How do airport lounges work and how do you access them?

Consult the information from the experts and find out how to access exclusive spaces

Airport VIP lounges (or VIP lounges, as they are also often called) are exclusive spaces where passengers can wait for their flight more comfortably than in the traditional departure hall, he explains. Rodrigo Barnabasfounder of the tourist portal Pronto pra Viajar.

Since the standard is to arrive at the airport early and wait a while, with the VIP lounges the travel experience starts differently.

See below for more details, and learn how to access the space so that, who knows, you may plan to visit one on your next trip.

What are the advantages of accessing the VIP Lounge at airports

Inside the rooms there is a private bathroom, wi-fi, space for rest, food and drinks. Quality varies from room to room, and some have a bathroom with a shower, she said. Rodrigo goes, tourism specialist. Some even have space to sleep, said Rodrigo Barnabé.

How to access a VIP Lounge at an airport

“VIP lounges are reserved spaces accessible to certain groups of people. To access, the passenger has a few options: travel in business class or first class, be part of higher-level loyalty programs (called elite members), have the benefit included in the credit card or even pay for free access in some locality . Each room has its own rule and method of access, and a maximum length of stay is generally established for each person,” said Rodrigo Barnabé.

For Barnabé, the most accessible way is through the advantages of credit cards: “Most banks offer in their portfolio cards that give access to the VIP room, both free and for a fee. Whether or not the customer will be eligible for these cards may come from the investment the customer has in the bank and even the relationship with the banking institution. The fact is that there is no ready-made formula, each case is different.

For those who want single access, or via packages, they can do it through partner companies, says Rodrigo Góes: “The VIP lounges in the airports have partnerships with some companies, such as PriorityPass and DragonPass,” he said.

The Web site LoungePass it also offers free access to VIP lounges around the world and presents conditions and prices. For VIP lounges at Guarulhos Airport, for example, the website shows three VIP lounge options with prices starting at USD 45 per person.

For Rodrigo Góes, free access is advantageous: “For a fee, I think the value is high, but it all depends on the needs of each one,” he assessed.

On access through loyalty programs, Góes details: “Anyone who is a diamond customer in the Tudo Azul loyalty program, of the Azul company, has access to the Azul VIP lounge, for example at the Viracopos airport. If the person is a Smile customer and travels on Gol, he/she has access to the Gol VIP room. If the person is a top Latam customer, there is a VIP lounge at Guarulhos”.

Finally, if the person travels in business class or first class, they can also access the VIP lounges, explains Góes, but each airline has a partnership with different VIP lounges.

Are there many differences between lounges?

Rodrigo Góes, who has already accumulated more than 80 million miles, says there is a lot of difference between airport VIP lounges.

“There are small VIP rooms, there are huge VIP rooms, each one has different dimensions and services. What is common is serving food and drinks. Everyone has beer, soda, water, snacks. There are some that serve meals,” she explained.

Of the Brazilian VIP lounges, Góes mentions: “The Salvador VIP lounge is new, spacious and comfortable. The VIP room in Brasilia is gigantic. The one in Congonhas is a reasonable size, gets very busy, but is undergoing renovations, and the one in Santos Dumont is small. The best VIP lounges in my opinion are in Guarulhos, in the international wing”.

Among the VIP lounges he has visited in the world, the best for Góes was that of Qatar Airways, in Qatar: “The lounge has 10 thousand square meters, the only access to this lounge is a top customer of Qatar Airways or anyone who is business class travel on Qatar Airways. Mine was business class. There is an even more exclusive room there for those traveling first class,” she recalled.

+The best content in your email for free. Choose your favorite Terra newsletter. Click here!

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.