When you are about to board a plane, you must have seen a comfortable room with many food and drink options. Many people think only premium class passengers can enter, but access to an airport lounge can actually be quite easy to obtain.What are the benefits of an airport lounge and how can you get access? Let's look at the explanation below!

What are airport lounge facilities?

An airport lounge is a special waiting area at the airport provided for passengers so they can wait for their flight more comfortably. Inside, various facilities are usually available, such as food, drinks, Wi-Fi, more spacious seating, and even work areas or rest rooms. The simple goal is to make the experience of waiting for a flight feel calmer and not as crowded as the public areas of the airport.

In addition, the airport lounge is also designed to provide extra comfort before flying, from a quieter atmosphere, more personal service, to additional facilities such as shower rooms or private rooms in certain lounges. So, this lounge can be an option that makes your trip feel more enjoyable even before the plane takes off.

Benefits of airport lounge facilities

What are the benefits you can get when accessing airport lounge facilities? Here is the list!

‍1. Food and beverages

You can take food and drinks as much as you want in the airport lounge. Complete food options from hot food buffets to snacks and finger food. Cold drinks, hot drinks, and alcoholic beverages (specifically for international lounges) are also available. Make sure you do not take food out of the lounge and always supervise children if you bring them in.

2. Spacious seating

Seating in an airport lounge is usually much more spacious and comfortable than in general airport areas. The chairs are plush, the distance between them is not cramped, and many are equipped with electrical outlets so you can rest, work, or just relax without feeling crowded or disturbed by the noise.

3. More stable Wi-Fi

While the connection in public areas is usually intermittent, it is different from the Wi-Fi in the lounge. Wi-Fi in an airport lounge is usually much more stable and fast because the number of users is more limited. You can browse, stream, or work more comfortably.

4. Access to additional facilities

Airport lounges also provide various additional facilities that make the waiting time much more comfortable. Some lounges have shower rooms to freshen up, special quiet work rooms, rest areas, and even family rooms. Some also provide document printing services, a gourmet bar, or certain private rooms. These extra facilities help you stay productive or relaxed before your flight, especially if you have a long transit schedule.

How to get airport lounge facilities

There are so many benefits you can get when accessing the airport lounge. No wonder some people aim for this facility before flying. How to get airport lounge facilities? Here is the explanation!

‍1. Buying business class or first class tickets

To be able to enjoy the airport lounge, the simplest and most hassle-free way is to buy a business class or first class ticket. Passengers in these two classes usually automatically get lounge access as part of the ticket benefit, so you do not need to register or pay again. When checking-in, your boarding pass is usually marked with lounge access, and you just enter the lounge that matches the airline or terminal you are using.

2. Using certain credit cards

One practical way to access the airport lounge is to purchase an airline ticket using certain credit cards that provide lounge facilities as one of their benefits. Usually, premium or travel cards offer this access, either for free or with a special discount. That way, when you book a ticket and pay for it with that card, you can immediately enjoy the comfort of the credit card airport lounge without having to bother buying a business class or first class ticket.

Besides credit cards that give airport lounge access, when going on vacation it is also a good idea to choose a card that has flight and hotel promotions, for example, the Honest credit card. With this card, you can enjoy various attractive discounts, starting from price cuts when booking hotels or buying flight tickets, one free night stay at certain hotels, to exclusive promotions from airlines. So, overseas vacations can be more economical without having to bother looking for promotions everywhere.

Now, one of Honest's favorite features is No FX Fee, or 0% foreign transaction fees. Usually, if you use another card, every foreign transaction will be subject to a fee of around 2.5%–3.25%. With Honest, you are free from this fee, making it more comfortable and transparent when traveling abroad. You can shop affordably abroad! In addition, there is also Honest Savings in the Honest App which makes saving more profitable, starting from 4% interest per year, free unlimited transfers, no monthly or admin fees, and it can even help increase your credit card limit if you save regularly. This feature cooperates with Bina Digital from Bank INA, which is officially supervised by the OJK and Bank Indonesia, so it is very safe.

The most exciting thing is that applying for an Honest credit card is easy because it has a 90% approval rate, plus you can collect Honest Points to exchange for various additional benefits. So, with this card you can travel more comfortably, economically, and practically. Flight and hotel promotions, free foreign transaction fees, plus profitable savings.

3. Pay for access independently

Apart from buying business class or first class tickets and using certain credit cards, you can also pay for lounge access yourself if you want to wait more comfortably without needing a card or membership status. Usually, you just need to come to the lounge that accepts paid access, ask about availability, and then pay on the spot. The price depends on the policy of each airline.

4. Airline promotions

Another way you can try is to take advantage of promotions from airlines. Airlines often release promotions that give lounge access at a cheaper price, or even for free if there is a certain campaign. These promotions usually appear when you buy tickets through the official application, such as flash sales, or as an add-on offer during online check-in.

Well, those were the benefits of airport lounge facilities and how you can access them. There is nothing wrong with trying something new and enjoying the available facilities. Are you interested in stopping by an airport lounge before boarding?

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who can access airport lounge facilities?

Generally, those who can access airport lounge facilities are business class passengers or those who have special status, or those who hold certain credit cards.

2. How much does it cost to access airport lounge facilities?

The cost incurred to get airport lounge facilities is by purchasing a business class ticket. However, for economy class passengers, the cost varies, between Rp85,000 and Rp300,000 depending on the airport.

3. Do all airports have airport lounge facilities?

Not all airports have airport lounge facilities, depending on the size and volume of passengers at the airport.