Best route for pan European Lounge access

[Sway]

Getting fed up! Travelling 2-3 times a month, all across Europe.

Corp travel, and short haul - so it's a mix of airlines, and obviously airports.

So, I want the 'magic Lounge access key' that'll let me use anything, anywhere (ish!).

What's the best route? I've heard of a credit card that does it, then there's 'lounge clubs', but it'd be good to hear of personal experiences.

[nikaiyo2]

Amex Platinum gives unlimited Priority Pass globally, Barclays Travel Pack gives good insurance and 6 uses of dragon pass lounge access.

That will pretty much cover all your bases.

However they are not like real airlines own business class lounges and lots get super packed you might as well just stay in the regular airport.

[superpp]

cheapest way is via a Halifax card, £15 a month for unlimited Priority Pass and Dragon Pass fast pass.
Check out this thread:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Sway]

superpp said:

cheapest way is via a Halifax card, £15 a month for unlimited Priority Pass and Dragon Pass fast pass.
Check out this thread:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Awesome, thanks.

That (or the Lloyds version, which seems to be the same deal - and business account is with Lloyds) seems like the right answer.

Not fussed about 'luxury', just a decent quieter spot to sit and have some snacks and water without the fuss of the departure hall concessions.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

I have the Lloyd's World Elite version, £15/month for Priority Pass for me and the wife. It's great for me, I use it on average 6 times a month.

[Puggit]

Different tack - try and stick to Star Alliance. Lufthansa, Swiss, Air Brussels, Austrian Air, Ita (Italy), Turkish, Aegean, Croatian Airlines - sadly SAS left recently. Earn your way up the status ladder and use their lounges.

Might mean more connections (that can mean more points). When bmi was in *A, it was pretty easy to always fly *A.

[Sway]

Puggit said:

Different tack - try and stick to Star Alliance. Lufthansa, Swiss, Air Brussels, Austrian Air, Ita (Italy), Turkish, Aegean, Croatian Airlines - sadly SAS left recently. Earn your way up the status ladder and use their lounges.

Might mean more connections (that can mean more points). When bmi was in *A, it was pretty easy to always fly *A.

Unfortunately not an option.

Had that with my last gig, but that was also regular transatlantics so racked up the points fast. Miss the airline lounges, and lots of the airports I'm at are pure chaos (Warsaw and Krakow yesterday, Milan Linate next week as examples) - hence wanting to have access to a more chilled area.

Now, it's 17 different countries and probably 25 destinations - and has to be booked via Corp travel with limited say in airline, and with LGW being my nearest airport, that means a lot of eJ/BA/Wizz but not exclusively.

[Puggit]

Sway said:

that means a lot of eJ/BA/Wizz but not exclusively.

I've only once been forced to use corporate travel tools, it was a royal pain in the arse.

[Sway]

Puggit said:

Sway said:

that means a lot of eJ/BA/Wizz but not exclusively.

I've only once been forced to use corporate travel tools, it was a royal pain in the arse.

Yup...

There's a tradeoff. With this client, I don't need to organise anything. Just let the PA know where/when and she sorts it - and that also eases cash flow and the need to charge back.

But, I come under their regular policies, which means cheapest possible flights, even if that means they're paying me to not work, and just waste time travelling.

Not my problem. I've done much worse than sit in terminals or an eJ seat for a few hours for a day rate!

(this week, I had stuff to do in Warsaw. Travel included a detour to Rome to save £50, but took me out of the office for pretty much a whole day! Return was via Krakow but still meant I left straight after lunch)

[superpp]

check the priority pass website to see if they have lounges at your frequented airports.

also be aware that to ensure lounge access at UK airports it usually worth pre-booking (at a £6 fee) but you may be OK as a single traveller. this is more an issue during holiday season.
some airports offer restaurant credit as an alternative with PP too.

[DJC76]

superpp said:

check the priority pass website to see if they have lounges at your frequented airports.

also be aware that to ensure lounge access at UK airports it usually worth pre-booking (at a £6 fee) but you may be OK as a single traveller. this is more an issue during holiday season.
some airports offer restaurant credit as an alternative with PP too.

This is good advice.

There was a comment above about not being able to use airline lounges with a third party card which I would have wholeheartedly agreed was correct until yesterday when much to my surprise DragonPass invited me to use the Air Canada lounge at LGA. Never seen that before.

OP if you’re flying from Gatwick regularly, firstly you have my sympathies and secondly probably best cough up the booking fee. That place is a fking zoo, I fly from there once every year or so and always regret the choice.