A Quick Refresh: Showers At Airports

Airport showers are a well-kept secret. After a long flight, you might be in need of a refreshing wash, and some airports can cater to this desire. However, not all airports have showers readily available. Some showers are located in airport lounges, which can be accessed if you are a frequent flyer, have elite tier status, or are a particular credit card holder. You can also gain access to some lounges by purchasing a day pass.

If you are not eligible for lounge access, there are other options. For example, some airports have public showers, such as at Auckland, Abu Dhabi, Frankfurt, and San Diego airports. There are also Minute Suites at DFW and Charlotte airports, which offer common shower rooms.

Other airports with showers include:

- Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport

- Haneda Airport

- YOTEL at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

- Radisson Blu Hotel at Manchester Airport

- XpresSpa at Philadelphia Airport

- Roam Fitness at BWI

- Hamburg Airport

- London Heathrow Airport

- Los Angeles International Airport

- Istanbul Airport

- Hong Kong International Airport

Airport lounges with showers

Abu Dhabi International Airport:

Every first and business-class lounge at Abu Dhabi International Airport offers premium shower facilities. Etihad Airways lounges, in particular, offer this amenity. If you don't have lounge access, free public showers are also available at Gates 32 and 37.

Cathay Pacific Lounges in Hong Kong:

Cathay Pacific's The Wing first-class lounge offers luxurious shower suites with daybeds, soaking tubs, and rain showers. Their staff will even iron your clothes while you shower. Cathay Pacific has several other lounges with showers across Hong Kong.

American Express Centurion Lounges:

Some American Express Centurion Lounges offer shower facilities, including those at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Access to these lounges is limited to eligible American Express cardholders.

Minute Suites:

Minute Suites are available at select airports and offer rentable mini-suites with optional shower facilities. They are currently available at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Charlotte Douglas International Airport, with showers costing $30 for 30 minutes.

Priority Pass Lounges:

Priority Pass Lounges offer a range of amenities, including complimentary refreshments, comfortable seating, free Wi-Fi, charging stations, and sometimes showers and daybeds. You can check the Priority Pass app or website to see if a particular lounge offers shower facilities.

Delta Sky Club:

The Delta Sky Club lounges offer showers at various locations, including Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Frankfurt Airport, Seoul Airport, and Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Plaza Premium Lounge at Indira Gandhi International Airport:

The Plaza Premium Lounge at Indira Gandhi International Airport offers showers, massages, manicures, pedicures, and other services for travellers looking to refresh.

XpresSpa at Philadelphia Airport:

XpresSpa offers showers and promotes the various health benefits of showering, from relaxation to improved circulation.

Haneda Airport:

Tokyo's Haneda Airport has 15 shower rooms available 24 hours a day. The cost is ¥1,030 for 30 minutes, including towels, shampoo, conditioner, soap, and a hairdryer.

YOTEL at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport:

YOTEL offers two shower cabins for passengers in transit, booked for an hour at a cost of 15 euros.

Radisson Blu Hotel at Manchester Airport:

Manchester Airport's Radisson Blu Hotel offers convenient shower facilities for a small fee of £6.50 per person.

Auckland Airport:

Auckland Airport offers free-to-use shower facilities, with toiletries available for purchase from Relay and iSite Tourism Information Centre.

Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport:

Sydney Airport provides shower facilities in the international T1 terminal, as well as airside near Gate 31, Gate 51, and Gate 24 (male only) on the departures level. Users need to bring their soap and towel.

Freshen Up at San Francisco Airport:

For $25, Freshen Up offers a private shower facility with shampoo, soap, lotion, shower shoes, and a blow-dryer. A blow-dryer, clothes steamer, or iron can also be used for just $3.

Roam Fitness at BWI:

Roam Fitness provides four reservable private shower rooms, one of which is ADA accessible. A day pass, including access to the showers, costs $25.

Hamburg Airport:

Hamburg Airport offers showers for 5 euros, including shampoo, and towels for an additional 10 euros.

Minute Suites

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
• Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
• Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
• Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
• George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
• Nashville International Airport (BNA)
• Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
• Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)

Some locations offer luxury private showers, which can be reserved in advance online or in person. These include:

• Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)

The cost of a shower is $30 for 30 minutes or $20 if booked with a suite rental.

Priority Pass lounges

Priority Pass is an independent airport lounge access program that provides members with access to a network of over 1300 lounges in more than 500 cities worldwide. Priority Pass lounges are located in airport terminals, near the gates, so members can access them after clearing security.

Priority Pass offers three membership plans: Standard, Standard Plus, and Prestige. The Standard plan is designed for occasional travellers, with a lower annual fee but a charge for each lounge visit. Standard Plus offers a few free visits and then additional charges, while Prestige provides unlimited lounge access for a higher annual fee. The specific benefits and costs vary slightly depending on the region, with different prices in pounds, euros, and dollars.

