Published: 6 June 2026
Which lounge membership is best in the UK?
Lounge memberships are an attractive proposition for many business and leisure travellers. Rather than pay a £40 fee for entry, membership entitles travellers to significantly discounted or free entry to the many business lounges. Memberships are available for an annual fee or are sometimes provided with premium bank accounts or credit cards.
There are 3 main airport lounge membership schemes in the UK: Priority Pass, LoungeKey and Dragonpass. Whilst there is considerable overlap of UK airport lounges across the different brands, there are also some key differences. In this article we aim to help you choose the best membership for your needs.
Quick Verdict
🏆 Best Overall: Priority Pass
🍽️ Best for Airport Dining: Priority Pass / LoungeKey
💆 Best for Spa Access: Dragonpass
🇺🇸 Best for the US & Americas: Priority Pass / LoungeKey
🇨🇳 Best for China & Asia-Pacific: DragonPass
💳 Best Value if included with a Credit Card: LoungeKey
In our analysis, Priority Pass came out on top with access to 76 facilities, compared to 75 for LoungeKey and 52 for DragonPass. However, DragonPass can be really attractive for travellers who value spa access or regularly travel to China.
Priority Pass
Priority Pass is accepted at 49 standard airport lounges across 32 different UK airport terminals. Importantly, Priority Pass will give you lounge access at all four terminals at Heathrow (T2-5), both North & South Terminals at Gatwick and Manchester terminals 2 & 3.
For an extra charge, 5 additional lounges are available: Clubrooms at Birmingham, Gatwick North and Gatwick South Clubrooms, plus the 1903 Lounge at Manchester T2 and the Lomond Lounge at Glasgow.
Priority Pass cards also include Priority Pass EAT – this gives the member an £18 dining credit which can be used at 22 different UK airport cafes, bars & restaurants against meals and/or drinks. This includes two venues at London City – the only major UK airport currently without a lounge. This benefit is not just available in the UK, Priority Pass includes over 215 airport dining locations globally.
If you have a fixed number of “free” visits in your Priority Pass package, each use of a dining credit is counted equivalent to one lounge entry so for every visit, one lounge entitlement will be deducted from your remaining quota. Just remember that if you accidentally use your card in a dining venue and have no more free lounge visits remaining, you will be paying £24 for £18 worth of dining credit…
Of course if you you have a Priority Pass membership with unlimited entry, then there are clearly some significant opportunities in airports that have multiple bars and restaurants offering the dining credit. Priority Pass states that dining credits are intended as an alternative to lounge visits and repeated use of multiple venues during the same airport visit may result in additional charges.
Which UK airport restaurants can I use the Priority Pass dining credit?
- Birmingham: Shelby & Co Bar and Kitchen
- Bristol: Starbucks, Brigg and Stow, Cabin Bar
- Cardiff: Y Castell
- Glasgow: Bird & Signet
- Liverpool: Sable & Co
- London City: Soul & Grain, Juniper
- London Gatwick North Terminal: Brewdog, Tortilla, Juniper & Co, The Breakfast Club
- London Gatwick South Terminal: Pizza Express
- London Heathrow Terminal 3: Evergreen Bar & Restaurant
- London Heathrow Terminal 5: The Globe Pub & Kitchen
- London Luton: Avalon Crafted Coffee, Nolito, Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen
- London Stansted: The Camden Bar & Kitchen
- Manchester Terminal 2: The Evergreen Bar & Brasserie
- Newcastle: Aster & Thyme Bar & Restaurant
Important for American Express Platinum cardholders
If you have a Priority Pass issued as part of your American Express Platinum membership, unfortunately Priority Pass EAT benefits are excluded. However, there are two exceptions to this – Juniper & Co at London City and Pizza Express at London Gatwick South.
However as American Express Platinum members can bring along a guest, a couple travelling together can effectively get £36 (2 x £18) off food & drinks at these two venues. Just be clear with your server that you are bringing a guest so that you will have the correct deduction make from your bill.
Furthermore, Amex Platinum supplementary cardholders get their own Priority Pass so if both cardholders are together, each can bring their own guest along – meaning that a group of 4 people can get £72 worth of dining – if you are a family of 4 visiting Pizza Express at Gatwick South, this benefit would pay a big chunk of the bill.
I should also mention that Amex Platinum cardholders also get access to the American Express Centurion Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 3 – this lounge is not available via any membership scheme.
