Review: the Upperdeck lounge at Glasgow Airport, used by Priority Pass

This is our review of the Upperdeck lounge at Glasgow International Airport.

This is part of our series of reviews of airport lounges across the UK.  You see all of the reviews here.

I first reviewed the Upperdeck lounge in Glasgow just over two years.  I didn’t plan to review it again, but there has been a big change – the kids play area, which was the only stand-out thing about the lounge, has gone.  I thought it was worth updating my original article.  The photos are all new except where noted.

Whilst British Airways has its own lounge in Glasgow (it is very pleasant and I reviewed it here), there is a second lounge in the airport – the Upperdeck lounge.  This is your alternative to the BA lounge if you have a Priority Pass or HSBC Premier World Elite credit card LoungeKey card, or your only option if you don’t have access to the BA facility.

You will also be sent to this lounge if you are flying with Delta or Virgin Atlantic.  Emirates passengers do not use it – Emirates has its own lounge.

The Upperdeck lounge was previously known as the Skylounge – you may know it under that name from a previous visit.  It appears to be run by Aspire / Servisair (they sell access on their website and the wi-fi network is called ‘Servisair’) but does not carry either of those brands.

For some reason, the Upperdeck lounge didn’t really do it for me.  This is purely a personal opinion though – it is big and light and it may well work for you.

The lounge is situated above the main airport restaurant and is a little tricky to find.  Once you make it up there, you are greeted with a bright large space:

If that doesn’t appeal (and the banquette seating doesn’t do it for me) there is more traditional seating on the left:

and

Part of my lack of enthusiasm for the lounge, I think, is that it looks a bit like you are still inside the main terminal.  The British Airways lounge is designed to feel like a private club and does give a sense of being apart from crowds.

This time I was there for breakfast.  It wasn’t hugely exciting.  Apart from a few cereals and pastries, the only other option – and the only hot option I could see – was bacon rolls:

The photo of the reading selection is from 2017 but it is still as messy today!

Here is the bad news.  In 2017, Upperdeck had (note the past tense) a fantastic kids play area:

Now it doesn’t:

A new bar has also been added in part of the space previously occupied by the play area.  There is a very small kids seating area in one corner but it is about 5% as much fun as it used to be.

In terms of access, the Upperdeck lounge is a member of Priority Pass (free with American Express Platinum). 

You can also pay for entry.  You can book for cash via the Lounge Pass website here.

If I was back in Glasgow and flying British Airways, I would choose the BA lounge over Upperdeck.  That is due to the BA lounge being rather impressive rather than any failings here – Upperdeck is perfectly acceptable.  It is only a shame that the only unique selling point – the best kids facilities of any UK airport lounge – has now gone.

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How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (October 2024)

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

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 American Express Platinum review is here.

You can apply here.

If you have a small business, consider American Express Business Platinum instead.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 22nd October 2024, the bonus on American Express Business Platinum is increased to up to 80,000 Membership Rewards points, worth 80,000 Avios. You will receive 8 points per £1 spent for the first three months, on up to £10,000 of spending. Click here to read our full card review. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold 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 review here.

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.

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