- Mr Plane Guy
- May 12
- 8 min read
Birmingham Airport’s Lounge Upgrade Plans Look Seriously Impressive
By Mr Plane Guy, Plane Honest Travel & Loyalty Insights
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It keeps the blog running and fuels my habit of buying overpriced airport lattes.
If you’ve ever sat at a packed departure gate at 5am desperately hunting for a plug socket while balancing an overpriced airport breakfast and listening to gate announcements every 30 seconds, this news from Birmingham Airport might genuinely improve your next holiday.
Birmingham Airport is getting a huge airport lounge upgrade for Summer 2026 and after recently trying Aspire’s new LUXE concept for myself at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, I can honestly say this could completely transform the pre-flight experience.
And yes… the cocktails really were that good.
Aspire Expands at Birmingham Airport
Aspire Pre-Flight Hospitality has announced a major expansion at Birmingham Airport, introducing three different lounge experiences inside the terminal.
The new offering includes:
A fully refurbished Aspire Lounge
The new Luxe by Aspire premium lounge concept
A brand-new ultra-premium Suite by Aspire experience
This is part of Aspire’s wider UK expansion after welcoming more than 1.2 million passengers across its UK and Ireland lounges during 2025.
With Birmingham Airport continuing to grow rapidly, this feels like a smart move.
Anyone who has travelled through Birmingham during school holidays or summer weekends will know the airport can get incredibly busy, especially during early morning departures.
That’s why airport lounges are no longer just about “luxury”. They’re becoming a stress-reduction tool.
What Is Luxe by Aspire?
This is the bit I’m personally most excited about. I recently tried the Aspire LUXE concept at Liverpool Airport and honestly… wow. Read my honest Aspire Lounge & Luxe by Aspire Liverpool Airport Review.
The difference compared to a standard airport lounge was instantly noticeable.
The space felt calmer, quieter and far more exclusive. More boutique hotel bar than airport waiting room.
The cocktails were genuinely excellent, the seating felt premium, and the overall atmosphere completely changed the mood of the trip before I’d even boarded the plane.
Even better?
I used my Priority Pass membership to access the main Aspire Lounge and then paid just £15 extra to upgrade to the LUXE section.
For the experience I got, it felt like one of the best-value travel upgrades I’ve had in a long time. One airport cocktail can practically cost over that anyway.
Priority Pass with up to 30% off is the easiest way to access the lounge without worrying about availability or paying full price.
👉 Check Priority Pass discounts here (up to 30% off)
I’ve also written a full Priority Pass review explaining whether it’s actually worth paying for in the UK, including how I use it to save money at airports like Heathrow, Gatwick and Liverpool.
What Will Birmingham Airport’s New Lounges Include?
The upgraded Aspire Lounge at Birmingham Airport will feature:
135 seats
Refurbished interiors
Enhanced food and drink options
Runway views
Work and leisure zones
Dedicated toilet facilities
Meanwhile, the new Aspire lounge will offer:
104 seats
More private and upscale surroundings
Enhanced food and beverage offerings
Dedicated workspaces
Quiet relaxation areas
And then there’s the most premium option.
Suite by Aspire: Birmingham Airport’s Most Premium Lounge Yet?
The new Suite by Aspire concept sounds incredibly ambitious.
Aspire describes it as being inspired by first-class air travel.
The lounge will feature:
Just 52 seats
À la carte dining
Table-side service
Exclusive premium surroundings
Personalised hospitality
For travellers flying long-haul from Birmingham Airport, especially on premium leisure trips or business travel, this could become one of the most premium airport lounge experiences outside London.
Aspire vs LUXE vs Suite, What’s the Difference?
Here’s the easiest way to think about the three new Birmingham Airport lounge options:
Lounge | Best For | Experience |
Aspire Lounge | Most travellers | Standard premium airport lounge with food, drinks and runway views |
Luxe by Aspire | Travellers wanting a quieter, upgraded experience | More premium atmosphere, better drinks, calmer seating and separate food section. |
Suite by Aspire | Luxury travellers or special trips | Ultra-premium experience with table service and à la carte dining |
Honestly, the LUXE tier is probably the sweet spot for most people.
That extra feeling of calm before a flight is massively underrated.
If you’re comparing UK airport lounge options, I’ve also reviewed airport lounges at Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester, including whether they’re genuinely worth paying for or just expensive places to eat crisps before a flight.
My guides include:
And honestly? I have a sneaky suspicion Birmingham Aspire Lounge may end up featuring in my 2027 rankings.
Could This Become the Best Birmingham Airport Lounge?
For years, many travellers would probably have picked the No1 Lounges as one of Birmingham Airport’s best premium lounge experiences. But Aspire’s new three-tier concept feels different.
