Your ultimate guide to the best pay-per-use airport lounges

Keen to access an airport lounge without the boarding pass? Turns out, you can experience how the other half live – without the hefty price tag.

Picture this: you are flying economy on a long-haul international flight and find yourself with hours to spare at the airport as you wait for your connecting flight. You’ve already walked all over the terminal, eaten your fill of airport food and browsed the endless duty-free products. You’ve managed to kill 50 minutes when you see a queue of high-flyers checking into the glamorous airline lounges and start to think, ‘Why can’t that be me?’

Thankfully, pay-per-use airport lounges are becoming increasingly popular throughout the world. These lounges are open to all passengers at a fee, and generally offer comfortable seats, shower facilities, extensive dining options, plus a bar and barista coffee.

Plaza Premium Lounge – Hong Kong International

Plaza Premium has four lounges at Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok International Airport. The lounge located near Gate 35 is an opulent hideaway from the concrete jungle of the busy terminal outside. With freshly made cuisine, luxe shower facilities and rest cabins, this lounge is a great place to relax and unwind before your flight.

Included in the two and five-hour lounge experience is a complimentary 10-minute massage.

Entry Fee: One hour is AU$62; Two hours AU$112; Five hours AU$149
Value: 4/5
Book: Here with Plaza Premium

You’ll find Plaza Premium Lounge at Hong Kong International

Plaza Premium Saphire – Jakarta

The Plaza Premium Saphire Lounge at Jakarta Airport is an amazing, modern lounge. With spacious shower suites, a noodle bar serving made-to-order dishes, a good buffet with an average selection of drinks, multiple seating options and large windows overlooking the airport, you are bound to feel indulged in this lounge.

Entry Fee: Two hours AU$58; Five hours AU$89;
Value: 4/5
Book: Here with Plaza Premium

The Plaza Premium Saphire Lounge is an amazing, modern lounge

Strata Lounge – Auckland International

As the official Auckland Airport-operated lounge, the spacious Strata Lounge is a great space to work or relax. The modern and bright lounge is well designed with zones for working, dining and relaxing.

An extensive selection of food and beverage options is provided for self-service, although the lounge lacks a bar and barista coffee. There are also five shower rooms available for use, allowing you to freshen up before your flight.

Entry Fee: Three hours for AU$57; Eight hours for AU$72;
Value: 4/5
Book: Here with Auckland Airport

The spacious Strata Lounge is a great space to work or relax

Plaza Premium – Melbourne

Although being located in a basement with no windows, Melbourne Airport’s Plaza Premium Lounge offers amazing food, a good range of beverages and a pleasant space to relax before your flight. The lounge has been designed with functionality in mind, making good use of the relatively small space available.

There are various seating options including table and booth seats in the dining area and armchairs and study nooks in the lounge area. With a bar, barista, buffet and à la carte dining, Plaza Premium doesn’t disappoint in terms of food and beverage options.

Entry Fee: Two hours AU$67; Five hours AU$78;
Value: 4/5
Book: Here with Plaza Premium

Plaza Premium doesn’t disappoint

Plaza Premium Lounge – Singapore Changi Airport

One of the best pay-per-use lounges in Singapore Changi Airport is the Plaza Premium Lounge. Apart from the lounge’s smaller size and most of the alcohol being chargeable, this lounge is otherwise great. Outstanding a-la-carte dining options, spacious shower rooms, great airport views and multiple areas for relaxing, dining and working are some of the standout features of this lounge.

Entry Fee: Five hours AU$64; 10 hours AU$116;
Value: 3/5
Book: Here with Plaza Premium

One of the best pay-per-use lounges in Singapore is the Plaza Premium Lounge

The House – Melbourne

The House lounge at Melbourne Airport is operated by No1 Lounges for Etihad Airways. A contemporary design and full-service experience make The House a great place to wait before your flight. As well as a small buffet, there are two main meal services – breakfast and all-day dining.

Although the à la carte menu contains only a few options, items are of high quality. The lounge also provides a barista service, as well as the Etihad Bar, which contains more than 90 drinks. Luxury shower suites are available for those who wish to freshen up before their flight.

Entry Fee: Three hours for AU$80
Value: 3/5
Book: Save $5 by booking here

The House – Sydney

Also operated by No1 Lounges for Etihad Airways, The House lounge at Sydney airport is similar to its Melbourne counterpart. With adequate seating, restaurant-style à la carte dining, an extensive serviced bar, barista coffee and great airport views, this lounge is a great place to start your journey.

For those in need of a freshen-up, luxury shower suites are available with L’Occitane products and fluffy white towels. This is truly a lounge you won’t want to leave.

Entry Fee: Three hours for AU$80
Value: 3/5
Book: Save $5 by booking here

Plaza Premium – Dubai International

With its subdued lighting and dark, neutral tones, the brand-new Plaza Premium Lounge at Dubai International is nothing short of spectacular. The massive lounge offers relaxation seats that can be converted into private napping areas, work stations, a cigar lounge and five shower suites.

The lounge offers a wide selection of freshly prepared Arabic, Asian and international dishes, and a great selection of beverages with brewed tea and coffee, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages from Aerobar.

Entry Fee: Three hours AU$79; Six hours AU$158.
Value: 3/5
Book: Here with Plaza Premium

Subdued lighting and dark, neutral tones in Dubai