Frequent flyer, pay as you go airport lounges: A giant waste of money or a genius travel hack?

It's hard to conceive a scenario where this level of membership would be useful, especially when you consider that the Standard Plus membership costs $US249 ($A311) annually and allows up to 10 free visits ($A34 thereafter).

That's $31.10 per visit, for the first 10 visits, which, if you're a frequent flier, may be worth the investment; after all, you'd be hard pressed to get a couple of alcohol drinks and a sandwich for that. Plus you get free unlimited Wi-Fi access and won't have to jostle for space in the busy terminal with hordes of other travellers.

Priority Pass also offers the Prestige membership, for very frequent fliers, which costs $US399 ($A499). That includes unlimited visits to its lounges. If you travel a lot, this might well be worth the investment.

For all Priority Pass membership levels, it costs an extra $US27 per visit to bring along a guest.

Next up is Dragon Pass, which has fewer airport lounges on its books (some 970 at the last count). Its packages are also more expensive, though that is perhaps down to the weakened pound, which has driven up the cost of its memberships for British travellers.

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However, unlike Priority Pass, Dragon offers one-off passes from around $A40, which is probably the most sensible option for infrequent flyers.

Dragon has three membership options, Classic, Preferential and Prestige, which cost $US99, $US219 and $US399 respectively.

Dragon Pass members get a 25 per cent discount at more than 1,000 airport restaurants worldwide. Though with free food usually offered at lounges anyway, its appeal may be limited.

Finally, Executive Lounges by Swissport, which has the fewest number of lounges: just 45. And they're located predominantly in the UK, with outposts in the Netherlands, Canada, Finland and Denmark.

One-off passes are available from £29.99 ($A50) per adult, while the cheapest membership, Aspire, costs £259.99 ($A439) annually. This provides unlimited access for the card holder and a guest at participating Aspire and Swissport lounges, except for the one at Helsinki Airport.

For £399.99 ($A675), members can go Platinum. This gains them and a guest access to slightly more salubrious Aspire Plus lounges, plus the Aspire Lounge & Spa at Heathrow's Terminal 5.

Both packages come with free delay cover. Such schemes might be cost effective for frequent fliers who regularly travel between the aforementioned countries, but given the competition its appeal seems limited.

Verdict

With access to airport lounges starting from $A27, the VIP treatment may actually be cheaper than a fast-food pit stop. And although Wi-Fi is complimentary at many airports now, free internet access – plus, at some airports, access to showers – can be a godsend for travellers. What's more, airport lounges offer a welcome respite from the busy terminal and an opportunity to avoid the constant feeling of being sold to.

For occasional fliers

It's probably best pre-booking one-off passes through Dragon Pass (from $40) or Executive Lounges (from $50). Lounge Pass, a division of Priority Pass, also offers one-off access from $23 and has 400 lounges on its books.

For frequent fliers

The Standard Plus membership from Priority Pass is likely to suit travellers who find themselves at airports less than 20 times per year.

For very frequent fliers

Costing $499 annually the Prestige membership from Priority Pass is probably the best option for very frequent global fliers, offering as it does unlimited access to more than 1,000 lounges.

Those flying very frequently in Northern Europe, with a guest, may be best off plumping for an Aspire ($440) membership through Executive Lounges by Swissport, which provides unlimited access to dozens of lounges for the card holder and a guest.

The Telegraph, London

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