The Bottom Line Airport Lounges: For the Many or the Few?
Jan 22, 2026
Mignon Buckingham, CEO of Airport Dimensions, Claude Roussel, VP of Delta Sky Clubs, and Nicky Kelvin, Senior Director at The Points Guy, discuss the booming demand for airport lounges post-COVID. They explore the evolution of lounges from elite spaces to shared-use models and the challenges of maintaining exclusivity while growing customer bases. Key insights include the importance of lounge design, the impact of travel trends, and future innovations like spas and gyms, as well as strategies for managing overcrowding and enhancing customer experience.
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Lounges Moved From Elite To Mass Market
- Airport lounges have shifted from elite, invite-only spaces to mass-market shared-use products.
- Operators now balance scale with perceived exclusivity to meet rising traveller expectations.
From Crew Perks To Points Expert
- Nicky Kelvin described learning travel perks from his sister who was British Airways cabin crew.
- He used that early access and later points strategies to keep flying in comfort on a budget.
Airports Choose And Lease Lounge Space
- Airports allocate space and invite operators to bid, making airports effective landlords in lounge decisions.
- Operators design concepts around travel profiles and then bid to secure the space and revenue model.