Get a 'private members' holiday experience at the airport for £52

The business class airport experience is special. It has dedicated check-in desks and lie-flat seats. But the best part is the lounge, where you can relax and have free drinks before your flight. For a long time, I thought only business class passengers could use airport lounges.

Now, many UK airports have independent lounges that anyone can book. You don't need to be a business class passenger to use them. These lounges are available to anyone, no matter where they're sitting on the plane.

Some airport lounges are very affordable.

You can access UK airport lounges for as little as £32 per person. Some overseas lounges are even cheaper. But I wanted a special experience for my partner and me before our trip to Seville. I wanted a lounge that felt like the start of our holiday, not just a waiting room.

I booked Clubrooms by No1 Lounges at Gatwick South. It's a popular lounge at the airport, according to Holiday Extras.

When we arrived, it felt different from the usual airport lounge. We were greeted by staff and shown to our table by a dedicated waiter. He looked after us throughout our stay.

Clubrooms has a reputation for being a luxurious lounge experience. The lounges are for adults only, which makes them calmer and quieter. It's ideal for couples or people who want to escape the chaos of the terminal.

The brand wants to create a 'private members' club feel, not a traditional airport lounge. It felt polished and exclusive, but the price was not too high.

We flew from Gatwick South with British Airways and used the South Terminal Clubrooms lounge. There's also a North Terminal option, and lounges at Heathrow and Birmingham.

We paid £50 each, and we got our money's worth from the food, drinks, and snacks. Prices vary depending on dates and location, but you can book a pass from £44 with Holiday Extras if you book in advance.

At first, £50 for an airport lounge seemed like a lot. But when I thought about what we'd usually spend at the airport, it didn't seem so bad.

Seamus McCauley from Holiday Extras said that the Clubrooms offer à la carte table service, a smart-casual dress code, and no children under 12. It's perfect for an adults-only trip or a special occasion.

A Holiday Extras spokesperson said that the Clubrooms are designed like a modern private members club. They offer a quiet space to relax, hosted table service, and extensive menus. They're a great place to start your holiday.

The food you're served depends on the time of day. In the mornings, you can have continental options or cooked dishes like eggs Florentine.

Because our flight was in the afternoon, we got the evening menu. I had ratatouille, and my partner had chilli. There were also lighter dishes like mushrooms on toast.

Drinks were brought to our table, and everything was included, from wine and beer to cocktails. I tried the Skyline 75, which is Clubrooms' own twist on a French 75.

There was also a grazing table with snacks like nuts, olives, brownies, and cakes.

Guests get free unlimited Wi-Fi, flight information screens, comfortable seating areas, TVs, and runway views. The best plane-spotting seats are in the front half of the lounge.

If you just want a quieter place to relax before a flight without spending too much, there are cheaper airport lounge options.

You can book a lounge at a major UK airport for as little as £32 per person. Overseas, they often cost around £20.

When you think about how much people spend at the airport anyway, booking a lounge makes sense.

Seamus said that booking a lounge at those prices can pretty much pay for itself.

A survey of UK holidaymakers found that people spend £26.30 on average waiting for their flight. For a family of four, that's over £100.

When you consider what a lounge offers, you're not just getting a comfortable place to wait. You're probably breaking even on the time you'll spend waiting for your plane.

Booking a lounge can be a good idea.

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