which instantly gives the whole place a calmer, quieter atmosphere — ideal if you’re travelling as a couple or simply want to escape the chaos of the terminal for a few hours.
According to the brand, the idea is to create more of a “private members” club feel than a traditional airport lounge — and while it certainly felt polished and exclusive, the price tag was nowhere near as intimidating as you might expect.
We flew from Gatwick South with British Airways and used the South Terminal Clubrooms lounge, although there’s also a North Terminal option. The lounges aren’t just limited to Gatwick, either, with locations at Heathrow and Birmingham too.
For our visit, we paid £50 each and, honestly, we easily got our money’s worth between the food, drinks and snacks alone. Prices do vary depending on dates and location, but if you book far enough in advance, some Clubrooms passes can start from £44 with Holiday Extras.
At first glance, £50 for an airport lounge might sound indulgent. But once I started mentally adding up what we’d usually spend at the airport (coffees, lunch, a couple of drinks and the inevitable overpriced snacks), it suddenly didn’t seem nearly as extravagant.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Seamus McCauley, head of public affairs at Holiday Extras, said: “If you’re splashing out, the Clubrooms offer à la carte table service, a smart-casual dress code and no children under 12 – a perfect haven for an adults-only trip or a special occasion.”
A Holiday Extras spokesperson added: “Designed in the style of a modern private members club with the facilities, atmosphere, and service to match, they offer the ultimate lounge experience. Offering a quiet space to relax ahead of departure away from the bustle of the terminal, each comes with hosted table service, extensive menus of freshly prepared dishes, elegant wines, premium spirits, and craft beers, and complimentary magazines and newspapers – they’re a great place to start your holiday from the moment you arrive at the airport.”
What you’re served depends on the time of day. In the mornings, guests can choose from continental options as well as cooked dishes including eggs Florentine, breakfast hash and a traditional full English.
Because our flight departed in the afternoon, we were handed the evening menu instead. I went for the ratatouille while my partner eyed up the chilli, though there were lighter dishes too, including mushrooms on toast. I also really appreciated that there were proper vegetarian and vegan options available, rather than an afterthought salad hidden at the bottom of the menu.
Drinks were all brought straight to our table, with everything from wine and beer to sparkling wine and cocktails included. Naturally, I had to try the Skyline 75 (Clubrooms’ own twist on a French 75) because airport cocktails somehow feel even more justified when you’re technically already in holiday mode.
Alongside the made-to-order meals, there was also a grazing table filled with snacks like nuts, olives, brownies and cakes for anyone wanting to nibble between drinks.
Guests also get free unlimited Wi-Fi, flight information screens, comfortable seating areas, TVs and runway views. Although at Gatwick South, I quickly realised the best plane-spotting seats are in the front half of the lounge. The back section is separated by a wall, so if watching aircraft taxi past with a glass of wine in hand is part of your ideal pre-flight ritual, it’s definitely worth asking for a runway-facing seat.
Of course, if you’re simply looking for somewhere quieter to relax before a flight without splashing out too much, there are cheaper airport lounge options out there too.
“You can book a lounge at a major UK airport for as little as £32 per person – for example, at Stansted airport. Overseas, they often come in around the £20 mark – for example, in Bridgetown, Barbados.”
And when you think about how much people typically spend killing time in the terminal anyway, the maths starts to make a lot of sense.
“Booking a lounge at those prices can pretty much pay for itself,” said Seamus.
“Last time we surveyed UK holidaymakers, we asked 1,000 recent overseas travellers what they spent hanging around the airport waiting for their flight, and ordinary people were spending £26.30 on treats, snacks, Wi-Fi and other ways to treat themselves and pass the time in the terminal.
“That’s more than £100 for a family of four – and when you consider that a lounge offers food, drinks, Wi-Fi and entertainment all thrown in for the price, you’re not just making sure you have somewhere comfortable to wait. You’re probably breaking even on the time you’ll spend waiting for your plane.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
