When you travel, sometimes the only option is an early morning flight. Once you do the math on when you'll need to wake up to arrive at the airport on time, it may seem like a waste to pay for a night at a hotel. And if there's an airport lounge you can visit, that could be a good alternative. Lots of airport lounges have quiet areas specifically for travelers who want to take a nap.
You save money this way, especially if one of your credit cards gets you free airport lounge access. Since you're already at the airport, you also don't need to worry about transportation or getting an early start to beat traffic. But before you decide you're spending the night in an airport lounge, there are some things you should know first.
Hours and rules vary from lounge to lounge
If an airport lounge is open 24 hours per day and lets you stay as long as you want, then you can most likely sleep there with no issue. However, many airport lounges aren't designed for overnight stays. Once you have a lounge in mind, make sure to check the following:
- Hours of operation: Many lounges close at night. If so, you won't be able to sleep there.
- Access restrictions: Some lounges only let you in a certain number of hours before your flight. For example, a common lounge restriction is that travelers can only enter within three hours of their flight's departure.
- Time limits: Some lounges limit how long you can stay there. Staff may not be too strict about this, especially at night when they're not busy, but you never know.
It's also important to check the rules for the airport itself. Some don't allow you to go through security until two to five hours before your flight. Most airport lounges are past security, so if you're at an airport that makes you wait to go to the boarding area, you won't be able to get to the lounges.
How to look up info on airport lounges before your flight
If you have a membership to an airport lounge program, you can check your lounge options at each airport on its website. For example, if you have a United Club membership, you can view locations on the United website. If you have a Priority Pass membership, which is what's offered by many credit cards with airport lounge access, you can go to the Priority Pass website.
On the lounge program's website, search for your departure airport. This will show you any lounges you can access at that airport through your lounge membership. You'll also be able to check the hours, location, and amenities at the lounge.
You may also be able to access an airline's lounges if you're flying in first class or business class. And some airports have pay-per-use lounges available, which you can find through services like LoungeBuddy.
When you want to stay in an airport lounge overnight, look for one that's:
- Open 24 hours a day (or during the hours you'll be at the airport).
- Doesn't limit access based on your departure time.
- Doesn't limit how long you can stay.
What to do if there's no airport lounge available
Because so many lounges close at night, it's possible you won't find one to sleep in before your flight. In that case, you have two options.
The easiest and most comfortable way to go is to find accommodations near the airport. You could rent a hotel or vacation rental for the night. Some places also have small sleep capsule accommodations designed for travelers who just want a place to rest before a flight.
The alternative is to sleep at the airport, assuming it's open overnight. I've done this before and it can certainly make your trip feel like more of an adventure, but it's usually not that comfortable. The exception is if the area has sleeping areas available or businesses with sleep pods. Make sure to do your homework on the airport before you try this. SleepinginAirports is a good resource with traveler reports for airports around the world.
You may luck out and find a 24-hour lounge where you can catch some shuteye before an early morning flight. Don't count on it, though. There are lots of airport lounges where you can take a power nap, but lounges that allow overnight stays are harder to find.
