Do you get tempted to indulge in the lounge, just because it's "free"?

[Mattg]

When I first earned status with an airline, lounges were a novelty and something that was very special. Suddenly, instead of having to pay $15 for a sandwich in the terminal, you could get "free" food and drinks - including alcohol. Getting to use the lounge was a rare treat and I would often enjoy a glass of wine etc. while waiting for my flight.

Fast forward to today, and I am often now in airport lounges multiple times a week. It's still tempting to enjoy a glass of wine or a gin & tonic, and I often do. But I have realised that even though the drinks are free, (a) it's not good for my health, and (b) there are times when, if I'm being honest with myself, I don't really need it and am just indulging because I can.

Do you indulge more than you normally would when visiting airport lounges? Why/why not?

I often see people in international lounges drinking alcohol at 6am, so perhaps the answer is that the rules are thrown out the window when you're in an airport.

 

[AIRwin]

Yes I do also like my showers...

 

[Bundy Bear]

For some of us the novelty never wears off, although I am really careful about the alcohol, because its free you don't need to drink it like its free.

 

[clifford]

I often see people in international lounges drinking alcohol at 6am, so perhaps the answer is that the rules are thrown out the window when you're in an airport.

I must admit I do like the odd glass of champagne with my breakfast in an airport lounge, from time to time.

Of course, I don't do this at home...

 

[Matt_01]

I rarely go to town in a lounge and if I need to be there for a while will often go back out into the terminal and walk around. For me it is just a place to sit down.

 

[OATEK]

I am at the stage where the lounge often disappoints me, and I hardly indulge at all (especially the SYD QFi J). The food is often very ordinary and the best items I find are the bread rolls. As for the alcohol I am careful these days wherever I am, including the lounge. But as a respite from the crowds in the gate lounges, I still find them very useful. We had a 38hr trip SYD-SIN-LHR-MAN in August, and the BA Galleries proved a great haven.

 

[VPS]

My main reason for going into the lounge is because the toilets are clean and it's usually quieter. Often I don't eat or drink anything.

I do get annoyed with people who load up their plates and then just leave most of it

 

[AIRwin]

I do get annoyed with people who load up their plates and then just leave most of it

Even worse when they leave most of it not only on their plates but also on the floor...

 

[exceladdict]

If I recall correctly I had three showers in eight hours at either HKG or DOH, and certainly availed myself of the complimentary stuff that would usually be way out of my price bracket. But since Mrs Excel and I stopped drinking, it's moreso the food and indulging in sparkling water or coffee!

 

[luxury-lizard]

Like others I don't usually have much, if anything, to eat or drink in a lounge - usually because I figure I'll get sufficient on the flight. Of course this is not usually the case on short domestic flights but who cares - you'll be there soon.

When I see people drinking champagne at breakfast hour - I presume they're on a "trip of a life time".

I must admit I am amazed how many people storm the buffet like a plague of locusts when a fresh tray of hot food is brought out. Really?? are they that starved??

 

[drron]

Certainly I now consume a lot less in both food and alcohol than i did in days past. In fact if a morning flight I quite often don't have alcohol.
But there is a possibility next year to have paid access to Emirates lounges in Dubai. I will certainly drink my money's worth.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I often see people in international lounges drinking alcohol at 6am, so perhaps the answer is that the rules are thrown out the window when you're in an airport.

It's always 5pm somewhere!

 

[AIRwin]

If I recall correctly I had three showers in eight hours at either HKG or DOH

I recently had (to have) a shower at each of the 3 EK lounges (A/B/C gates) I wanted to check out during my transit in DXB - I was already sweating by the time I got to the next...

 

[Human]

Lounges save me a lot of money by removing the temptation to buy massively overpriced food at the airport. It’s rare that lounge food is better than food that can be purchased, but at least it’s generally acceptable. And I generally fly Virgin domestically, so the lounge comes into its own given that VA doesn’t provide meals on flights.

 

[billmurray]

Virgin Domestic longue is sad. The breakfast options and coffee I find are terrible. I always order coffee outside the lounge even though it's like $6.

However I do love to take as many TWG teabags from the KRIS lounge. I actually have a game where I try to beat how many bags i took the previous time i was in the lounge. So far I'm up to 26 bags from one visit.

 

[AIRwin]

However I do love to take as many TWG teabags from the KRIS lounge.

I do like the hot chocolate sachets in the EK lounges...

 

[Denali]

We dont drink alcohol so thats not a factor for us but hubby looks forward to 2nd breakfast or first dinner in the lounge. He loves the lounge and we've been in some bad ones and he still enjoys them.

 

[Steady]

Yes

 

[Daver6]

Initially when I started getting lounge access it was a novelty and I tried to "get value from it" Not so much in getting blind drunk but trying all the food etc.

When I'm travelling for leisure then I'll certainly have a drink no matter the time of day. I'm on holiday! Recently flew PER-MEL-SYD-BNE-CNS in J in a day as both a holiday and status run. I treated it as a pub crawl. Drink on each flight and a drink in each lounge (except for PER as it was too early for the bar to be open).

I often find when travelling for work, especially international and on the way home, all I'll have in a lounge is a shower and some water. I'm usually just tired and over it.

 

[andye]

Domestic rarely but tend to try out a small taste of each the reds if not planning to drive/work to see if there is something I really like. Am usually fairly restrained on food though can get diverted with cheeses.
Internationally, happy to drink at any time of day tending to real champagne, G&T and good wines. Food if it looks good and/or interesting (particularly local).
If family (who fly less than me) are along, they usually get stuck into the food