How to Fly in Style with Pay-Per-Use Airport Lounges

Everyone can feel like they are travelling business class, without the airfare ticket, with these pay-per-use airport lounges! Words by Leigh-Anne Pow.

You know the drill: you are long-hauling it to or from Europe (or America or Canada) in economy and find yourself with hours on your hands in the middle of the night as you wait for your connecting flight.

You’ve browsed every magazine worth looking at in the newsagency, eaten your fill of fast food, and loitered as long as is acceptable in Duty Free (considering you have no intention of buying anything), and you’ve only managed to kill 45 minutes. Add tired children to the equation, and it just makes it all the more vivid.

As a travel editor, it’s a scenario that has played out for me time and time again (yes, dear reader, travel editors travel the same way as you do most of the time).

There’s a solution to airport boredom

But on a recent trip to Europe, when I missed my connecting flight in Hong Kong (yes, dear reader, travel editors mess up their travel plans sometimes too) on the way there, and had a nine-hour layover in Bangkok on the way home, I desperately needed an alternative to wandering around airport terminals aimlessly.

And, mercifully, I found one: pay-per-use lounges offer admission to travellers, no matter which end of the plane they are sitting in.

With their sleek design, comfortable seating, shower facilities and limitless hot and cold food and drink, many boast business-class lounge levels of comfort and service, but for much less than the price of the ticket required to get you into most airline lounges.

Pay-per-use lounges worth the price of admission

JetQuay
Singapore Changi Airport

Changi regularly tops ‘Best Of’ lists for its facilities, including a clutch of pay-per-use lounges scattered throughout its terminals. But JetQuay’s lounge goes above and beyond an ample buffet and comfy armchairs: travellers can actually check in for flights and clear customs all from its luxe interior, before eventually being transported to the gate for departure.

The facilities are regularly used by guests travelling by private jet but, for a reasonable outlay, you can have exactly the same experience. It also offers an arrivals service called Quayside: on my last visit to Singapore, I left my economy seat to be greeted by a driver who transported me across the airport to the lounge, where my passport was inspected by a smiling customs officer.

I was offered champagne as I waited for my bags to be collected and delivered to me, before being escorted to a car right outside the door.

Plaza Premium Lounge
Hong Kong International Airport

With its subdued lighting and dark neutral tones, the Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 1 at Hong Kong’s bustling Chek Lap Kok International Airport is an instant respite from the frenetic pace outside.

Accommodating staff explain the admission fee structure and take your flight details in order to monitor your boarding time (well worth $85 for two hours, given I had already missed a flight in the last 24 hours), before you leave the fluorescent lights and endless loudspeaker announcements behind, in favour of comfortable leather seating, unlimited wi-fi, hot food (including noodles made to order) and luxe shower facilities.

The space is divided into different zones, with hot-desks at one end, big-screen TVs playing quietly (the English Premier League proved extremely popular with male patrons) overlooking cafe seating and a bar, and hushed lounge areas.

Marhaba Lounges
Dubai International Airport

Located in Terminal 3, Emirates’ Marhaba Lounges offer business-class facilities such as hot and cold cuisine and full bar service, a business centre, shower facilities (for an extra charge), complimentary wi-fi and a dedicated kids’ area on Concourse A. When it’s time to board, there’s a priority buggy to take passengers to their departure gate.

Aspire The Lounge and Spa
Terminal 5, London Heathrow Airport

Offering everything from traditional English afternoon teas to work desks, free wi-fi and private Rest Pods – complete with lie-flat chair and personal television – Heathrow’s Aspire lounge goes that little bit further towards first class with its own dedicated spa offering 20- and 40-minute express treatments, from oxygen-blast facials to hot-cream manicures. Prices start from $74.

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Louis’ Tavern CIP First Class Lounge
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport is so vast it’s fitting that there are a number of pay-per-use lounges to choose from. Run by the same company and grouped relatively closely together, they all have a different look and feel.

