Airport lounges (non airline) are really awful.
The food is really terrible, with a low quality bar, and often they are run down.
They are incredibly profitable for the operators. But to spend £20-25 to go in one… I think you can spend that better in one of the airport restaurants.
However airline lounges - which are reserved for their frequent flyers with status or business/first class customers are far better.
If you drink alcohol, the lounges are worth it. If you don’t, probably not.
3 pints of Poretti is £21.15 at the Wetherspoons in Gatwick South. 3 gin and tonics is £25.20.
No.1 Lounge is £20 to get into and has Amstel on tap, and gin&tonic. As many as you like.
Any price is worth paying to avoid a Wetherspoons
This is the thing. We normally fly from Manchester and we’ve never been there for long enough for that to be value add.
Recently though we were flying back from St Lucia and the airport is…basic. It was a choice of spending 3.5 hours sitting on plastic chairs or the “executive lounge” which while was not exactly luxury was quite, air conditioned and had really nice food.
Yeah… those tiny glasses and the fact you have to go up so many times. I go for the bottles as at least that’s more than whatever 200ml glass they use.
Don’t forget the spirits are single. The wine is served on tap. And it’s the cheapest “fizz” you can find.
Obviously it’s all included for £20-25 so there is value. But for £25 you can have a pizza and a pint in pizza express Gatwick.
I solve this minor issue by getting 2 at a time… they’ve never said no…
It was hardly rammed the last time I was there either…
£18 off on Barclays, but obviously pointless as a pass is £20.50.
Maybe worthwhile for the free passes given with Avios Plus credit card.
Yes it does. That in itself is worth it, considering there isn’t a cost to the card (premier credit)
I’m with the Ryanair CEO on a drink limit or ban before boarding.
What is with the spoons hate, pretty much the only place that a drink is affordable in 2026
I love a spoons breakfast.
They also finally remove the middle name from the launch login page 
That’s great to hear, as it’s really annoying
still does a hard check if anyone was wondering
Just by opening the app? Even by HSBC standards that’s a bit excessive
More reasons to keep away
Thanks guys.
I do have the Avios £12 add-on from Barclays - the main reason to get the upgrade voucher to try make better use of the 300k Avios I’ve got from Amex sign-up bonuses over the years. Once I’ve used them I don’t think I’ll collect more, so likely to turn that off once I’ve got the second voucher.
I would qualify for HSBC Premier but not sure if I’d need to pay salary in - it goes to Lloyds and always has - feel a little reluctant to change it for some reason, but the HSBC travel insurance is actually a decent policy.
Partner has a pre-existing condition which is on the ‘no declare’ list for Lloyds and HSBC, but annoyingly Nationwide quote £32 a year extra on FlexPlus, and NatWest quote £72 a year on Black or Platinum (the latter both with Allianz). Either way, I’m on an old Lloyds product with a fee-waiver so don’t pay anything for the AA/Travel/Phone insurance, at least until it’s inevitably scrapped.
As for lounges - most of the UK ones are always full and average at best - overseas normally worth it - at least that’s my experience when I had the benefit from Amex!
Just seen - if you have an HSBC account and want another one you have to visit the branch?! And no joint Premier account without visiting branch either 
It seems that HSBC can now verify you in-app when you call them. It happened to me this morning when I called from a different mobile number than the one they have for me. They ask you to run the app and it goes through a similar flow to the one when you are trying to login to online banking.
Apologies if mentioned before but I don’t remember seeing it if it was.
Nationwide do the same. Called today and entered my account number on the automated phone line. It just sent a notification to my app showing the phone number that was calling and asking if it’s me on the phone. Was very nifty and no other verification required
First Direct do the same now.
