If you love airport lounges like I do, you understand the disappointment of not being able to access one before departure or in between flights.

While some reasons are out of your control, such as there simply isn’t a lounge to visit, there are a number of avoidable missteps that can leave you lounge-less. I’ve personally made several of these mistakes, so familiarize yourself with the checklist below to ensure you get the best chance at relaxing in the lounge. Otherwise, you risk sulking into your subpar $30 burger and jockeying for a seat between a napping stranger and the kid watching cartoons on full blast without headphones.

Confirm Access 

Whether you access airport lounges through airline elite status, paid memberships or a credit card benefit, lounge access rules are in constant flux- especially with the ongoing issue of overcrowding.  Before your next trip, take a moment to review the latest rules and restrictions on your membership so you’re not left without a lounge because a particular location has dropped out of your network.

Lounge Hours and Time Limits

Every airport lounge has its own operating hours, so it’s always smart to double-check that your flight schedule aligns.  If you are flying a redeye or have a late-night layover, lounge options may be limited. 

Additionally, some lounges restrict or limit access during peak hours depending on the kind of lounge membership or network you use (Airline elite members might get priority over a guest accessing through Priority Pass). Check on current lounge network policies for the specific airport or lounge before flying so you aren’t left giving puppy dog eyes to the lounge receptionist, hoping to be granted sympathy access outside of your hours or lounge network.

Most lounges have stay limits of 3 hours, and many have policies restricting entry more than 3 hours prior to the scheduled departure.  While I take issue with this policy- “3 hours before departure” feels a bit unfair since boarding begins long before departure and really cuts into valuable lounge time- but alas, I do not make the rules.

Adequate Time: Relaxation Time and Travel to and from Your Gate

Unless the lounge is located in the same terminal as your departing gate, visiting one requires factoring in travel time to and from the gate, plus the time you want to spend inside the lounge, and any potential wait time if the lounge is on a waitlist.  With the unpredictable variables of air travel to consider (travel time to the airport, checking in, checking and dropping bags, and passing through security), making time to visit a lounge can require some mental gymnastics to calculate if the time and effort is worth the trek.

Guest Access

Lounges have been tightening guest access by either limiting the number of guests or doing away with free guests altogether, so make sure you are up to date on current guest policies.  While some travelers may take no issue with having to pay an entrance fee as a guest, the $35 charge may be just enough to turn off your travel companions- leaving you with the awkward choice of sipping your martini solo (and possibly having put some strain on your friendship) or overpaying in a food court in solidarity.

Airside Connected Terminals 

Few things are more painful in the lounge world than realizing you will need to pass through security multiple times to access your desired lounge. While some airports permit movement between terminals once passing through security, there are plenty that do not.  Suddenly, you are faced with the daunting task of trying to calculate whether there is enough time to pass back through security again, and possibly again, and still have an appropriate amount of time to relax in the lounge.  

I recently made this mistake at JFK while trying to visit the new Capital One lounge. Only after passing through security to my departure terminal did I realize I couldn’t move freely between terminals.  Had I realized this before passing through security, I would have made the trek.  Since I had strategically booked this flight with this lounge in mind, I was especially disappointed when I made the call to skip it, but ultimately, it was not worth the risk of being stressed to make my flight on time. 

Final Thoughts

It wasn’t long ago that I believed that airport lounges were a luxury only for the fancy.  I also believed that I didn’t travel enough to make having access to them a pragmatic set for me.  What I know now is that airport lounge access is a perk on many of the premium travel and co-branded credit cards.  I have also come to understand that airport lounges provide a more comfortable place to rest and relax, as well as provide incredible cost savings on food and beverages.  

On more than one occasion, my husband and I have found ourselves stuck in terminals with no accessible lounge, only to rack up $200 to $300 on food and drinks during long layovers or waiting on delayed flights.  Under these circumstances we realized that in the future we would be happy to pay $35 or even $45 per person to purchase guest access the right lounge depending on their amenities, as we would still come out ahead of our $28 glasses of wine and $9 bags of chips. 

While the quality of lounges can vary dramatically, a great lounge in a good location can be a lifesaver.  Travel days can be long and hectic, so anything to help smooth out the journey is welcome.  

For further reading on some of my favorite premium travel credit cards that include lounge access benefits, please read my articles on the Venture X and the Chase Sapphire Reserve.