Paying to sit in a more luxurious part of the airport might seem to be a bit of a waste of money. This is however just the service that airport lounges offer, and it may actually be better value than you think. A stay of 3 hours or so in an airport lounge will typically cost between £10 and £20 per person. What you get for that depends on the airport and the lounge, but it can add up to be great value for money.

Traveling can be a hassle, whether it is business or a holiday – things that make the process that little bit more bearable have to be a good thing. The core of what airport lounges offer is somewhere a bit nicer to sit while you wait for your flight. Terminals can be overcrowded and on the uncomfortable side, especially if your flight is delayed and you have to wait around.

Lounges tend to focus on the business customer with facilities such as fax machines and Internet access commonly available. TVs, games consoles and complimentary magazines and newspapers are on hand to occupy those not glued to their laptops. The real kicker though is the complementary food and drink.

Food and drink in airports is very expensive. If you are spending two or three hours in an airport before a flight you can easily rack up quite a bill if you want to eat and drink, and as eating drinking and shopping are the only diversions its hard not to.The food in most lounges tends to be limited to snacks, and the drinks included usually do not include champagne, but you can have as much as you like.

Probably the most luxurious lounge operated in Britain was opened last year by Etihad at London’s Heathrow airport. Passengers waiting for their flights to Abu Dhabi will enjoy a mind boggling level of luxury. This stretches even to having a spa offering facials and massages! Of course the catering gores beyond a few crisps in a bowl as well, with 5-star dining facilities offering food from around the world.