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The condition of passengers may be better Wetherspoon Pubs compared to “expensive and bland” airport lounges, according to a new report Which one?,
Consumer Champion Reviewed 28 UK None of the airport lounges received a score above three and a half stars out of five between May 2024 and September 2025.
One third of the lounges were awarded three stars or above. of these, london gatwick South’s Clubroom lounge made the best impression.
The “luxurious” lounge, priced from £44 to £50, included “delicious” breakfast and lunch with complimentary Prosecco and bottled water.
Still, which one? Passengers at The Beehive, a Wetherspoon pub, were told a smashed avocado and boiled egg muffin would cost you just £9.90, while elsewhere at Gatwick South a glass of Prosecco would cost £9.20.
Anonymous reviewers considered shower facilities, runway views, quiet areas, and food and beverage selection for ranking the lounge.
Birmingham’s £48 Clubroom similarly received three and a half stars for its “fresh, hot food”, but lacked quality coffee.
At the other end of the scale, heathrowT5’s Club Aspire Lounge is at the bottom with only one star. Which one? The researcher complained of “dirty plates” and “frozen scrambled eggs” in the £42 lounge compared to a £14.50 large breakfast at the terminal’s Wetherspoons, The Crown River.
Whis? According to , the average price of an airport lounge in 2025 is £42, an increase of 68 per cent since lounge reviews first began in 2017 (£25).
It says that despite “slipping standards”, prices have increased, with showers in all lounges now costing between £20 and £28 extra.
The adults-only suite by Aspire at Newcastle Airport received only two and a half stars for poor table service and views of the closed airfield, When Which? Despite being the most expensive lounge surveyed at £68, the researchers visited.
Which one? Recommends that travelers “consider whether their money would be better spent in airport pubs or restaurants.”
It compared the Suite by Aspire lounge to Newcastle Airport’s Bar 11, which offers a full English breakfast for £16.99 with “brilliant” runway views.
The consumer group said that booking lounges through their own websites was “never the cheapest place to buy.”
Rory Boland, editor of Which one? Travel said: “There was a time when airport lounges were an exclusive amenity, but our latest results say quite the opposite.
“Instead of paying over £40 for a lukewarm buffet breakfast on a dirty plate, you can get much more for your money by going to a bar or restaurant inside the airport.
“There are some better lounges, but make sure you get in for free or at least at a reduced price. Look for deals online or through your bank or leisure provider.”
Read more: Wetherspoon to open its first pub abroad in popular British holiday destination