Best UK bank accounts with airport lounge access

If you’re someone who frequently uses airport lounges, you know that those expenses can accumulate quickly. Luckily, there are some bank accounts that include free or discounted airport lounge access as one of their benefits.

In this guide, we’ll help you find your ideal UK bank account with airport lounge access. You’ll be able to compare their features, account costs and requirements.

Also, if you’re looking to save money while travelling the globe, check out the Wise account from the money services provider Wise. It’s not a bank account but offers many similar features. It lets you send, spend and convert money in 40+ currencies for low fees* and the mid-market exchange rate.

Learn more about the Wise account ✈️

Best UK bank accounts with airport lounge access

Here are some UK bank accounts that provide airport lounge access for their users:

Royal Bank of Scotland - Premier Reward Black Account¹

RBS’s Premier Reward Black Account offers access to over 1,100 lounges across the world in partnership with DragonPass Premier+. This account has a £31 monthly fee, which will increase to £36 on the 28th of June 2024.

You’re probably wondering - what do you get in an airport lounge? Unfortunately, that doesn’t depend on RBS or DragonPass. Also, nobody can guarantee that there will be room in the lounge, but some allow pre-booking for a £5 fee. This account gets you access to multiple UK airport lounges, such as those at Heathrow, Manchester or Edinburgh Airport.²

In order to upgrade to this account, you need to be an existing RBS current account customer. There are some other conditions as well, such as £100,000 in savings, £100,000 of sole income or £120,000 of joint income paid into your account.

Other account benefits include 24/7 concierge service, cashback rewards when you spend with RBS partners and possibility of £500 interest-free arranged overdraft.

NatWest - Premier Reward Black account³

Like the Royal Bank of Scotland, NatWest is also a member of the NatWest Group. Because of this, they offer the same Premier Reward Black Account along with its travel benefits. You also need to be an existing current account customer in order to upgrade to this account.

The same account features and conditions apply both with NatWest and RBS. Some additional perks that we haven’t mentioned previously are discounts at over 1,000 airport cafés and restaurants. This way, even if you can’t find a lounge at an airport or if it happens to be full, you can still relax while waiting for your flight.

What you’ll get in a lounge depends entirely on the specific lounge you’re visiting. Some are more exclusive, while others offer more basic services.

HSBC - Premier Bank Account⁴

If you start using HSBC’s Premier Bank Account or, more precisely, the credit cards that come with it, you can get airport lounge access. With the Premier Credit Card or the Premier World Elite Mastercard, you can unwind in more than 1,300 lounges across the globe.

HSBC partnered up with Priority Pass to give frequent flyers either discounted or free lounge access. With the Premier Credit Card, you’ll pay £24 per visit, while Premier World Elite Mastercard users can access the lounges for free.

The Premier Bank Account doesn’t have any monthly fees, but you must meet certain eligibility criteria. You need to have a yearly income of £75,000 along with a mortgage, investment, life insurance or protection product with HSBC. Alternatively, the other condition is holding at least £50,000 in savings or investments with HSBC.

Other account benefits include access to their Global Money Account, travel insurance and preferential rates.⁵

Revolut - Premium, Metal and Ultra plans

Revolut offers free airport lounge access with their Ultra plan, while you can get a discount if you’re a user of their Metal or Premium plan. The Premium, Metal and Ultra plans have a monthly cost of £7.99, £14.99 and £45 respectively.⁶

You can buy their Lounge Pass directly through the Revolut app, for yourself or any guests that will be travelling with you. It’s valid for one visit and you can get up to 10 at a time.⁷ The discounted pass price is £22.⁸

We suggest contacting Revolut for the list of lounges, since they aren’t listed on their website.

When it comes to other account perks, they mostly vary by plan, but some apply to all of them. For instance, all Premium, Metal and Ultra plan users get unlimited fee-free currency exchange from Monday to Friday and global medical insurance with coverage up to 10 million pounds.⁶

Ulster Bank - ufirst Private current account⁹

Ulster Bank also has a bank account with airport lounge access in partnership with DragonPass Premier+. Their ufirst Private current account costs £26 a month and it gives you unlimited access to over 1,100 lounges.

You need to be an existing Ulster Bank current account customer in order to open this account. You also need £75,000 in income per year or £100,000 in savings or investments held with Ulster Bank or another financial institution.

With the ufirst account, you’ll also get your own Premier Banking Manager, travel and mobile phone insurance and 15% cashback on concerts, shows and sporting events.

Barclays - Wealth current account or Premier Banking¹⁰

If you open a Barclays Wealth current account or if you become their Premier Banking customer, you can be a candidate for discounted airport lounge access. After becoming one of these customers, you can apply for the Barclays Avios Plus credit card which they offer in partnership with British Airways and unlock these benefits.

Avios Plus card users can access over 1,000 lounges for £18.50 per lounge pass. You can also earn British Airways cabin upgrade vouchers and exchange your Avios points for various rewards. The list of airport lounges includes 30 airports across the UK.¹¹

In order to become a Barclays Premier Banking client, you need to have £75,000 in yearly income or have £100,000 in savings with them. Customers have access to exclusive debit cards, mortgages and loans. When it comes to their Wealth accounts, it’s best to contact Barclays directly for more details.¹²

Barclays - Travel Plus Pack

The final option is not an account, but instead a set of services offered by Barclays called Travel Plus Pack. You can add it to your Barclays current account for £22.50 a month and enjoy six free lounge visits.

With the Travel Plus Pack, you get access to over 1,000 airport lounges. You can also swap one of your free lounge visits for a £15 meal voucher at over 50 airport restaurants.

Other benefits include 24/7 concierge service, travel insurance for you and your family and breakdown cover in the UK and Europe.

How to access the airport lounges with your bank?

You usually get a special membership card as soon as you open a bank account that offers lounge access.

For example, Ulster Bank will send you your physical membership card when you open their ufirst Private account. You can also access it through an app, which can come in handy for pre-booking and checking lounge opening times.⁹

Do you need to book the airport lounge in advance?

You don’t have to and it’s also not always possible. However, when it is, it’s recommended to pre-book because of their limited capacity.

There’s usually a small fee for pre-booking. If you don’t know how to book an airport lounge, you’ll likely be able to find an explanation in your lounge pass provider’s app or on their website.

How many people can access the lounge on your account?

This depends on the account. You can usually get passes for guests that are travelling with you, but sometimes they have to pay a higher price.

And that’s it - our guide on finding a UK bank account with airport lounge access, including fees and requirements.

This should be the info you need to compare accounts and choose the right one for you.

Also, remember to check out the Wise account when you’re going travelling. You can also get a Wise card for a one-time fee of £7. This clever debit card automatically converts your pounds to local currency at the mid-market exchange rate, only adding a tiny, transparent conversion fee - or it’s free if you already have the currency in your Wise account.

Sign up with Wise today 💰

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 10-June-2024