The standard Aspire Lounge targets most travellers, Luxe by Aspire adds a quieter and more premium atmosphere, while Suite by Aspire sounds much closer to a true VIP lounge Birmingham Airport experience with table service and à la carte dining.
After trying Aspire LUXE at Liverpool Airport myself, I genuinely think this could become one of the most exciting Birmingham Airport lounge upgrades in years, especially for travellers wanting a more luxury-for-less airport experience.
Birmingham Airport Is Quietly Becoming Much More Premium
This development feels like part of a much bigger shift happening at Birmingham Airport.
The airport has been investing heavily in terminal upgrades, improved commercial spaces and passenger experience improvements.
And compared to some London airports, Birmingham still often feels easier and less chaotic overall.
Adding more premium lounge experiences gives passengers more choice depending on budget and travel style.
Whether you want:
A standard airport lounge before a Ryanair or easyJet flight
A quieter premium experience before a long-haul trip
Or a genuinely luxury pre-flight experience
…there will now be multiple options available inside the same airport.
How Much Will Birmingham Airport’s Aspire Lounges Cost?
According to Aspire:
Aspire Lounge prices will start from £42.99
Luxe by Aspire starts from £52.99
Suite by Aspire starts from £62.99
Honestly?
Compared to some airport restaurant prices these days, that starts looking surprisingly reasonable, especially if you factor in:
Alcohol
Food
Seating
Wi-Fi
Charging access
A quieter environment
Runway views
Avoiding crowded gate areas
And if the Birmingham LUXE experience is similar to Liverpool’s, I genuinely think many travellers will feel the extra upgrade fee is worth it.
Of course, if you already have a Priority Pass membership, you may be able to access the standard Aspire Lounge from around £24 per visit depending on your plan.
At Liverpool Airport, I simply paid a small extra supplement to upgrade into the LUXE section and honestly, it was absolutely worth it for the quieter atmosphere and upgraded cocktails alone.
Plane Tip: use the Priority Pass app to pre book your lounge visit.
Are you flying with easyJet from Birmingham Airport?
And if you’re flying regularly from Birmingham:
Can You Use Priority Pass at Aspire Birmingham?
This is the big question many frequent travellers will ask.
Aspire lounges are often included with Priority Pass memberships, DragonPass and various premium bank cards.
That makes this especially interesting for people already searching for:
Airport lounge passes
Priority Pass lounge access
Free airport lounge access
Birmingham Airport lounges
VIP lounge Birmingham Airport options
If Aspire follows the same model as Liverpool, there’s a strong chance travellers may be able to use lounge memberships and then pay a smaller supplement to upgrade into LUXE.
And honestly, after trying it myself, I would absolutely do it again.
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Why Airport Lounges Are More Popular Than Ever
Airport lounges used to feel like something reserved for business-class travellers.
Now?
They’re becoming increasingly mainstream.
Because modern airports can be stressful.
People are paying for:
Guaranteed seating
Quiet spaces
Better food
Cleaner toilets
Charging points
Complimentary drinks
Space to work or relax
A calmer start to their holiday
And Aspire’s new tiered concept feels smart because it gives travellers different levels of experience depending on budget.
What Birmingham Airport Should Do Next
Honestly, I’d love to see more UK airports adopt the LUXE concept.
Liverpool impressed me far more than I expected.
It genuinely felt elevated without feeling pretentious.
And if Birmingham delivers the same atmosphere with great cocktails, quieter seating areas and upgraded service, I think it could become one of the best airport lounge experiences outside Heathrow.
Especially for travellers looking for “luxury for less”.
Plane Related Posts
Final Boarding Call
Airport lounges are changing. Travellers are no longer just looking for free crisps and unlimited Diet Coke. They want experiences. They want quieter spaces.
They want premium travel without necessarily paying business-class prices.
And Aspire’s expansion at Birmingham Airport feels like a major sign that airport hospitality is evolving.
Personally?
After trying Aspire LUXE at Liverpool Airport, I’m genuinely excited to see this arrive at Birmingham, because if the cocktails are anywhere near as good… I may suddenly find myself booking more flights from Birmingham Airport purely for “research purposes.”
Hello I’m Paul a travel and flight expert, I spent most of my career working in and around planes with 15 years providing top-notch service with a London-based airline. I became an expert in travel after soaring across the Atlantic up to 10 times a month!
I’m now, producing travel content, reaching millions of viewers monthly. Reporting on travel news, sharing travel tips, reviews, and deals with a sprinkle of humour and a whole lot of authenticity!
I hope you enjoyed Birmingham Airport’s Lounge Upgrade Plans Look Seriously Impressive. Do let me know in the comments if you have any questions about it.
Airport lounges, free upgrades, travel chaos and the occasional meltdown. Real travel, not influencer nonsense.
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