As travel surges once again, many passengers might be thinking about a key offering at the airport: lounges. While lounges are open to those holding loyalty status or membership, many offer paid access as well. So is it worth paying for lounge access?

How long?

Perhaps the most important metric in deciding whether to pay for lounge access is the time you'll spend there. Those with a long layover or reaching the terminal early (3-4 hours before departure) might justify spending anywhere from $20-$50 for lounge access. On layovers longer than 5 hours, it's best to find a comfortable place to rest and pay for the lounge access.

A second consideration would be a quick calculation of how much you plan on spending at the airport. Food outlets at airports tend to be quite pricey due to higher rental costs, making a meal and drinks an expensive affair. If you do plan on grabbing a bite, see if you're nearby lounge includes food and whether the costs make sense.

Finally, look at the price. If you're able to gain access to an airline business/first class lounge at a discounted price, as some carriers offer economy passengers, it might be the way to go. However, paying $50-$60 for a one-time pass at domestic lounges may not make sense.

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What do lounges offer?

Airport lounges usually offer two main benefits: a calm(er) environment to relax or get some work done and access to food and drinks. With fewer people around, lounges can make the airport experience far more luxurious for not much more. Moreover, there is usually buffet-style access to food or even select hot meals for passengers.

However, offerings vary widely across lounges. One could be in Qatar Airways' Al Mourjan Lounge in Doha, one of the best in the world (and costs $125 to access without status), or in one of the many Plaza Premium Lounges globally that offer varying levels of service depending on the airport.

The best way to judge if it's worth paying for a lounge is to research ahead of time. Before or even at the airport, looking at the amenities of a lounge on offer or recent reviews is a good way to judge if it is worth the price commanded. Notably, large airports also include short-stay hotels and showers that could be better value of families.

A word of warning

While airport lounges may elicit images of champagne and showers, standards around the world vary significantly and are rarely exceptional. As good practice, reading a review online before paying for a lounge is critical to making a final decision.

Have you ever paid for lounge access? Was your experience worth it? Let us know this and your favorite paid lounge in the comments below!