Holiday excitement can often be dampened by overcrowded airports. However, a new Black Friday deal is offering travellers the opportunity to save up to 40% on airport lounges, aiming to alleviate some of the stress associated with flying. The struggle for a seat in busy departure lounges and paying a hefty price for subpar airport food can make what should be an enjoyable experience feel quite the opposite.
If you've ever wondered how celebrities and frequent flyers manage to travel without looking like they've just survived a disaster, we've uncovered the secret to stress-free flying. Contrary to popular belief, airport lounges are not just for VIPs and the wealthy. Finding a luxurious sanctuary away from the crowds could be more affordable than you think.
For as little as £30 per person, or even less with a Priority Pass, this could be the Black Friday travel deal you've been waiting for. Airport lounges offer a serene escape from the bustling terminal, providing a peaceful environment to relax before your flight. With comfortable seating, quiet spaces and fewer crowds, it's a welcome respite from the usual airport chaos, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Most airport lounges also offer complimentary food and drinks, including a variety of snacks, hot meals and beverages. This makes them a convenient and cost-effective alternative to overpriced airport cafes, allowing you to refuel and unwind without breaking the bank. In an experiment, reporter Ellie Kemp put the service to the test before her recent Paris trip.
Ellie said: "Passengers usually pay a set price to access a lounge, in return for a selection of food and drink nestled away from the hustle and bustle of the Departures waiting area. Manchester Airport, which flies passengers to more than 160 destinations, has nine lounges across its three terminals.
"The Escape Lounge promises 'an oasis of calm' and is the most economical option, priced at £28.99 per person (accurate at time of original writing). Having never tried a lounge before, I decided to see if that really was the case at Terminal 1 - and I can't believe I ever waited so long.
Arriving post-security checks, Ellie likened the entrance process of the lounge to a hotel check-in. Upon entry, after engaging with two staff members, she was free to partake in the buffet and order from the bar. Commenting on her experience, she noted: "As I had arrived at 11.30am, the food was being swapped over from breakfast to lunch. A selection of sandwiches, tomato soup, two salads and some nachos were on one buffet bar, with pastries and cakes nearby."
"The trio of sandwiches - cheese, egg or chicken and mayo - looked freshly made and I was instantly drawn to them - which is unusual, as I very rarely fancy sandwiches. To begin, I went for a chicken sandwich and a portion of nachos with salsa and sour cream. The sandwiches really were as good as they looked; light, delicious and the perfect ratio of filling to soft bread."
On the other table Ellie spotted some sausages and hash brown bites left over from breakfast, as well as curry, pasta, beef stew and a vegetable curry. She remarked: "For my next course I opted for some hash brown bites, pasta and vegetable curry - which were all top quality, especially the curry, which admittedly I do still think about from time to time now."
After around two hours spent in the lounge, Ellie found herself feeling serene and primed for her flight (though a sly glass or two of Prosecco might have contributed to this state).
Ellie summed up her experience: "I fell asleep easily on the plane after my time in the lounge, so for longer-haul flights I would be looking forward to booking again. It's changed my approach to travel for the better and just demonstrates that some pre-flight downtime - and a splash of luxury - ahead of a long day of travel does wonders for putting your mind at ease." You can delve into Ellie's full review, here.
Was the airport lounge good value for money?
Ellie analysed her consumption in the Escape Lounge at Manchester Airport, which charges £29.99 per person, by comparing with prices from the nearby Giraffe restaurant in Terminal 1. She commented: "Overall, I drank two glasses of prosecco and strawberry juice at the lounge. Two 125ml glasses of Il Baco Seta Prosecco at Giraffe would have put me back by £17, while a cranberry juice would've cost £3.75. That's more than a third of my lounge ticket already spent on drinks.
"I had a total of two chicken and mayo sandwiches - which would be roughly equivalent to two lots of toast from Giraffe and would have cost me £6.50. The pasta, curry and hash brown concoction, and the portion of nachos and salsa, I would say is equal to the average cost of a 'main' restaurant meal - such as a Katsu curry or lasagne. So that would have been £14.
"And for dessert, I enjoyed the muffin and pastry, which would have been worth around £6.50, or the equivalent to a cheesecake from Giraffe. All in all, I had around £47.75 worth of food and beverages at the lounge - saving me £17.76."
Save even more of stress-free flying
For those looking to emulate Ellie's money-saving approach, it's possible to find even further reductions for a hassle-free departure from not just Manchester but also over 1600 other airports worldwide. Priority Pass is currently offering a 40% discount on their standard annual subscription, reducing the cost from £69 to £41. Despite an additional £24 fee per lounge visit, this deal often works out cheaper than purchasing a one-off lounge pass.
This is particularly beneficial for frequent flyers as the more lounges are used, the more economical Priority Pass becomes. To illustrate potential savings, the first visit and sign up for a new Priority Pass customer would amount to £65 (£41 annual fee + £24 visit fee), with subsequent visits costing £24 each. Therefore, four visits over two trips abroad would total £137.
In contrast, if the same individual were to purchase direct lounge access, the same number of trips could cost up to £190 - representing a saving of £53 that could be put towards holiday expenses. Priority Pass lounges also offer a variety of perks depending on the location. These include pre-booking of airport lounges to avoid disappointment, entitlement to a range of well-being packages with Be Relax Spas before a flight, and access to car rental locations with bookings at preferential rates.
For more information on the full list of Priority Pass benefits, click here. Alternatively, single use airport passes can be booked at Heathrow Airport lounges from £33 with Expedia or from a selection of UK airport lounges at Holiday Extra from around a similar rpice point.
