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Airport lounges used to be exclusive for first and business class passengers only but services like Loungebuddy has made these lounges accessible to all sorts of travelers, even those in economy. Because let’s face it, no one really likes waiting for their flight in public/common lounge areas.
What Loungebuddy does is it lets travelers search, book, and access premium airport lounges around the world. But is it really worth it? Is it cheaper than a Priority Pass membership? Let’s find out!
Read More: Where Are Capital One Airport Lounges Located?
What Is Loungebuddy?
Loungebuddy is an airport lounge platform where travelers can search, compare, and book a lounge stay through its website or app. It has an extensive network of more than 2000 lounges in over 800 airports worldwide.
You can buy single-use passes on the day of your flight or up to two months in advance. After completing a stay, you can share your photos and experiences to help other customers decide – think of Airbnb but for airport lounges.
Traditionally, you’d have to be a part of a frequent flyer program, book a premium fare, or purchase a membership to be able to access airport lounges. For example, Delta Skyclub lounges only provide access to Delta Medallion members or Delta One passengers. Another example would be United Polaris Lounges which only allows Polaris business class passengers and Star Alliance members who are flying on international routes.
Loungebuddy advertises on its website that “all travelers can access any of the lounges in our network” . Whether you’re in first, business, or economy class, you can have access to premium airport lounges around the world and avoid the hustle and bustle at the airport.
But before we give all our praises to Loungebuddy, there’s a catch – you can only use Amex credit cards to book a lounge. American Express bought the company in 2019 and they restricted the payment method to Amex cards only so it’s not 100% true that all travelers can access their lounges.
How Does Loungebuddy Work?
Once you visit the Lounge buddy website, just go to the search bar and type the name of the airport or city where you want to have lounge access. Click search.
After choosing an airport, you’ll see a list of available lounges within that airport. All lounges located within that airport will be listed but some of them might not be bookable yet.
Once you’ve chosen your preferred lounge, you will be redirected to the information page where you can view the following:
- Reviews
- Amenities
- Lounge policy
- Cancellation policy
- Location and directions
If you’ve decided to book the lounge, enter the date, time, and the number of passengers who will be traveling. You will then see a popup window of the different package pricing options.
Proceed to the payment portal and input your name, email, and credit card details. Unfortunately, Loungebuddy only accepts Amex credit cards as a form of payment so you need to sign up for an Amex credit card first.
How Much Does Loungebuddy Cost?
Pricing is based on the lounge’s location, amenities, cancellation policies, and other factors. The price typically ranges from $25 to $60 and the price displayed on the website already includes all taxes and booking fees. However, additional fees may incur if you purchase add-on premium services to your booking.
Booking a lounge for multiple more hours also gets you discounted prices compared to only booking an hour of lounge access. Additionally, if you have an American Express Green Card, you’ll get a $100 Lounge buddy statement credit.
And since you can only book using Amex credit cards, here are some of our top picks for you:
- American Express Business Platinum Card – Earn 120,000 points after you spend $15,000 on qualifying purchases within the first 3 months of getting the card.
- American Express Platinum Card – Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $6,000 within the first 6 months of card membership
- American Express Gold Card – Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $4,000 within the first six months of card membership.
Read More: Where Are Chase Airport Lounges Located?
Loungebuddy vs Priority Pass: Which Is Better?
Loungebuddy and Priority Pass are very much alike in terms of business model. Both services provide passengers lounge access to a vast network of airport lounges from all over the world. However, there are a few key differences which are:
- Loungebuddy offers single-day access to its lounges for a specific day and time you want. Meanwhile, Priority Pass offers three kinds of annual membership plans and depending on the type of plan you get, you either get discounted lounge access or free lounge access.
- Loungebuddy only accepts American Express credit cards while Priority Pass accepts all types of credit cards.
Take note that the Chase Sapphire Reserve and American Express Platinum cards both come with a free Priority Pass membership.
Loungebuddy FAQS
Does Loungebuddy have a mobile app?
Yes. You can download it for free but it’s only available on iOs devices.
Do I need to fly First Class or Business Class to have access to Loungebuddy?
You don’t need to book a premium class cabin or have a frequent flyer membership to book a lounge with Loungebuddy.
How much does Loungebuddy cost?
Prices are based on the amenities that come with the lounge. However, Lounge passes start at $25 with an average cost of $50. Discounts are offered for bookings that are longer than an hour.
How do I pay for my booking at Loungebuddy?
You can use any American Express credit card to purchase a lounge pass. Unfortunately, other credit cards are not accepted at the moment.
Where are Loungebuddy lounges located?
Loungebuddy’s lounges are located in over 800 airports worldwide. It’s available in most popular airports such as Singapore Changi Airport, London Heathrow Airport, Dubai International Airport, Hongkong International Airport, and more. You can view the complete list here.
Pros
- It has Extensive network of lounges worldwide.
- Booking a lounge is fast and convenient.
- Guaranteed lounge access after booking is made.
Cons
- The Lounge buddy App is available on iOs devices only.
- You can only use Amex credit cards to book a lounge visit.
Read More: Emirates 777 Business Class And Dubai Lounge Review
Is LoungeBuddy Worth It?
Loungebuddy is for budget travelers and casual flyers who rarely use airport lounges. Let’s say you have a low-end Amex card such as the American Express Blue Cash and you want to have lounge access for a one-time holiday trip to New York. Buying a single-use pass with Loungebuddy would be more cost-efficient than buying an annual Priority Pass membership.
However, if you’re a businessman who travels more than 10 times a year, it’s better for you to get a Priority Pass membership or better yet, get a credit card that comes with a free Priority Pass membership like the Amex Platinum Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve Card.
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