Review: the new Aspire (Priority Pass) lounge at Amsterdam Schiphol

This is our pre-opening review of the new Aspire lounge at Amsterdam Schiphol airport, in the non-Schengen area.

The big news today was the opening party for the new oneworld airport lounge at Amsterdam Schiphol.

The oneworld space is managed by Aspire, and takes up part of the space of the old Aspire lounge, as well as the space that the British Airways lounge used to occupy.

Whilst all the PR buzz has been about the oneworld lounge, the Aspire lounge has also been totally refurbished. We were the first media outlet to be given a tour.

The Aspire lounge opens to the public tomorrow morning (Thursday). It will accept Priority Pass. As it is in the non-Schengen part of the airport, it is ideal for British Airways customers. (There is another Aspire Lounge, designated Lounge 26, in the Schengen part of the terminal.)

Follows the signs for 41 and you’ll get to it. It is on the mezzanine level.

The lounge has a capacity of 178 people, compared to 118 people for the oneworld lounge. It is 625 square meters.

This is not a full review because the lounge was not operational when I went in. I don’t know what food or drink will be available.

Compared to the oneworld lounge next door, it is a larger, darker and more formal space. This might suit you if you are looking for somewhere to work, as the oneworld lounge – apart from the alcoves with desks – is more of a casual space.

Inside the Aspire Amsterdam Lounge

Here is the main space, which will be familiar to you if you were in this lounge before it closed:

If you turn immediately around from where I took the picture above, you have this table and serving area:

If you follow the windows above, there is this quiet nook:

You will see a glass wall at the back of the room in the ‘full room’ image above. This blocks off a space called the ‘Wintergarden’:

…. which will be used exclusively by Singapore Airlines. I don’t know if the public can use it outside of the hours when Singapore Airlines is flying.

If you want somewhere semi-private to work, there are chairs and desks lined up against one wall:

The ones in the oneworld lounge look more attractive, but both will give you a bit of privacy.

In a separate area to the right is this long white communal table, a wine station and two Heineken beer taps for self pour:

Couples may appreciate these bar stool seats along another wall:

There is also something called the Botanical Room – it’s not clear if this has a specific purpose:

I can’t tell you anything about the food or drink because nothing was out except for ambient snacks. We will need to do a proper visit before we know what you actually get.

Conclusion

The new Aspire lounge looks like a promising space and everything is brand new. The old lounge was fully ripped out – this is not a ‘refresh’ in the British Airways refurbishment sense.

If you are in Amsterdam in the coming weeks and have a Priority Pass or DragonPass, or are happy to pay to enter, I think it will be a pleasant spot.

The key question is how busy both lounges will be. The Aspire has shrunk a little, I think, but the oneworld lounge is an attractive space – with a cocktail bar – which will attract those who qualify to use it.

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

Here are the five 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.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. 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.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

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.

Got a small business?

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

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:

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