To find Priority Pass lounges with shower facilities, members can use the Priority Pass app or website. The app allows users to search for specific facilities by airport, making it easier to locate lounges with showers. It's always a good idea to check the available services at each lounge before your visit, as offerings can vary significantly.

• The Club DFW (Terminal D) and The Club LAS (Terminals 1 and 3) in Las Vegas
• The Club ATL in Atlanta
• Plaza Premium Lounges in Vancouver
• Aspire, The Lounge in London Heathrow (Terminal 5)
• Changi Lounge in Singapore
• The House in Kuala Lumpur
• Fiji Airways Premier Lounge in Fiji
• Star Alliance Lounge in Buenos Aires
• Copa Club in Panama City

Public showers at airports

Airports are busy places, often filled with tired and dishevelled travellers who have just stepped off long-haul flights. For those who want to freshen up before their next flight or after landing, some airports offer public shower facilities.

Where to Find Public Showers at Airports

Public showers are not always easy to find at airports, and they are not available at every airport. However, they do exist, and they can be a great way to refresh yourself during a long layover or after a particularly exhausting journey.

Some airports, like Abu Dhabi International Airport, offer public showers for free. At this airport, you can find public showers near departure gates 32 and 37.

Other airports, like Haneda Airport in Tokyo, charge a fee to use their shower facilities. At Haneda Airport, it costs ¥1,030 for 30 minutes of shower time, and this includes towels, shampoo, conditioner, soap, and a hairdryer.

Some airports also offer shower facilities within their lounges. For example, the Cathay Pacific lounges in Hong Kong feature shower suites with daybeds, soaking tubs, and rain showers. Access to these lounges may be granted to first-class passengers, certain frequent flyer members, or those who purchase a day pass.

Additionally, some airport hotels provide shower facilities for a small fee. For instance, the Radisson Blu Hotel at Manchester Airport charges £6.50 per person to use their showers, which are conveniently located in the heart of the airport.

Tips for Finding and Using Public Showers at Airports

• Use resources like the Priority Pass app or website to check for lounge access and shower facilities at your airport.
• If you plan to use a lounge shower, sign up as soon as you enter the lounge to avoid disappointment, as there may be limits on the number of people who can use the showers.
• If you're not particular about using a public shower, consider getting a gym membership near the airport, or look into airport gyms.
• Bring your own toiletries and towels, as some airports only provide showers without additional amenities.

Free showers at airports

Airports are busy places with lots of people passing through, so it's no surprise that many travellers want to freshen up before or after a long flight. While not all airports have showers available, some do, and some are even free!

Abu Dhabi International Airport

Abu Dhabi International Airport offers free public showers at Gates 32 and 37. However, if you're looking for a more luxurious experience, the Etihad First Class Lounge in Terminal 3 has a gym with an attached shower and separate shower suites. Lounge access costs $150 for four hours or $180 for eight hours and must be purchased with a bank or credit card.

London Heathrow Airport

The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in Terminal 3 offers several showers stocked with complimentary toiletries and plush towels. The Clubhouse is open to passengers and guests travelling Upper Class, Delta One, or Aeromexico Clase Premier. It is also accessible to those with top-tier frequent flyer status with Virgin Atlantic, Delta, or Aeromexico.

Los Angeles International Airport

The Qantas Los Angeles International Business Lounge in the Tom Bradley International Terminal offers 16 showers with complimentary Aspar Australian botanical soaps and wellness products. The lounge is open to Qantas business class passengers and passengers flying business class on a partner airline.

Istanbul Airport

The Turkish Airlines business class lounge in Terminal E has beautiful, spotlessly clean marble-clad showers. Access is available to passengers flying internationally in business class on Turkish Airlines or with a Star Alliance member airline business class ticket. For those without access to the lounge, six public showers are available for €15.

Auckland Airport

Auckland Airport offers free showers in the International Terminal on the ground floor arrivals and the first floor opposite the Air New Zealand premium check-in. However, you will need to bring your own soap and towel.

Frankfurt Airport

Frankfurt Airport has public showers available, although the exact location and cost are unclear.

San Diego Airport

San Diego Airport also offers public showers, although details are limited.

San Francisco International Airport

San Francisco International Airport has a service called "Freshen Up!" which offers shower facilities, nap rooms, toiletries, ironing facilities, and undergarments.

Other Options

Some Priority Pass lounges offer complimentary showers, although this varies by location. You can check the Priority Pass app or website to see if your airport has this amenity. Additionally, some Minute Suites locations, such as at Dallas-Fort Worth and Charlotte airports, offer showers for a fee.

Frequently asked questions