Sachin Walls
Access to airport lounges can elevate your travel experience by providing a quiet and luxurious space to relax or work. While some lounges offer pay-per-use access, others require membership or loyalty points. Avios, a popular loyalty currency, can be used to gain entry to select airport lounges. Starting at 3,250 Avios, you can access highly-rated lounges like No.1 Lounges and Servisair. However, it's worth noting that the value of redeeming Avios for lounge access may vary based on your travel habits and preferences. Additionally, there are alternative ways to access airport lounges, such as purchasing day passes or obtaining memberships through credit cards or loyalty programs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can Avios be used to buy airport lounge access? | Yes |
| How many Avios points are required? | 3,250 for No.1 Lounges and Servisair Lounges |
| What is the monetary value of the Avios points? | £8.50 for 1000 points |
| What are other ways to earn Avios points? | Collecting points through purchases at over 1000 online stores, Tesco's Clubcard, and Amex British Airways credit card |
| Are there other ways to get airport lounge access? | Yes, through credit cards such as American Express Preferred Rewards Gold and American Express Platinum |
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What You'll Learn
- Avios points can be used to buy access to pay-to-enter airport lounges
- Avios points can be collected through Tesco's Clubcard and Amex British Airways credit card
- BA's Reward Flight Saver includes free domestic connections and lounge access
- The American Express Platinum credit card offers two free Priority Pass cards with unlimited access
- The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold credit card offers a Priority Pass airport lounge card with four free visits
Avios points can be used to buy access to pay-to-enter airport lounges
There are other ways to collect Avios points as well. You can collect them in over a thousand online stores, as well as through Tesco's Clubcard and the Amex British Airways credit card. By collecting points as you make purchases, you can pay for airport lounge access without any additional cost.
Additionally, British Airways has a range of impressive lounges at its London hubs, including eight lounges at Heathrow and a brand-new complex at Gatwick Airport. You can use your Avios points to access these lounges, which can be a great way to start your holiday or business trip. For example, for 9,000 Avios, you can fly one-way to Europe Zone 1 (including France and Germany) in business class and access two lounges, including the flagship Galleries in Terminal 5.
Overall, using Avios points to access airport lounges can be a convenient and cost-effective option, especially if you collect points through various methods and redeem them strategically.
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Avios points can be collected through Tesco's Clubcard and Amex British Airways credit card
Avios points can be collected through Tesco Clubcard and the Amex British Airways credit card. Tesco Clubcard has long been a partner of Avios and British Airways Executive Club. Tesco shoppers can collect one point for every £1 spent in stores and one point for every £2 spent on fuel at Tesco filling stations. Clubcard points can be converted to Avios points, with a conversion rate of 1 Clubcard point to 1 Avios point.
The partnership between Tesco Clubcard and Avios ended in January 2021, but any Avios collected with Clubcard will remain in your British Airways Executive Club account for at least three years. However, any account that is not used for over three years will lapse, and any remaining Avios will be deducted.
The Amex British Airways credit card also allows you to collect Avios points on your everyday purchases, even when you're not flying. The card is accepted worldwide, and your spend abroad is converted based on the American Express exchange rate, which is set daily. Cardholders also benefit from automatic enrolment into The British Airways Club, which includes additional perks such as priority check-in and lounge access.
Avios points can be redeemed for airport lounge access at certain UK airports, including Heathrow Terminal 3. The No.1 Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 3, for example, costs 3,250 Avios, while the lounge normally charges £30 for entry.
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BA's Reward Flight Saver includes free domestic connections and lounge access
British Airways' Reward Flight Saver is a great option for those looking to include free domestic connections and lounge access. For 9,000 Avios, you can fly one-way to Europe Zone 1 (France, Germany, etc.) in business class, with only £20 in taxes to pay. This includes access to two lounges, such as the flagship Galleries in Terminal 5. While the business class cabin may not be a significant upgrade, the additional benefits like lounge access, priority services, and complimentary drinks and catering can make it a worthwhile treat.
Reward Flight Savers are priced per flight segment, so transferring in a city like London may result in a higher Avios cost. In such cases, a paid ticket or redeeming miles on a different airline with a direct flight may be more cost-effective. To take advantage of Reward Flight Saver awards, you must have at least 1 Avios earned in the 12 months before booking. This can be achieved by transferring Avios from other loyalty programs or credit card points to the Executive Club account.
Avios points can be collected through various means, such as online stores, Tesco's Clubcard, and the Amex British Airways credit card. These points can then be used to purchase access to airport lounges, with prices starting at 3,250 Avios for entry to highly-rated lounges like No.1 Lounges. This option may be particularly useful for those who rarely find suitable BA flights to redeem their Avios for.
It's worth noting that the quality of lounges can vary, and some airports offer credit towards buying food at a café as an alternative. Additionally, certain credit cards, like the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card, offer free airport lounge access as a perk, which can be another way to gain lounge access without directly using Avios points.
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The American Express Platinum credit card offers two free Priority Pass cards with unlimited access
Avios points can be used to buy access to pay-to-enter airport lounges at many UK airports. For example, a user on the MoneySavingExpert forum reported that they were able to get three passes to the No.1 Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 3 for 3250 Avios points each. The normal cost of these passes is £30 each, so this is a good deal. Another user on the same forum noted that BA's Reward Flight Saver includes free domestic connections. For 9000 Avios points, you can fly one-way to Europe zone 1 (France, Germany, etc.) in business class, with £20 tax to pay. This includes access to two lounges, including the flagship Galleries in Terminal 5.
The American Express Platinum credit card is another way to access airport lounges. The card offers two free Priority Pass cards with unlimited access, which can get four people into a lounge between them. The Priority Pass program provides access to over 1,000 lounges and experiences in airports across the world. In addition to Priority Pass Select, the American Express Platinum Card offers a range of other travel-related benefits, including:
- Fine Hotels & Resorts: American Express Fine Hotels + Resort Program allows eligible Card Members to book stays at over 1,600 hand-selected luxury hotels and resorts around the world.
- Platinum Concierge: Access a team of dedicated concierge professionals to assist with travel arrangements, dining reservations, and more.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck: Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application or a statement credit of up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck application fee for a 5-year plan, when charged to your Platinum Card. If you are approved for Global Entry, you will also receive TSA PreCheck at no additional charge.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit, Global Dining Access by Resy, $200 Uber Cash, and more.
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The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold credit card offers a Priority Pass airport lounge card with four free visits
Avios points can be used to buy access to pay-to-enter airport lounges at many UK airports. This includes the No.1 Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 3, which costs 3250 Avios each. The Servisair lounge is also available for purchase with Avios.
The American Express Platinum credit card also offers two free Priority Pass cards with unlimited access, allowing four people to enter a lounge between them. The Platinum Card and Business Platinum Card from American Express offer access to a wide range of lounges, including Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Club lounges, and Priority Pass Select lounges. These cards also provide access to select Lufthansa lounges when flying with Lufthansa Group airlines.
Other options for purchasing lounge access include the Holiday Extras website, which allows searches by airport and covers the UK, Europe, and worldwide. Lounge Buddy is another app that offers information on available lounges and facilitates payment for access.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can use Avios points to buy access to pay-to-enter airport lounges, such as Servisair and No.1 Lounge, at many UK airports.
Prices start at 3,250 Avios points for airport lounge access. For context, No.1 Lounge access normally costs £30, so 3,250 points is a good deal.
You will need to book over the phone. You can collect Avios points in over one thousand online stores, as well as through Tesco’s Clubcard and the Amex British Airways credit card.