During my nine-hour layover in the Thai capital I did a walk-in, walk-out litmus test of a few, and decided on the spacious and light offering on Concourse A. For just $40 for two hours I got unlimited food and drink, wi-fi and, at times, the whole place to myself (save for a number of smiling staff).

The seating is conducive to getting plenty of rest but, if you are intent on staying awake, the bustle of people coming and going throughout the terminal plays out like a silent movie on the other side of the giant floor-to-ceiling windows.

Also check out…

The Priority Pass is an affordable members’ club that gives travellers access to more than 850 lounges in 400 cities around the world, including airline and pay-per-use lounges.

There are three membership levels, from Standard ($138 per year), which covers membership, with an additional flat fee of $38 for each lounge entry, to Prestige ($555 per year), which allows free entry to any and all lounges on the roster, with guests of members paying $38.

Why travellers are increasingly dreaming of a white Christmas – and the best places to experience one for yourself.

If the Euro summer has long been Australians’ defining holiday, the white Christmas may well be emerging as its frosty successor.

Booking data from APT Travel Group has revealed that Australians are planning long-haul travel further in advance and increasingly swapping summer at home for a white Christmas abroad.

Why more travellers are booking a white Christmas

tallinn winter — Find festive spirit in abundance in Tallinn, Estonia. (Credit: Unsplash/Dmitry Sumin)

Part of the shift is practical. With the Australian Government recently downgrading its travel warning for parts of the Middle East, travellers’ confidence in long-haul travel is returning as key transit hubs for Australians travelling to Europe reopen.

But accessibility alone isn’t the reason we’re seeing an incline in festive winter holiday bookings.

This year, Australia has experienced a particularly patchy start to the snow season, reminding travellers of how unpredictable winter has become and leading them to look overseas for their next wintry escape. At the same time, rising global temperatures are making reliable snowfall less certain across many parts of the world. Ironically, the rarer a classic white Christmas becomes, the more alluring it feels.

finland snow — Travellers are increasingly looking overseas for guaranteed snowy escapes. (Credit: Unsplash/Joni Kuusisto)

Behavioural psychologists have long observed what they call the ‘scarcity effect’: we tend to assign greater value and desirability to experiences that feel limited or increasingly out of reach. A white Christmas – once an annual tradition for many – has evolved into a bucket-list experience.

It’s also a novel antidote to the Australian festive season. Rather than scorching pavements and beachside barbecues, travellers want to experience the Christmas they’ve spent their whole lives watching in films: snow-dusted pines, chestnuts roasting over an open fire and streets glowing beneath tinsel garlands and fairy lights. Nostalgia sells, but even more so when we feel like it might not always be available to experience.

For decades, Australians have sought to escape winter in search of a European summer. Now, the pendulum is swinging the other way. Below are the top places to have yourself a very Merry Christmas in the snow.

The best places to have a white Christmas

Finland

best places for white christmas — Finland is one of the best destinations for a white Christmas. Credit: APT)

When you’re set on experiencing a blanket-white Christmas, your best bet is to go north. Thanks to its chilly temperatures and geographical proximity to the Arctic Circle (nearly one third of the country’s landmass lies within the Arctic region), travellers are guaranteed to see snow during Finland’s winter months. Plus, the possibility of witnessing the northern lights ribboning across the sky makes the experience all the more magical.

Tallinn, Estonia

tallinn old town — The city of Tallinn has a UNESCO-listed medieval town. (Credit: Unsplash/Ilya Orehov)

While places like Finland and Norway are coveted Christmas destinations, they certainly aren’t easy on the wallet. Estonia’s charming medieval capital of Tallinn is one of the best places to have a white Christmas on a budget, boasting Gothic spires, an intimate atmosphere and toasty market stalls selling everything from handicrafts to sugar-coated almonds. While snow over the Christmas period isn’t guaranteed these days, the country is further north and generally colder than Western European countries such as Germany and the Netherlands.

