By Fred Mawer Up to date: 23:14 BST, 3 September 2011
A standard false impression prevails that you want to fly enterprise class to have the ability to escape the lots and relax in an airport’s government lounge. The truth is, many airports have what are referred to as within the journey trade ‘widespread use lounges’ – civilised areas you may retreat to no matter which airline you’re flying with and on what kind of ticket.
You must pay to enter these lounges, after all, and the going charge is about £16 to £20 per individual. That will sound like rather a lot. Nevertheless, entry to a lounge often consists of limitless (inside motive) drinks and snacks, newspapers and magazines to browse, and web entry. The price of all that in the principle departure lounge might simply come to £10 a head – and likelihood is you may find yourself spending extra on stuff you do not actually need within the outlets.
All you may eat: Fred Mawer helps himself to snacks within the No 1 Traveller lounge at Gatwick airport
The higher pay-to-enter lounges are actually fairly fashionable lately. For instance, No 1 Traveller’s award-winning, split-level lounge in Gatwick’s South terminal is decked out with trendy chandeliers and has expansive views of the runway via floor-to-ceiling home windows.
Earlier this summer time the corporate opened a second, bigger lounge within the North terminal, full with enterprise centre, a cosy mini-cinema and an indoor backyard space – principally a wall of foliage subsequent to wroughtiron tables and chairs.
Additionally on provide is a video games room with a pool desk (sadly beneath restore after I visited), board video games reminiscent of Scrabble and Snakes and Ladders to maintain the kids amused and a spa the place, for an additional charge, you may have a fast therapeutic massage, your toes nibbled by garra rufa fish (they like useless pores and skin), a haircut or shave.
You assist your self to food and drinks in most lounges. However in No 1 Traveller’s Gatwick lounges, drinks from the bar and a sizzling dish from a brief breakfast or daytime menu are served to you. I used to be there at a quiet lunchtime and my meals got here shortly, although my eggs Florentine was mediocre.
The No 1 Traveller lounges do additionally provide help-yourself spreads, which embrace cereals, yogurt and fruit at breakfast, and salads, biscuits and truffles at different occasions of the day. Earlier than paying to make use of a lounge in your subsequent journey, keep in mind the next basic factors:
Reserving choices
No 1 Traveller (0844 264 6440, www.no1traveller.com) costs £20 per individual for its Gatwick lounges if you happen to prebook (£10 for youngsters aged two to 11). It additionally has lounges at Stansted and a just-opened lounge at Heathrow’s Terminal 3 much like the one at Gatwick North, however with the addition from later this month of bedrooms aimed toward transit passengers, which price further.
Servisair (www.government lounges.com) has lounges at most UK airports. These at Gatwick, which price £16 per grownup, look slightly old school in comparison with the No 1 Traveller lounges.
Brokers that may guide a big selection of lounges at UK and abroad airports embrace Lounge Cross (020 8253 5146, www.loungepass.com) and www.gosimply.com; additionally contemplate Vacation Extras (0800 093 5478, www.holidayextras.co.uk) for UK lounges.
In the event you’re a frequent flyer, you may wish to join with Precedence Cross (020 8680 1338, www.prioritypass.com) or Airport Angel (0844 873 1373, www.airportangel.co.uk), which supply entry to airport lounges worldwide for annual charges.
In the event you’re going away with Virgin Holidays, do think about using its v-room lounges (0844 573 0088, www. virginholidays.co.uk/vroom) in Gatwick and Manchester. I’ve visited the one in Gatwick, which is spacious, has a enjoyable video games room and consists of good breakfasts in its entry charges. Keep in mind, although, that you’re going to pay further for alcoholic drinks. Entry is £20 for adults and £12 for youngsters aged beneath 12.
