Recently, I traveled quite a bit and on occasion was glad to use an airline lounge to relax, get some work done or just unwind.
Since generally speaking, these airline lounges are discretely packed away from the herds, many "generic" tourists probably are unaware that such services existed. On the other hand, I can imagine how business travellers would react if the "in tranfer sardine-class herd" from Mallorca would bark in and started ordering "beers-'til they drop". Out of curiosity, how many of you frequently use airline lounges and for what purpose?

Whenever I'm holding a ticket which gives me access

Most travellers are acutely aware of the fact that lounges exist, that their ticket won't get them in and that a ticket that would get them in would be more expensive then their ticket by a factor.

i stopped since the time i missed my plane because i was too engrossed in reading harry potter :P

now i sit at the boarding gate.

usually, i barely manage to get on the plane before it leaves, never mind time to faff around in an airport lounge.

Well, but there are also options for paying an access fee so one could utilize the services/amenities offered.

If it's business travel and I get to the airport early enough then I use them. But my personal travel tends to be economy and that doesn't usually get you into the better lounges.

There is a big difference in the quality of the lounges depending on airline and location. Last year I had to travel to the US on Delta. On the way out from Heathrow the lounge was great with free food and drink, free WiFi, and even video games consoles. On the return from JFK the Delta lounge offered free nuts and snacks, and you paid for everything else. American Airlines lounges in the UK and the US are similarly cr@p. BA has a higher, more uniform standard of lounge, and lounges at Terminal 5 at Heathrow have plenty to offer. Earlier this year I also used an arrivals lounge at Heathrow to have a shower and get some breakfast before heading off. It made a nice change after a long flight from California.

I got a Priority Pass with my CS Bonviva package. Free access to most lounges worldwide. Given what I can drink and eat on my travels, it pays for itself quite quickly (i.e. any CC charges for having a Bonviva gold package with Credit Suisse)

Coming back from Thailand this week, with suspect Hep A, I was just glad to have a clean place to sleep for a few hours, fresh cold bottled water and unrestricted access to a decent toilet within dashing distance.

Add to that , access to English newspapers , nice food , free wi-fi , global TV comfortable chairs, air-conditioning, showers , smiling faces etc , and I will use a lounge every time I travel.

When I leave, I openly top up my flight bag with drinks , water and other stuff. No one has ever complained.

It's a great service. I use them between 5-10 times a year, but this can vary up or down quite drastically.

*Cough weirdo Cough Cough*

The really good ones are not those you can get access to with PriorityPass (where the cheaper plans require a per-entry fee as well).

If you want to get lounge access on the cheap, you need to (1) register with Aegean Airlines "Miles&Bonus" program, (2) fly 4'000 miles on a StarAlliance carrier in economy class on a fare that gives at least 100% miles, (3) fly another 16'000 miles on a StarAlliance carrier in economy class on a fare that gives at least 100% miles. Voila - you are now a StarAlliance "Gold" frequent flyer and get access to lounges whenever on a StarAlliance flight, irrespective of class flown.

Personally, I only use them when in transit and when there is a long wait. If I've got less than 2 hours, I don't bother.

Not sure about you lot, but I've had to wait in transit for over 8 hours a couple of times. The lounges were certainly a welcome relief.

Does UBS have a package like the Bonviva you describe? I'm a business traveler in most of the occasions and would love to use the lounges whenever possible

If I have time, I'll use them, but I don't make a point of going out of my way to try and eat or drink the difference in fairs like some appear to.

I find the major hubs have the best lounges, like Orlando, Cinci and Atlanta for Delta and Chicago or Washington for United for example. I'd rather have shower and changing facilities upon arrival than before I go; you tend to feel rather second hand after a long flight.

My Priority Pass gets me into the local carriers First Class Lounges if available. These are unbeatable. I have never had to pay for entry.
On almost all occasions, the lounges I have had access to were the superior lounges. With nothing to pay, and almost all to the same standard. Obviously our mileage varies. There are however different levels of Priority Pass, and it seems the Swiss have chosen the best one to offer with their Bonviva package.

It appears so...

Whenever I can, mostly for free wifi and a cool drink on occasional stop overs.

Basel has the most amazing one, on three levels with a "zen garden" on the entry level.

Zurich is pretty cool too for Star Alliance passengers.

Johannesburg Domestic's lounge is superb, as is the one in Cape Town. The ability to have a shower after a long haul flight is not to be underestimated.

Take advantage of the loyalty warmth...

The only time an airline lounge would be of any use is when there are flight delays. The dust cloud or airline strikes.
If you can afford to buy a business class ticket or lounge access, just to get a free drink you should have enough money to buy a drink in the bar.
Just a room full of strangers who think they are important. and btw are these people not those last on the plane making us all wait.

Or get a Post Finance Platinum Visa card

Well that looks like a nice program. It's CHF 80 per month and a whopping 2% foreign transactions fee for credit card use though (that's on top of the not-very-favourable exchange rate).

Cynical bitter rubbish.

These rooms are an oasis for seasoned travellers. We do not think we are important, just wiser, privileged and savvy.

Not many people buy their own Business Class ticket.

But having a Credit Card that costs CHF240 per year, giving travel benefits (Lounge visits , Travel Insurance , Travel Assistance) to a value of CHF800 is clearly a common sense decision, and not one designed to delay your flight.

Leaving aside the obvious envy, on long-haul economy flights lounges are a god-send. Nothing quite like stepping into a nice lounge (with well-appointed showers) in Singapore or Bangkok airport after 13 hrs from Europe and before another 8hrs to Australia.