- Mr Plane Guy
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
How to Get Airport Lounge Access Without Flying Business Class (2026)
By Mr Plane Guy, Travel Blogger, Flight & Travel Expert
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click and buy, I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps cover my airport lounge habits, thank you for the support.
You Don’t Need a Business-Class Ticket to Use Airport Lounges
Airport lounges used to feel off-limits if your seat wasn’t at the front of the plane.
That’s no longer the case.
In 2026, there are several ways to get airport lounge access without flying business class and some are far cheaper (and easier) than most travellers realise.
This guide explains:
The easiest way to access airport lounges
Which options work best in the UK
What sounds good but often disappoints
What I personally use and pay for
Let’s start with the option that works almost everywhere.
The Easiest Way to Get Airport Lounge Access: Priority Pass
If you want simple, flexible airport lounge access without airline status, Priority Pass is the clear winner.
It gives you access to:
No1 Lounges
Aspire Lounges
Plaza Premium
Selected airport restaurants with dining credit
Across:
Heathrow
Gatwick
Manchester
Birmingham
Edinburgh
Newcastle
…and 1800+ airports worldwide
No airline loyalty schemes. No business-class ticket. No awkward explanations at the desk.
Just scan your pass and walk in.
👉 Get up to 30% off Priority Pass here
Is Priority Pass actually worth paying for?
I’ve used Priority Pass across the UK, Europe, the US and the Middle East and it’s saved me money more times than I can count.
If you:
Travel two or three times a year, especially as a couple. (Just one of you buy the card)
Want lounge access without hoping for upgrades
Prefer lounges over crowded gates and £7 coffees
…it usually works out cheaper than paying £40–£60 per visit on the day.
Bring a Friend Who Already Has Lounge Access
One of the easiest ways into a lounge is… not having access yourself.
Many premium credit cards, airline elite statuses and lounge memberships allow the holder to bring at least one guest, sometimes two.
If you’re travelling with:
a partner
a friend
a colleague
…who already has lounge access, it’s always worth asking.
Some programmes allow free guests, others charge a reduced fee, but it can still be cheaper than buying a walk-in pass.
Credit Cards That Include Airport Lounge Access
Some travel credit cards include airport lounge access as part of their benefits.
Well-known examples include:
American Express Platinum
Capital One Venture X (more US-focused)
Get Free Lounge Passes with Amex Preferred Rewards Gold (UK)
The Amex Preferred Rewards Gold card includes:
4 free airport lounge visits per year
Access to airport lounges (not airline-specific lounges)
Guests allowed (each guest counts as one visit)
Bank Accounts With Airport Lounge Access (UK)
Several UK banks include airport lounge access via premium packaged current accounts or associated cards.
These usually rely on DragonPass or LoungeKey, rather than Priority Pass.
They can be good value if you already want the account anyway, but they’re rarely worth opening just for lounge access.
Bank Accounts With DragonPass (UK)
Common examples include:
NatWest & RBS Premier Reward Black (£36/month)Includes DragonPass Premier+ with access to 1100+ lounges worldwide, plus travel insurance.
Barclays Travel Plus Pack (£22.50/month add-on)Includes 6 lounge passes per year.
Revolut Ultra / Premium / Metal Ultra (£45/month) includes unlimited lounge access. Lower tiers offer discounted access.
Ulster Bank ufirst Private (£26/month)
Investec Voyage Private Banking
DragonPass works well, but coverage and peak-time access can be restrictive.
UK Bank Accounts & Cards With LoungeKey
Some banks and cards use LoungeKey, often charging per visit.
Examples include:
Santander World Elite Mastercard (around £24 per visit)
HSBC Premier Credit Card
Coutts Silk Card
Revolut Ultra / Metal
Klarna Max
Curve Pay Pro+
Monzo Premium
Buy a One-Off Airport Lounge Pass (When It Makes Sense)
You can buy walk-in lounge access at:
No1 Lounges
Aspire
Plaza Premium
Typical prices:
£40–£60 per visit
Limited availability at peak times
Often non-refundable
Plane Honest verdict: Fine once or twice. If you’ll use a lounge more than once a year, Priority Pass usually wins on value.
Get Airport Lounge Access During Flight Disruption (AirHelp+)
Flight delays and cancellations are one situation where lounge access becomes genuinely useful.
AirHelp+ can include:
Lounge access during disruptions
Travel insurance
Compensation support (up to €1,000 depending on the case)
It’s not something you buy for lounges, but when things go wrong, it’s one of the few ways to avoid paying on the spot. More about this cover for flight disruption here.
Another Easy Win: Join Jack’s Flight Club for 15% Off No1 Lounges
This one often gets overlooked.
Jack’s Flight Club members get 15% off No1 Lounges at UK airports, plus discounted Fast Track security at Gatwick and other airports.
It’s not a full lounge-access solution like Priority Pass, but as a stackable perk, it’s genuinely useful.
It’s also one of the cheapest ways to find cheap flights, with the lounge discount acting as a handy bonus.
Plane Related Blog Posts, read these next.........
Is the Plaza Premium Lounge at Heathrow T4 Worth the Hype? Find out HERE
Qatar Airways Food & Menu Guide: What You Really Get in Economy vs Business Class
Is this the BEST Airport Lounges at London Gatwick South Terminal?
Priority Pass Review 2026: One Year of Lounge Access, Was It Worth It?
🅿️ Plane Airport Parking, Compare UK Airport Parking Prices (2026 Guide)
Final Boarding Call: What I Actually Recommend
Here’s the Plane Honest summary:
If you already have lounge access via a credit card or bank account, use it.
If you don’t and you travel two or three times a year, especially as a couple Priority Pass Standard usually works out cheaper than paying £40–£60 on the day.
If you travel more frequently, Priority Pass Standard Plus offers far better value.
It’s the simplest, most flexible airport lounge pass, and the one I personally keep paying for.
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Hello, I’m Paul a professional jet-setter and all-around plane travel pro. After 15 years working in and around planes, I became a flight delay expert at a London airport and mastered plane travel hacks, a PLANE flight expert with BIG travel plans but small carry-on.
Now, I share PLANE travel news, tips, reviews, and deals with honesty, humour, and zero baggage! Thanks for reading How to Get Airport Lounge Access Without Flying Business Class (2026)
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