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Two new Priority Pass lounges opening soon at London Gatwick’s South Terminal

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Good news is here for all Priority Pass and Lounge Club cardholders who are frustrated with the inadequate lounge provision at London Gatwick’s South Terminal (ie the British Airways terminal).

We now have official confirmation that TWO new third-party lounges will be opening over the next few weeks.

Club Aspire confirmed yesterday that they will be opening a new 130-seat lounge in the old Virgin Holidays space, the area temporarily used by British Airways after the terminal switch when the new lounges were not ready.

For those who don’t know there that was, it is on the upper level between Sunglass Hut and London News Books.  There is a small doorway which leads you down a corridor and into the lounge.

Head for Points broke this as an exclusive back in September, but that was based on one conversation with a ‘man who would know’ and it is good to get it confirmed.

Club Aspire lounges – as opposed to ‘normal’ Aspire lounges – are jointly owned by Swissport (owner of the Aspire brand) and Collinson (owner of Priority Pass, Lounge Club etc, via its Airport Lounge Development division).

According to the PR blurb:

Inspired by London’s urban chic, the Club Aspire lounge will offer 130 travellers an oasis to relax, recharge and refresh ahead of their journey.

The lounge will be split into three main zones: a business area with workstations; a quiet lounge and rest area with an amazing view of the runway; and a dining area next to the servery and bar. Travellers will have access to a seasonal self-serve buffet selection of hot and cold food; an extensive range of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks; charging points; complimentary newspapers and magazines; and unlimited WiFi to stay connected.

The press releases confirms that Priority Pass, Lounge Pass and LoungeKey (for Mastercard World Elite cardholders) will be accepted.  There was no mention of DragonPass – this may be deliberate given that it competes with Collinson’s Priority Pass.

The opening date is ‘early 2019’.  The Aspire website is here but the new lounge is not bookable yet.

‘My Lounge’ from No1 Lounges coming soon

Before that, we will see the opening of ‘My Lounge’ from No1 Lounges.  This is also ‘urban chic’ (it seems that Gatwick South will be seeing a lot of that soon) bordering on ‘hipster’, if ‘hipster’ is still a ‘thing’.

Annoyingly, I have no idea where ‘My Lounge’ will be located.  We do know that it will have the only outside terrace at the airport.

Given that the ‘My Lounge’ in Gatwick North is cheap – I have seen it offered for as little as £12 via promos – I was surprised to see that Gatwick South will cost £30 on the door or £24 booked in advance.  Children are allowed at half price.

This is our review of My Lounge in Gatwick North to get you in the mood, and a photo is above.  It will be available via Priority Pass and Lounge Club which should reduce the pressure on the main No1 Lounge.

You can find out more about My Lounge Gatwick South on their website here.

Conclusion

It seems that the days of being turned away from the only independent lounge in Gatwick South – No 1 Lounge – due to overcrowding are over.

If you are a regular Gatwick South passenger who was thinking of ditching Priority Pass or American Express Platinum (which comes with two Priority Pass lounge access cards, each allowing unlimited free access for two people) then hold on ….. things are about to get better.

We will review the new lounges as soon as we can.

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Getting airport lounge access for free from a credit card

How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (June 2025)

Here are the six options to get FREE airport lounge access via a UK credit card.

Your best value option (but no points):

The cheapest route to a Priority Pass airport lounge card is via the Lloyds Bank World Elite Mastercard.

The credit card has a fee of £15 per month, and comes with a Priority Pass which gives unlimited free access for the cardholder. If you add a free supplementary cardholder, they will also receive unlimited free access.

Unlike the version of Priority Pass you receive with American Express, the Lloyds Bank version also lets you access £18 airport restaurant credits.

Even better, the credit card has 0% FX fees and comes with 0.5% cashback. Full details are in my Lloyds Bank World Elite Mastercard review.

Lloyds Bank World Elite Mastercard

A Priority Pass, 0% FX fees and up to 1% cashback for £15 per month Read our full review

Lounge access via American Express cards:

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with two free Priority Pass cards, one for you and one for a supplementary cardholder. Each card admits two so a family of four gets in free. You get access to all 1,500 lounges in the Priority Pass network – search it here.

You also get access to Eurostar, Lufthansa and Delta Air Lines lounges.  Our in-depth review of The Platinum Card from American Express is here.

You can apply here.

The Platinum Card from American Express

50,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card is FREE for the first year. It comes with a Priority Pass card loaded with four free visits to any Priority Pass lounge – see the list here.

Additional lounge visits are charged at £24.  You get four more free visits for every year you keep the card.  

There is no annual fee for Amex Gold in Year 1 and you get a 20,000 points sign-up bonus.  Full details are in our American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card review here.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

Lounge access via HSBC Premier credit cards (Premier account holders only):

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard gets you get a free Priority Pass card, allowing you access to the Priority Pass network.  Guests are charged at £24 although it may be cheaper to pay £60 for a supplementary credit card for your partner.

The card has a fee of £290 and there are strict financial requirements to become a HSBC Premier customer.  Full details are in my HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard review.

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard

A good package, but only available to HSBC Premier clients Read our full review

Got a small business?

If you have a small business, consider The American Express Business Platinum Card which has the same lounge benefits as the personal Platinum card:

The American Express Business Platinum Card

50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

You should also consider the Capital on Tap Pro Visa credit card which has a lower fee and, as well as a Priority Pass for airport lounge access, also comes with Radison Rewards VIP hotel status:

Capital on Tap Pro Visa

10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review

PS. You can find all of HfP’s UK airport lounge reviews – and we’ve been to most of them – indexed here.

Category

General

Comments (9)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • ChrisC says:
    22 Nov22 November 04:47

    I actually think the new Aspire location is the old VS clubhouse not the V Room from Virgin Holidays which had to close (along with another restaurant) to allow the BA lounges to be built.

    I remember that BA had to to a rapid overnight turnaround of the VS clubhouse in to its lounge and that some BA passengers on certain flights were diverted to the Club Rooms instead. All the furniture was still the VS red themed furniture and there were still VS logos on some of the signs such was the rapid move in by BA after the last VS flight left the south terminal prior to them starting in north the next day.

    As an aside a BA check in staffer told me that BA called it the ‘speedbird’ lounge because it was where the BOAC lounge used to be many years before.

  • Alan says:
    22 Nov22 November 09:14

    Can you use a lounge in South if you are departing from North or are they airside? Never used one before.

  • Louise Allen says:
    22 Nov22 November 09:26

    This statement always confuses me “American Express Platinum (which comes with two Priority Pass lounge access cards, each allowing unlimited free access for two people)”. The statement implies you get the card and TWO PP cards plop through the door but this is only true if you have a supplementary card holder. It’s a bit misleading.

  • Adam says:
    22 Nov22 November 09:48

    Awesome news and about time, I used to commute through Gatwick North before the terminal change and could always get into one of the three lounges (Aspire being my favourite as I have just never liked Nbr1 even though I know they are much higher regarded)

    I find My Lounge a bit strange and service was always hit and miss but that could be that I only used it on busy days (When I couldn’t get into Aspire or Nbr1) was “tehcnically” great for kids with football tables and cinema rooms however every time I went in the cinema area was filled with a family just using the seats, kids areas are not so good when they have a closed of comfy area as they tend to get filled up. But I am not going to knock more options.

  • Mike says:
    22 Nov22 November 20:03

    Any word on whether the My Lounge outdoor terrace will allow smoking?

    • Shoestring says:
      22 Nov22 November 20:12

      Surely you know the answer to that already?

      Is there *any* smoking allowed (for passengers) anywhere at Heathrow or Gatwick, by the way?

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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