The hustle and bustle of the Airport is all very exciting especially when you’re going on a long haul trip like we recently did to Las Vegas, but with the price hike inside airports hitting over £6 for a flat, lifeless pint we went in search of something a little better, an airport lounge, The Aspire Lounges.
Our flights were Newcastle to Heathrow then Heathrow to McCarran airport. We flew BA and got a really great deal on our flights, check them out here.
Having only a short time in Newcastle airport we headed through to departures and grabbed a quick bite at the pub. One bacon buttie (2 rashers, no butter) on a stale bun and one sausage buttie (two skinny sausages, no butter) on another stale bun. A pint of Peroni and an Americano. Would you have paid £21.50 for the pleasure? No, I certainly won’t be doing that again. We flew the 45-minute flight to Heathrow where we went straight to check in at the Aspire Lounge.
3 Reasons To Visit The Aspire Airport Lounge
Hidden away in Terminal 3 we chose a comfy seat looking out onto the runway whilst we headed to the bar for a bottomless glass of pre-flight wine and then checked out the buffet. On offer was; Curry dishes and pasta dishes both meat and Vegetarian. Soup, a salad bar, cheese board, other snacks and treats. The dishes change on a monthly basis and seasonal dependence
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We grabbed a plate and headed to our seats where we were able to charge all of our devices ready to board the flight as well as make use of the complimentary WiFi. There’s of course toilets (including baby change) and in this lounge contained a spa. Some lounges have rest pods for a quick nap. Entry to the Aspire Lounges start at £24.99 and allow you access for two hours.
If you’ve not been to an airport lounge, this is why you need to book before you fly;
Value for money
If you’re going to have a couple of drinks plus something to eat then the Aspire Lounges might actually work out better value for money. At £24.99 per head, you are able to choose a selection of hot and cold foods from the buffet. There’s also a sweet selection, fruit and crisps too. With an average bottle of wine in an airport costing over £25 and a standard meal over £15, you could be making a little saving.
The food isn’t the greatest quality, it’s average, however, there is a great selection so if you’re not too bothered about eating a large feast at a chain restaurant before you fly then I’d recommend.
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The ambience
There’s not the hustle and bustle of the departures lounge and screaming children to contend with. The lounge is plush and comfortable. It has great amenities and the decor is modern contemporary meaning that you can feel relaxed before boarding your flight. There’s an array of different seating. We chose the comfy armchairs with a prime view, however, there’s dining tables and even long benches for larger groups.
I did notice a lot of solo travellers which was really interesting, perhaps this is why the lounge was exceptionally quiet.
Open to all
It doesn’t matter who you’re flying with, or which cabin class you’re in, you’re able to book into the Aspire Lounges before your flight which is great. There’s an eclectic mix of people in the lounges for those that might feel intimidated.
I thoroughly enjoy being out of the manic departures lounge and in the Aspire Lounges when I travel. For me the calm and tranquillity outweigh everything.
You can check out if there’s an Aspire Lounge at your next airport location here.
Have you got any airport tips? I’d love to know. Drop a comment below.
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Thanks for this blog post – very interesting read, I’ve never known much about the aspire lounge! 🙂 xo