People are still paying for airport lounge passes and it's a huge waste

I see so many travelers, especially on long layovers, buying those $50 day passes for airport lounges. It's a bad deal. I was stuck in Chicago O'Hare for 8 hours last year and almost did it. Instead, I found a quiet gate at the far end of a terminal, used the free airport wifi, and bought a big meal from the food court for $15. The lounge would have given me the same thing: a seat, wifi, and snacks. For the price of one pass, you can get a proper meal and still have cash left. I've done this in five different airports now. Has anyone found a better free spot to wait than an empty gate area?

2 comments

2 Comments

reed.ray6h ago

Try doing that with a screaming toddler after a 10 hour flight lol. Lounges are a quiet lifesaver.

thea_knight5h ago

A quiet gate works fine for most people. The lounge hype seems overblown unless you have a specific need like avoiding chaos.