Article: Toasties Vs a Terminal Tipple: Is Paid Lounge Membership Good Value?

[AFF Editor]

Canonical URL

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/paid-lounge-membership-value/

Toasties Vs a Terminal Tipple: Is Paid Lounge Membership Good Value? is an article written by Stephen from the AFF editorial team:

Toasties Vs a Terminal Tipple: Is Paid Lounge Membership Good Value?

Given the sky-high airport food & drink prices, is it better value to buy a lounge membership instead of dining in the terminal?

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[flyguy77]

'Membership also buys you peace and quiet away from crowded terminal'

Have you been in a Qantas or Virgin lounge lately?

I'd say it's been much easier to find a seat and a quiet spot in the terminal on many occasions for me.

 

[Laptop Jockey]

Every time I've been in the various domestic business lounges and Qantas Clubs this year, the food options have typically been reduced to one hot meal option, and no to minimal sides or alternatives if you don't want a salad. Aside from Melbourne's laksa bar, I've generally only grabbed a mini bread roll or cupcake and either a coffee or soft drink.
The food is definitely no longer a major consideration any more, and if you aren't pouring alcohol down your throat like you're on the last flight into Kabul, the food drink options aren't really a factor anymore into cost/benefit of lounges.

 

[2infinity]

You forgot to mention you can also bring a guest in with you (eg: wife/husband) + 2 children. So the maths is potentially divided by 4, so that 10 trips a year might only be 2.5 to break even. Plus your partner likes the perceived prestige lol.

 

[Gromit]

I must say the food options in the lounges are pretty dismal nowadays, however the bar and coffee and a place to work plus bathrooms that don't look like the streets of a 3rd world country makes it worthwhile.

PS: I wish I had been flying Qantas yesterday for the lounge access, 6 hours in the terminal with delayed Virgin flights, I spent over $80 on a couple of drinks and a very average gozleme.

 

[oz_ally]

It's been a while since I was a paid lounge member - but now I've dropped back down to Velocity Silver I am considering it. I recall when I bought it previously PS's paid half price annual membership for the lounge.

I just went to have a look and I can't see anything about half price membership being a Silver perk any more? AI tells me it is - but I think it is finding old info.

I'm logged in to my VFF account and getting $450 (plus $99 rejoining fee - that was waived as a PS before too). I'm sure I paid $300 to join up originally which was 50% off a few years ago.

Did Silver lose the discount membership and $99 fee waiver perk?

 

[vt01]

When I first joined back in the late 90's, it was worth it with the priority checkin, extra baggage, lounge access and lounge upgrades. And there was also access to showers which I mainly used when travelling overseas. Work all day then head to the airport, shower and change for the flight home. The lounges were much less crowded and food choices better. I probably paid for 5 years all up but on a corporate plan of $150 per year or $300 for 3 years.
But as my travel increased and I gained SG and WP and eventually LTG I didn't have to renew. I probably still have some paid membership.
I had a quick look at benefit's and I don't see priority check in any more. Although I guess these days with self checkin it's not so relevant.
Today, I would have to think whether the benefits are really there. given I don't travel nearly as much. As has been said, unless you're going to drink a lot and eat a lot or have long layovers, $828 is a bit much. My current employer doesn't offer corporate membership.
It would be interesting to see how many paid memberships there are these days compared to FF status access.

 

[IrishPete]

I don't think the article addressed when you can use the lounges. Am I right in saying you'd have to be flying with the relevant airline to use their lounge? and if so, this would be almost useless for international flights, unless flying with Qantas, and presumably no lounge access overseas?

For me, the main purpose of lounge access is to shower between long flights, so that means in my overseas transit airport. Priority Pass should provide this, but doesn't, as I've always had to pay extra (and exorbitantly) to shower, often with a long wait.

 

[ChrisMars]

I have lounge access. Great. But hey, it's mostly thanks to work trip paid by employer.

Why do I keep going to the lounge only to eat average food, instead of eating at an airport restaurant a nice meal that I can expenses? It is beyond me. Anyone else finding they do this same mistake?

 

[Luciana Lanza]

I have a platinum business card and have a priority pass membership which we use when we travel. I agree the lounges are trending downwards with the worst I’ve seen recently being in Bali! Disgusting unfortunately…. I’ve begun wondering whether the business model is to provide a small space called a lounge and not much more and charge US$45 with no actually checking what’s on offer meets hygiene standards