Airport lounges. Luxury as permission.
Lounges are booming just as we are supposedly cutting back. At 30 to 50 quid, they are not being bought as luxury any more. They are being bought as permission.
THE GIST ON AIRPORT LOUNGES: "Permission to Spend"
Who is buying airport lounges?
Lounges are growing fast, not only for first class passengers and frequent flyers but for ordinary travellers. People are paying £30, £40, sometimes £50 for drinks, space and quiet before they've even boarded.
That is discretionary spend in a cost of living crisis, which is why it's interesting.
Why does it feel acceptable?
Lounges are being bought as permission. You stop thinking in monthly budgets and start thinking in holiday rules. £30 or £40 feels acceptable because it's part of the trip.
There's another layer too: a lounge is an achievable flex. It isn't first or business class, but it's visible, shareable and socially legible, a small justifiable upgrade that signifies comfort and control. And because it's Instagrammable, you're buying a moment to show off.
What does it say about modern travel?
Lounges sit between necessity and indulgence, a luxury that feels earned and not excessive.
The industry has stripped away everything non-essential and monetised the way back in. Modern luxury has moved from excess to silence and space, and the airport is one of the few places where that is explicitly for sale.
Is a £40 airport lounge worth it?
Your take. One tap, then see how everyone else voted.
Quick answers
How much do lounge visits cost?
Huw cites £30, £40, sometimes £50 for access.
Why are lounges growing in a cost of living crisis?
They feel like part of the holiday budget, are an achievable and shareable flex, and sell quiet and space that travel has stripped away.
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