5 Reasons Airport Lounge Access Is Overrated

Sometimes airport lounges aren't worth the hype.

You may have heard about how amazing airport lounges are. While airport lounges may provide a more comfortable space to relax before your flight departs, lounge access isn't always worth it for every traveler. Before investing in airport lounge access, ensure your expectations are realistic. There are several reasons why airport lounge access is overrated.

1. Many lounges are overcrowded

Airport lounges used to be a hidden oasis for frequent travelers. Now that they've become more popular and people are aware of the many perks that travel rewards credit cards offer, more travelers are visiting airport lounges. You may be shocked if you're expecting a quiet, relaxing lounge experience. During busy times, it's common to find that airport lounges are loud and packed with people -- similarly to the public areas of the airport.

2. The quality of each lounge varies

Unfortunately, you can't expect the same lounge quality everywhere you go. I've found many international airport lounges to be more enjoyable and value-packed, especially when comparing food and drink offerings. The thing is, you never know what quality level you'll get.

While sometimes you may luck out and walk into a fantastic lounge, there will be times when you're less than impressed. A few years ago, I visited an airport lounge that was nearing capacity, and the only free snack they had available was individual mini bags of chips.

That was disappointing when compared to the many international airport lounges I've visited with impressive food buffets. As you might imagine, I decided to hang out by my gate because I didn't feel the need to fill up on Lay's potato chips before a long-haul flight to Greece.

3. It's getting more expensive to visit airport lounges

Many lounge membership programs have increased in price over the last few years. Additionally, some credit card issuers with lounge access as a perk have raised their annual fees. That means you're likely paying more for lounge access. For many people working on important personal finance goals, the increased fees aren't worth the extra cost.

4. You may be denied entry

Since more people are discovering the exciting world of airport lounges, many lounges quickly reach capacity. You may hope to enter a lounge before your flight or during a long layover, only to be denied entry because of capacity limits. It's also common for lounges to restrict access during busy times of the day to better control the crowds. You may be unable to enter if you try to visit during restricted hours. When this happens, your lounge perks go unused.

5. You may have to pay guest fees

Until recently, many premium travel credit cards allowed cardholders to bring one or more guests into lounges with them at no extra cost. This benefit added more value and made for an excellent way to share the airport lounge experience with a friend or partner when traveling together. However, many card issuers have reduced their lounge benefits in recent years.

Currently, only some of the best credit cards allow guests to access airport lounges at no extra cost. Some allow guests, but require the cardholder to pay an additional fee for each guest. If you frequently travel as a couple or family, the extra guest fees may not be worth it, and you may not get much use out of your airport lounge benefits.

When visiting an airport lounge, have realistic expectations

For some frequent fliers, airport lounge access may be well worth the cost. But not every traveler will find these spaces to be valuable. Before entering an airport lounge for the first time, ensure you have realistic expectations. Otherwise, you may be disappointed.

If you want to get a feel for the experience before investing in a lounge membership, you may want to visit a lounge that sells day passes. You can pay a fee for one-time access to decide if it's a worthwhile investment. If you find the experience valuable, you may want to apply for one of the many travel credit cards with complimentary airport lounge perks.