The small print
Lounge rules that catch people out
Almost every rule below is quoted from an operator's published conditions. They are worth reading not because they are complicated but because no two companies agree, and the disagreements are exactly where people get turned away.
No two operators have the same rules. A threshold you read here is a prompt to check the lounge you are actually going to, never a promise about it — and the ranges below show how wide the disagreement really is.
- Three hours before departure is now close to a standard. One airline's house rules state that entry is permitted three hours prior to departure and that the policy does not apply to delays or layovers; an independent operator uses the same three hours and sells extra time in advance. Connecting passengers are often given longer, and a few top-tier memberships are exempt entirely.
- One operator's published code bans themed or fancy-dress outfits, offensive slogans, sports shirts, beach flip-flops, vests and clothing exposing midriffs or upper thighs — and says non-compliance means being refused without a refund. Airlines word it more vaguely: one asks for attire 'in keeping with good taste and a dignified atmosphere', another for something 'consistent with a professional environment'. Vague does not mean unenforced.
- One airline charges $50 or 5,000 miles per guest per visit. Another states that single-visit pass holders may not bring guests at all. At least one card issuer now requires your guest to be booked on the same flight as you. Assume a guest costs money and check whether they are allowed at all.
- One operator lets under-twos in free and counts everyone older as a guest; another airline's terms say children over two count as guests; a national airport operator lets under-fives in free and charges roughly half price up to ten. One operator bars under-twelves from its quieter rooms entirely. There is no industry norm here at all.
- One airline's rules state that customers travelling on its basic economy tickets, or similar 'light' or 'basic' tickets on a partner flight, are not permitted access at any time — regardless of what membership or status they hold.
- One airline's house rules say plainly that food and beverages may not be removed from the club. So a lounge is not a way to stock up for the flight: eat there, and carry something separate for the aircraft.
- One operator's conditions require you to keep your luggage with you at all times, including if you leave and return. One airline bans airport luggage carts from its lounges outright. Belongings are your responsibility and nobody is watching them — which, if you are travelling alone, means the bag comes into the shower cubicle with you.
- One major operator states that its lounge packages do not include shower or massage services unless specified, and that these carry an additional fee. Another says outright that it currently has no lounges with working shower facilities. Never assume a shower, and never assume a towel.
- One large operator's own FAQ says Wi-Fi is available in some of its lounges — not all of them. If connectivity is the reason you are paying, check the specific location, and download what you need before you arrive.
- Access has become measurably harder as membership numbers have grown, and waitlists at busy airports are now routine. Group sizes are capped too — one operator allows up to eight at most locations, six or four at others, and prohibits stag and hen parties outright.
Where this came from
Every rule above was read from one of these operators' own published conditions rather than from a summary. They change without notice, so check the current version before relying on any of it.