Money can’t buy airport high life

PAY-AS-YOU-GO lounges at British airports have scored an average rating of just 2.4 out of five in a study.

Inspections of 20 lounges – which charge up to £50 – found many offer no more than a glass of cheap wine and a handful of crisps, according to magazine Which? Travel.

Southend Skylife Lounge promises to let passengers “live the high life” but had the lowest score of just one out of five, while the No1 lounge at Heathrow Terminal 3 was found to be living up to its name by being ranked the best overall with a score of four out of five.

But the foyer at Aspire Edinburgh was described as “dingy” and the food “bland”. Inspectors advised passengers should only visit the two-out-of-five rated lounge if they have secured a very good discount on the £33 walk-up fee.

A spokesperson for the Airport Operators Association said: “We will continue to work with lounge operators to ensure their facilities meet passengers’ needs and expectations.”