As regular visitors will have noticed, this website recently relocated on a temporary basis to Sri Lanka for a wonderful taster trip with Hayes & Jarvis - very wonderful and enjoyable it was too - but there’s always the slightly boring aspect of having to negotiate a large international airport. in our case this often means parking - because, like a lot of people, we don’t live near to the main UK airport hubs.

It is 160 miles to Heathrow from our West Country base, so I booked a slot with Purple Parking, a well known company which part of the Holiday Extras group. There system is cheap and easy to use - so i’d recommend them if you are ever having to park near one of the airports they service.

And by the time you’ve made that long drive on busy British roads, you really want to relax before taking your long haul flight - which is why we contacted Holiday Extras who sorted lounge facilities at Terminal 3 for us. i was talking to their representative this week and agreed to carry a note of the benefits… This is what he replied….

Getting through the airport can come with its stresses, especially when you’re finding snacks, meals and other pre-flight necessities with the family in tow. An airport lounge offers an oasis of calm away from the bustle of departures, with comfortable seating as well as food, drink and WiFi laid on – it helps you unwind and relax before your flight, getting you in the holiday mood before you fly.

• Booking an airport lounge is easy – all you’ll need is a lead passenger name, group size, and flight details (flight number, departure date and time, etc). When you’ve entered those, you can select an entry time and choose from the selection of lounges at the airport you’re travelling from. It’s as simple as that.

• Most airports book slots in 3-hour time slots, so to make the most of the lounge before your flight – Holiday Extras recommends booking in 3 hours before your scheduled departure time. That way you can make the most of your allocated time in the lounge, using the facilities and taking advantage of the benefits they offer before you need to head to your gate to board the flight.

• The easiest way to book a lounge is to download the Holiday Extras app. Once you’ve entered the details there, all the lounges that have availability will be presented – making it easy for you to compare and decide on which one you’d like to use.

• Airport lounges can be as cheap as £26 per person – but it really depends on what kind of space you’re looking for, as different lounges offer different things. 

• For example, Aspire is Europe’s largest brand of airport lounge, and includes everything you could need to have the perfect start to your trip; comfortable seats, food and drink, and a relaxed space. Its lounge at Inverness Airport is available for just under £26 per person, so it’s a great option if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option.  

• If you’re looking for something a bit more luxurious – Clubrooms by No1 Lounges would be worth considering. Its lounge at Gatwick is priced from £42 per person, and for the added cost holidaymakers can make the most of a tranquil setting with plush furniture, a seasonal menu designed exclusively for lounge guests, and first-class service from its staff.

• Holiday Extras offers 116 lounges across airports in 44 countries around the world. This includes all UK airports, popular family friendly locations like France, Italy, Spain and Greece, and even further afield in destinations like Mexico, Malaysia and the Maldives.

• Every year, Holiday Extras researches how much UK holidaymakers spend in departures at the airport whilst they wait for a plane – with its most recent data showing that it’s an average of £23 each. This is higher than the £21 they were spending before the pandemic, with many people simply heading to the shops and spending to pass the time.

• With lounges starting from as little as £26 per person, the research shows that in many cases it’s actually cheaper to book a lounge – and not only do you get most things that holidaymakers buy in departures (food, drink, wifi, magazines, etc) included within the entry price, but a comfortable, quiet and relaxing space away from the bustle of departures.