Aspire airport lounges in London to re-open, starting this week
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Aspire has announced that its Club Aspire lounges in London Heathrow and London Gatwick’s North Terminal will re-open this Saturday, 11th July.
Their website is accepting cash bookings.
No bookings appear to be possible for the London Luton lounge at this time – it isn’t clear if the renovation work is finished or not. All other sites appear to be closed.
It is usually very difficult to get into the Heathrow Terminal 5 lounge with a Priority Pass card, but I’m not expecting huge queues for the next few weeks. To be honest, the lounge is not very impressive and is also small, but if you’ve got an unlimited use Priority Pass it does no harm to pop in.
Our review of the Club Aspire lounge at Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 is here.
Gatwick North is a different kettle of fish and is a decent space, in the basement level of the lounge complex. Here is our full review of the Club Aspire lounge at London Gatwick’s North Terminal and see the image above. The review includes a video.
In terms of what is available, we are promised:
- Social distancing
- Self-service check in (where possible)
- Reduced capacity in lounges
- Table service instead of buffet style service
- We’ve had to reduce our menu offering to a low contact menu
- Increased cleaning schedule
- 3 alcoholic drinks limit per person, per visit across UK & Irish lounges
- No physical newspapers or magazines in the lounge
There is no word from Plaza Premium on when their Heathrow lounges will re-open.
PS. It seems that British Airways will be using the North Terminal at Gatwick when its long-haul services resume later this month. There are no plans to reopen the South Terminal at the moment. The earliest opportunity is likely to be 8th September which is the current date to move Gatwick short-haul services back from Heathrow. However, if a Heathrow slot waiver cannot be obtained for the Winter season, the Gatwick short-haul flights are likely to remain in Terminal 5.
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How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (April 2025)
Here are the five options to get FREE airport lounge access via a UK credit card.
The Platinum Card from American Express comes with two free Priority Pass cards, one for you and one for a supplementary cardholder. Each card admits two so a family of four gets in free. You get access to all 1,500 lounges in the Priority Pass network – search it here.
You also get access to Eurostar, Lufthansa and Delta Air Lines lounges. Our American Express Platinum review is here.
You can apply here.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.
The Platinum Card from American Express
80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for the first year. It comes with a Priority Pass card loaded with four free visits to any Priority Pass lounge – see the list here.
Additional lounge visits are charged at £24. You get four more free visits for every year you keep the card.
There is no annual fee for Amex Gold in Year 1 and you get a 20,000 points sign-up bonus. Full details are in our American Express Preferred Rewards Gold review here.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold
Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review
HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard gets you get a free Priority Pass card, allowing you access to the Priority Pass network. Guests are charged at £24 although it may be cheaper to pay £60 for a supplementary credit card for your partner.
The card has a fee of £290 and there are strict financial requirements to become a HSBC Premier customer. Full details are in my HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard review.
HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard
A good package, but only available to HSBC Premier clients Read our full review
Got a small business?
If you have a small business, consider American Express Business Platinum which has the same lounge benefits as the personal Platinum card:
American Express Business Platinum
50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review
You should also consider the Capital on Tap Pro Visa credit card which has a lower fee and, as well as a Priority Pass for airport lounge access, also comes with Radison Rewards VIP hotel status:
Capital on Tap Pro Visa
10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review
PS. You can find all of HfP’s UK airport lounge reviews – and we’ve been to most of them – indexed here.