Canada

whistler christmas — Explore the Christmas lights of Whistler. (Credit: APT)

With its festive spirit, friendly locals and picturesque landscapes, Canada is a top contender for the best place for a white Christmas. Victoria in British Columbia has just about every Christmas tradition covered in one town: a main street of snow-frosted stores, a gingerbread competition, a visit to see the reindeer and horse-drawn trolley rides; while Alberta will see you embracing cosy holiday traditions with the spectacular Canadian Rockies as your backdrop.

If you can’t choose just one destination, the Twelve Days of Christmas tour by APT includes Christmas in Banff, sleigh rides at Lake Louise, Vancouver’s Canyon Lights and the Canadian Rockies. “It’s a relaxed, accessible way to get a proper white Christmas, snow guaranteed rather than hoped for,” says Sarah Latimore, Head of Product at APT for Europe.

New York, USA

new york winter — Central Park dusted with snow is all but magical. (Credit: Unsplash/Caitlyn Wilson)

Yes, films have been romanticising Christmas in New York for decades, but there’s a reason: the cool shift transforms the grand metropolis into what feels like a cinematic village where families glide over ice skating rinks in Central Park, dazzling displays illuminate the streets and carollers sing outside cosy bars with crackling fireplaces.

Germany

Browse bountiful Christmas markets in Regensburg. (Credit: APT)

Germany does Christmas with all the trimmings, especially the Christmas markets; there are hundreds (if not thousands) to choose between in picture-postcard historical towns across the country. Dresden has one of the oldest markets in the country, while Regensburg offers four fairy-light festooned markets within its UNESCO-listed medieval old town.

London, UK

london snow — Cosy up in London for the winter. (Credit: Unsplash/Zhang Kaiyv)

London is a prime place to celebrate a white Christmas with little people: Hamleys alone is worth getting on a plane for! Not only do many hotels offer holiday packages for families, but the sight of latticed snowflakes drifting from the sky on a rugged-up stroll along the Thames is nothing short of enchanting.

Prague, Czech Republic

prague snow — Escape to the charming city of Prague. (Credit: Unsplash/Lukas Konvica)

Offering Gothic architecture, charming cobbled streets and spiced pastries in spades, Prague is among the best places to spend a white Christmas. Come Advent season, when a dusting of snow may cover its ancient castle, and the smell of roasting ham rises from the market stalls, it becomes utterly unforgettable.

Niseko, Japan

niskeo skiing — Hit the slopes for a Christmas spent skiing in Niseko. (Credit: Unsplash/Kristian Klausen)

You don’t need to fly all the way to Europe to enjoy a wintry Christmas abroad. On Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, Niseko is a wonderland for travellers wishing to spend the Christmas season carving up the ski slopes. Promising festive events such as fireworks and giant illuminated trees, as well as plenty of the fluffy white stuff, this ski resort town doesn’t disappoint.

Is Europe or Canada better for a white Christmas?

Europe and Canada are the two most popular destinations among Australian travellers booking wintry Christmas escapes. But which is right for you? Sarah Latimore, Head of Product at APT for Europe, says the answer hinges on your travel interests and preferences.

“Europe suits travellers who want depth, variety and a bit of indulgence, moving through centuries-old Christmas market traditions city by city,” Latimore says.

“Canada is for travellers chasing that classic, snow globe white Christmas. Think twinkling lights and decorations through Whistler and Banff, evenings by an open fire in a Fairmont hotel, and the kind of moments that define the season: dog sledding, sleigh rides, snow underfoot rather than sand.

“Neither is the ‘right’ choice universally; it comes down to matching the traveller. Someone chasing romance and heritage will lean Europe. Someone chasing a classic, white Christmas will lean Canada.”

How to fly in style with pay-per-use airport lounges

Everyone can feel like they are travelling business class, without the airfare ticket, with these pay-per-use airport lounges! Words by Leigh-Anne Pow.

There’s a solution to airport boredom