‘Not the flex you think’: Why some travelers say airport lounges just aren’t worth it anymore

It looks like the perfect layover at the airport. You walk beyond a velvet rope, avoid the throngs of travelers outside the gate, and find yourself in a peaceful haven with comfortable chairs, endless refreshments, and fast Wi-Fi.

Table service is provided by uniformed employees in certain edens. For still water, press one tap button; for sparkling water, press another. Fluffy white towels and high-end hand soap are available in the bathroom. Do you need to give someone a quick call? You have access to a private soundproof pod, so don’t worry. Are you exhausted? Place your feet on this lovely leather ottoman.

This image today seems like a fairytale from a bygone era, and a new reality is emerging as the airport lounge experience is transformed by increased demand for air travel as well as broad credit card and partner member advantages. The trend has led some experts to forecast price increases for lounges or even the possibility that certain airports may eventually stop using them altogether.

“Travel has grown dramatically. According to Mei Mei Song, chief transformation officer of the Plaza Premium Group, which runs lounges and concierge services in airports all around the world, it’s the emergence of the middle class.

Additionally, there are shifts at the airport lounge. Do we all want to improve travel? Indeed. We can provide customers with a variety of experiences, and I can see the market beginning to change based on customer profiles.

These days, there’s no shortage of disgruntled tourists posting on social media about their unsatisfactory lounge experiences. A traveler might find that the only food available is a cold, picked-over buffet rather than martinis. Or perhaps all of the charging ports have been used and the coffee maker is broken. There may be comfortable seats, but none of them are available, therefore it doesn’t matter. To make matters worse, there is a longer line to enter than there is at a Hollywood nightclub full with celebrities.

TikToker

TikToker Izzy Anaya claims, “Airport lounges are not the flex you think,” in a video that shows footage of a depressing-looking buffet in an unnamed lounge. “You are able to purchase your own beverage.

“Imagine paying $795 every single year just so I can stand in line at the airport,” Eric Gao, whose TikTok account focuses on point redemption and travel tips, wrote in response to a video he posted last month that showed a line to enter a branded Chase Sapphire lounge.

Tyler Dillon

Tyler Dillon, a professor and travel expert from Canada, is one of the road warriors who has fully abandoned lounges. He claims that they have changed from being a refuge for frequent travelers to a free-for-all that he would like to stay away from.

“I have been in private aircraft, private airport wings for heads of state and dignitaries, and private customs processing.” There are differences between these lounges. They resemble cruise ships more.

He continues, “The all-you-can-eat buffet in the VIP Prime Lounge on the third floor of Incheon International Airport is far from sublime.

Airport lounges were mostly run by specific airlines and reserved for high-end passengers decades ago. The premise was that paying more for business and first-class seats would not only help you in the air but also make your time at the airport less stressful with privileges like complimentary food and beverages. Prior to the widespread use of airport Wi-Fi, business travelers might send a few final emails before boarding.

You can now enter a lounge in a number of ways without being a high roller. A lot of credit cards give their customers access to lounges. The entrance hurdle to lounges has decreased when you combine it with membership-style apps like Priority Pass.

About 20% of lounge patrons enter using their frequent flyer status with an airline, another 20% use credit card benefits, and less than 10% purchase day passes, according to a JD Power survey. Thus, first or business class tickets are held by the other half.

For today’s gold-status flyers, however, simple buffets are insufficient.

Travelers anticipate opulent benefits if they are willing to pay four figures for a lie-flat seat across the Atlantic. The quality gap is growing as more lounges hire baristas, mixologists, tailors, and even massage therapists.

After getting a haircut, visitors may have a full afternoon tea at the Virgin lounge at London Heathrow, which includes little finger sandwiches. There are private hot pools in the Qatar Airways first-class lounge in Doha, so don’t worry if you forgot to bring a swimsuit. Skincare services are available at Air France’s flagship lounge at Charles de Gaulle. A local chef will make noodles to order for guests at Cathay Pacific’s Pier lounge in Hong Kong.

In fact, some of these lounges are so well-liked that some travelers schedule their flights around them.

More than 80% of lounge patrons claim that lounge access influences their choice of airline, and over 50% claim that it influences the travel itineraries they choose, according to the JD Power survey.

‘Not at all created equal’

According to Kyle Olsen, who frequently writes on lounges for CNN’s partner website Underscored, “lounges are not at all created equal.” According to his ranking, free-for-many lounges operated by third-party operators are at the bottom, while airline-specific lounges reserved for first-class or elite members are the most exclusive.

In airports, lounges can offer a crucial compromise. Low-cost airline passengers can still receive a complimentary lunch in these areas thanks to their partner memberships, even if they don’t have their own lounges.

Additionally, there is a divide between domestic and foreign lounges based on the various needs of travelers. Due to the time required for passport control, international travelers arrive at the airport significantly earlier. A traveler’s expectations for an airport lounge, whether it’s a place to take a hot shower or nap, are likely to increase with the length of the flight.

But what’s the point if lounges are becoming to resemble the rest of the airport in terms of noise, activity, and difficulty navigating? It’s likely that a traveler with a two-hour stopover won’t try to enter a lounge if they observe a 50-minute line. Lounges appear to be an extension of the terminal rather than safe havens.

Some lounges are becoming more mainstream, while others are becoming more premium, limiting entrance to just the highest class of fliers. The Capital One credit card firm introduced a “grab and go” concept this year, allowing customers to grab snacks and meals from the lounge. Since many lounges discourage or even forbid patrons from taking meals to go, this is the exact reverse of what lounges were designed to do.

Olsen claims, “It’s not really better than just picking up a $15 yogurt parfait and heading to the gate.

Olsen doesn’t think that making lounges more exclusive is the solution. He recounts a journey to India in which he witnessed two lines to enter a lounge: one for those with Indian-issued credit cards and another for those with foreign cards. He claims that the later line moved much more swiftly, which unnerved him.

“I believe that more people should have access to lounges.” They shouldn’t be limited to first-class individuals, in my opinion.

According to Song of the Plaza Premium Group, lounge entrance fees will begin to resemble those of airline tickets, with higher fees for peak hours and dates.

Some airports are considering doing away with lounges entirely.

Both Los Angeles and Dubai, two cities renowned for their wealthy and well-known citizens, have special private airport terminals where everything from boarding to security screening can be done in luxury—for a steep cost, of course. San Francisco comes next.