How to Access Airport Lounges with an Economy Ticket

To the novice traveler, airport lounges seem to be elusive VIP corners of the airport only accessible to the rich and famous who racked up millions of frequent-flyer miles. But there are a few ways to get into these exclusive havens of luxury without carrying a first- or business-class ticket.

The next time you’re facing a lengthy layover, do a bit of research on the airport’s lounge availability, including how many lounges are there and what airlines they are associated with. If you’re carrying any class of ticket for that airline, you may be able to access the lounge for a one-time fee. Airlines have begun offering lounge access to economy passengers to fill out the lounge space that has been slightly emptier as of late. With all the resources devoted to the lounge experience (WiFi, free drinks, spacious seating areas), airlines are seeking ways to recuperate those expenses.

Airlines that introduced this access option include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, all of which offer a one-time access pass for $59 which includes one-day access at domestic airport lounges and can be purchased upon check-in. International airlines such as Etihad and Emirates also offer lounge access for $75 and $100, respectively.

If you find yourself addicted to airport lounges and want to visit more in the future, you can sign up for memberships to programs like Priority Pass which allows access to more than 850 lounges for a $99 initiation fee, followed by $29 per lounge visit. In the same vein, an app called LoungeBuddy lets you purchase lounge access from your phone without having to commit to a membership.