Note: The Aspire Lounge Membership is still not available for purchase, as of 29 March 2024. Aspire advises that the membership is still off sale. We will update this guide if these memberships become available again.

Aspire Airport Lounges are the largest independent airport lounge operator in the United Kingdom. They also have lounges in Australia, Europe, Canada, Kenya, Johannesburg and the United States.

So it goes without saying that an operator of this size has developed their own annual membership program.

This guide answers some of the most popular questions about the program, including which lounges are participating, and how much membership will cost per year.

How much does a membership cost?

The most important question up front! You can purchase an annual membership for £259.99, which equates to around:

• €305

• US$330

• CAD$445

Occasionally Aspire do have sales. For example, right now you can get 13 months for the price of 12 months.

How often can I get access to the lounge?

An annual membership with Aspire comes with unlimited usage throughout the year, with no restrictions.

Can I reserve my place at the lounge?

Yes! In fact, Aspire encourage their members to prebook by contacting their customer services team via phone or email. Relevant contact details will be provided when your membership card is delivered.

If you can, try and pre-book at least a week in advance to flight date. While you can still get access as a walk-up guest, this will become space available on the day of travel.

Can I bring a guest into the lounge with me?

An annual membership allows you to bring in an additional guest at no cost. There is no limit as to the number of times you can bring a guest in for free. This is consistent with some other lounge access programs, including Priority Pass where you have received your membership through an American Express Platinum card.

Do I still have to pay for specialty drinks?

All Aspire lounges offer complementary alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, with no limit on how much is consumed, i.e. there is no 'first drink only free' policy. However even with a paid membership, you will still need to pay for specialty drinks, which includes cocktails, Champagne and Prosecco.

What if my flight is delayed?

Guaranteed delay cover comes as standard with any lounge access purchased directly from Aspire. The same benefit is offered with the Aspire Lounge Membership. This means if your flight is delayed, you can stay in the lounge until your flight is ready to board. Why stress about the delay when you can kick back, relax, and enjoy some more food or wine.

Which lounges are currently participating?

Aspire Airport Lounge Membership cards allow entry into any participating Aspire Lounge. Currently, this includes their lounges at the following locations:

• Birmingham

• Bristol

• Cork

• Edinburgh (New)

• Humberside

• Inverness

• Liverpool John Lennon

• London Gatwick (North & South Terminals)

• London Heathrow (T3)

• London Luton, Manchester (T1 & T2)

• Newcastle

• George Best Belfast City

• Calgary International

• Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau

• Copenhagen

• Helsinki Vaanta

• Amsterdam Schiphol (26 & 41).

Note that Aspire Plus Lounges are not accessible with a standard membership.

Other key things to know about an annual membership

We encourage you to read the full terms and conditions before signing up, but here are some key things to know:

• Your membership starts on the day you join, and is valid for a full 12 months

• The membership card is sent to you via mail (free postage). If you’re joining from overseas, this might mean some wait before you get your card.

• The card is non-transferrable and can only be used by the person named on the card. No sharing with your family and friends!

Steps for purchasing a membership

1. Visit the Aspire Annual Membership webpage.

2. Click ‘Buy Now’"

3. Select postage region, complete your membership details, and then click ‘Add Membership’.

4. You will be prompted to either login, or create a new user account. Once you’ve done this, you’ll arrive at the final screen where you can check and confirm your details. If all correct, click ‘Pay’.

5. Complete your card payment details (Visa, Mastercard and American Express are all accepted), and click ‘Pay’ again.

Summing up

The Aspire Airport Lounge Membership program is worth knowing about if you travel frequently via airports that have a participating lounge, and you don’t otherwise already have access through another membership program like Priority Pass or DragonPass thanks to your credit card.

If you travel irregularly, it makes sense to give membership programs a miss altogether and look to other avenues for access, including purchasing single use day passes with LoungePair.