LoungeKey
LoungeKey and Priority Pass are very similar products (they are actually both from the same company, Collinson) but whilst Priority Pass can be purchased, LoungeKey is only available via premium bank accounts and credit cards such as Santander World Elite.
Our analysis shows that a LoungeKey member can access exactly the same UK airport lounges as Priority Pass, with the exception that they do not appear to be able to pay to upgrade in the Lomond Lounge at Glasgow.
In addition, LoungeKey members also get the dining credit at the same 22 restaurants as Priority Pass.
Dragonpass
Dragonpass is accepted at 45 standard lounges across 32 different airports in the UK, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, and importantly these include all terminals at Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester. The three Clubrooms at Birmingham, Gatwick North and Gatwick South can be accessed for an additional fee.
Alternatively, Dragonpass visitors in Birmingham, London City, Gatwick North and Gatwick South can choose a complimentary appointment at AeroSpa. Members can “enjoy a Free 15 minute massage OR Free Nail File and Polish OR Mens Manicure (Cuticles & File) or Little Manicure for Children under 12 years old”. Use of the AeroSpa uses one of your lounge entitlements.
Comparisons
Priority Pass v Dragonpass
Priority Pass holders can access four lounges that are not available on DragonPass (My Lounge Heathrow T3, Club Aspire Gatwick South, No1 Lounge at Luton and the Executive Lounge at Newquay). Unlike Dragonpass holders, Priority Pass members cannot get into the 51 Degrees Executive Lounge in Cardiff (although a £18 dining credit is offered as an alternative).
Internationally, Priority Pass is significantly stronger than Dragonpass for airport lounge coverage in North and South America. However it is far weaker in Asia-Pacific.
Priority Pass v LoungeKey
No difference, apart from LoungeKey members do not appear to be able to pay the additional amount to enter the Lomond Lounge at Glasgow.
LoungeKey v Dragonpass
LoungeKey holders can access four lounges that are not available on DragonPass (My Lounge Heathrow T3, Club Aspire Gatwick South, No1 Lounge at Luton, Executive Lounge at Newquay). Loungekey members cannot get into the 51 Degrees Executive Lounge in Cardiff whereas Dragonpass members can (although a £18 dining credit is offered as an alternative).
Internationally, Dragonpass is extremely strong in Asia-Pacific – this is driven by their extremely strong presence in mainland China – over 3x the number of airports compared to Priority Pass. Dragonpass is weaker than Priority Pass in both North & South America.
Pricing
Priority Pass
| Membership Type | Annual Fee | Details |
| Standard | £69 | Entry per visit is £24 for member, £24 for guest |
| Standard plus | £229 | 10 free visits then £24 for member, £24 for guest |
| Prestige | £419 | Unlimited visits then £24 for member, £24 for guest |
If you do 7-14 visits a year, you should take the Standard plus option. More than 15 visits, then you should go for Prestige.
LoungeKey
Only available through a premium bank account or credit card
Dragonpass
| Membership Type | Annual Fee | Details |
| Classic | £68 | 1 included visit then £26 per visit for members, £26 for guest |
| Preferential | £168 | 8 included visits then £26 for member, £26 for guest |
If you do 4 visits a year, you should buy the Preferential membership option, otherwise you will be out of pocket. If you are doing 18 or more visits a year, Priority Pass will be a cheaper option
A few other points
It is important to note that having a lounge membership does not guarantee access to the lounge, in busy times you may be turned away or be asked to wait.
For many lounges you can guarantee your access by reserving a spot in advance (for a small fee) on the Priority Pass app
Lounges at London City, Bournemouth, Glasgow Prestwick and Guernsey airports are not shown on the table as they are the only significant (as far as we are aware) UK/CI/IOM airports with no lounge facility.
Our Conclusions
Overall, there is little difference between the three schemes when it comes to core UK airport lounge coverage. All provide access to lounges at the major airports, including all terminals at Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester, and most travellers are unlikely to notice a significant difference on a typical trip from the UK.
However, there are some important distinctions. Priority Pass and LoungeKey stand out thanks to their dining credits, which can be particularly valuable at airports with limited lounge options such as London City. DragonPass, meanwhile, offers complimentary AeroSpa treatments and has a much stronger presence across China and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
For most UK travellers, Priority Pass is the strongest all-round option, closely followed by LoungeKey. If your membership is included with a premium bank account or credit card, that will probably be the deciding factor. DragonPass remains an excellent choice for frequent travellers to China or those who value spa access over restaurant benefits.
Ultimately, the best lounge membership is the one that matches the airports you use most often and the way you prefer to travel.
