Airline Lounges Gatwick

[Jennykenny]

I'm sure I used to only pay £18.00 for access to an airline lounge at Gatwick, via Holiday Extras?
I see that the North terminal has them at that price but not the South terminal, (flying out of the South one).
Any thoughts?
I don't want to use the North Terminal if I'm flying out of the South.

[EDDIE51]

You mean you have to pay extra to use an airport lounge nowadays?
I thought it was included as the ticket price?

[murraymints]

http://www.airport-lounges.co.uk/gatwick-v4.html?page=gatwick-v4.html&adcode=QIUK-A-LGP-LOUNGE-LGW-EX-VIP&agent=WA975&Location=LGW&ppcmsg=Gatwick+Airport+Lounges&utm_source=Bing&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_campaign=QIUK-A-LGP-LOUNGE-LGW-EX-VIP&matchtype=e&network=s&device=c&keyword=vip+lounge+gatwick&__hxt_redirected=true

[KARL]

An important point to note is that Gatwick Airport is closed for several hours from something like no later than 2200 until 0300 or beyond, and that includes the business lounges. The airport claims never to close because there is (I think) a single café somewhere on landside open through the closing period. If a supermarket claims to be open 24 hours, but you can't buy any milk, fruit, veg, or any groceries at all for many hours daily, and you can't in fact be in the shop without being forced out of it - BUT there is a sweetie machine in the foyer - then you would dispute the 24hr claim. So far as I know, the same applies to every single international airport in the UK with (it has been suggested) the possible exception of some part of Heathrow. The comparison with main international airports abroad is striking.

[fiction-factory]

These are VIp lounges, eddie. can be good for getting a quiet place to sit, newspapers to read, free food and drink

[jno]

the two terminals are only a short shuttle ride apart, so you'd only have to leave the lounge 10 minutes or so earlier to get from one to the other. Depends how long you want to rest there and how much you're prepared to pay for it.

[WesterRoss]

Any lounge I have been in is air side. You cannot get air side in the north terminal if flying out of the south.

[jno]

good point, WesterRoss, it seems to be that way at Gatwick, so scrub my previous post.

[EDDIE51]

So it's £18 or more to get in and then it's unlimited free drinks?
Surely it's going to be full of people getting as much 'free' drink down their necks as possible so as to get their money's worth?
A bit like the old 'Happy hour' that pubs used to do.

[KARL]

In my experience the most heavily used lounges were those who at the time were serving hot food and people were using the opportunity - not once have I seen any signs of excess drinking, I guess it's due to the type of people who go there.

[Buenchico]

The lounges are operated by different companies. In the North Terminal there are three lounges:
My Lounge (£18, when booked in advance)
Aspire Lounge (£18.99 in advance)
No 1 Lounge (£30.00 in advance)

In the South Terminal there's only lounge (if you discount the Regus Express Lounge, which provides office space for groups of business people):
No 1 Lounge (£30.00 in advance)

Security rules prevent people departing from the South terminal from using lounges in the North Terminal.

[Buenchico]

^^^Typo!

. . . only one lounge . . .

[Jennykenny]

Thanks everyone, but it all comes back to £30.00 for South Terminal.
I was at Gatwick the other week flying to Rome and didn't bother with a lounge as I thought I would be 'fairly quickly in and out' but the noise and the heat in the cafes and seating areas made me miserable so, lounge it is.
By the time I have bought a couple of newspapers, a coffee and a croissant, - and depending on the hour, a glass of wine, I have paid out about half, and I don't need to drag my wheelie bag with me when I go to the loo.