The Northern Lights Executive Lounge at Aberdeen Airport charges £36 to pre-book and £37 walk-in for an adult, £18 for children aged 4 to 17, and is free for babies under three. It is airside, after security, and you get a three hour stay with hot food, a staff-served bar and full-height windows onto the apron. Here is what is worth knowing before you pay.
2026 prices at a glance
- Adult, pre-book: £36
- Adult, walk-in: £37
- Child, 4 to 17: £18
- Baby, under 3: free
- Premium Afternoon Tea package: £47.50, includes a glass of prosecco and complimentary fast-track security
The £1 walk-up surcharge is small, but pre-booking still matters because it guarantees a seat at peak departure windows, particularly the early-morning offshore charters and the 06:30 to 08:00 mainland flights.
Opening hours
- Monday to Wednesday: 04:00 to 19:00
- Thursday to Friday: 04:00 to 18:30
- Saturday: 04:00 to 17:30
- Sunday: 04:00 to 20:00
That 04:00 open is the standout feature for ABZ specifically. Most regional lounges open at 05:00 or 06:00, which leaves the energy-sector commute flights with no airside seating option. Northern Lights covers the first wave of departures comfortably.
What is included
The food is prepared on-site and rotates through the day. A typical spread includes:
- Hot dishes (one or two mains such as a chilli, a stew or a curry)
- Charcuterie, scones with butter or cream, fresh fruit
- Sandwiches, savoury tarts and tray bakes
- Crisps, biscuits and other snacks
- Unlimited tea, coffee, soft drinks and juices
The bar is staff-served rather than self-pour, which is unusual for a lounge at this price. Standard complimentary drinks include house wines, prosecco, draught lager and a range of branded spirits with mixers. Premium spirits and any cocktails outside the standard list are paid extras. The till is card only, no cash.
The runway view
The lounge sits on the first floor with floor-to-ceiling windows onto the apron, which is the single best reason to use it over staying near the gate. Natural light and a working view of departing aircraft are uncommon in UK regional lounges, and ABZ is one of the better examples.
Access notes
- Location: airside, on the first floor, accessed once you have cleared security. Departing passengers only.
- Maximum stay: 3 hours before scheduled departure.
- Lift status: at the time of writing the lift to the first floor is out of service, so access is by stairs only. If you have mobility needs, contact the airport directly before booking.
- Children: permitted, no minimum age above the under-three free band.
- Dress code: none beyond smart casual; offshore work gear is common at ABZ and is not refused.
Is £36 worth it?
For an early flight, yes. The 04:00 open means you can sit somewhere warm and quiet with hot breakfast options while the rest of the terminal is still empty. For a mid-morning departure where you have less than 90 minutes airside, the per-hour value drops sharply and the airport coffee chains will probably serve you better.
For families, the £18 child rate plus free under-threes makes the maths work more easily than at larger UK airports where children pay close to adult rates. A family of four with two school-age children is £108 for three hours of hot food, drinks and seating.
We do not sell this lounge (yet)
Park4Travels lists airport lounges across our network, but the Northern Lights Executive Lounge is not yet in our marketplace. We will not point you to a third-party reseller for it. When ABZ joins our lounge inventory, this page will become a booking page; until then it is a review only.
Priority Pass and Dragonpass access
The Northern Lights is an independent lounge, not an airline lounge, so it accepts the main lounge-membership programmes alongside paying walk-ins. Priority Pass and Dragonpass members can use their allowance here, subject to the lounge not being at capacity. If you already hold one of those memberships through a premium bank account or credit card, check your allowance before paying the £36 entry separately, members are admitted on the same terms as paying guests but the visit comes out of your membership rather than your wallet.
Capacity is the catch. The lounge is not large, and at the early-morning offshore-charter peak it can fill. A membership gets you in if there is space; a pre-booked paid ticket guarantees the seat. If your flight is at a busy time and you cannot afford to miss the lounge, pre-booking is the safer call even if you hold a pass.
Driving to Aberdeen Airport
An honest note on parking. Park4Travels does not yet list bookable car parking at Aberdeen Airport. We only show parking where we have vetted the operator and can display a live price, and ABZ is not on that list today. We would rather say so plainly than hand you a car park we have not checked.
Two things are still worth knowing if you are driving. First, Aberdeen charges to use the drop-off zone immediately outside the terminal, so if someone is setting you down, build that into the plan or use the airport's free alternative further out. Second, for parking your own car, the airport's own long-stay car park is the most reliable option to book directly with the airport until independent operators we trust come online here.
Where we can help today is everywhere else. We compare live parking prices at airports including Manchester, Birmingham and East Midlands, and our UK airport drop-off charges guide covers exactly what every major airport now charges to set you down at the terminal, Aberdeen included.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Aberdeen Airport Northern Lights Lounge worth £36?
For an early flight with two to three hours airside, yes for most travellers. Hot breakfast, a tended bar with branded spirits, runway views and the 04:00 opening time make it the best-value regional UK lounge we have measured in 2026. For a mid-morning departure with under 90 minutes airside, the per-hour value drops and the airport coffee chains will serve you better.
What is included in the £36 entry fee?
Hot and cold buffet prepared by an in-house chef, unlimited tea and coffee, a staff-served bar with house wines, prosecco, draught lager and branded spirits, complimentary soft drinks, Wi-Fi, newspapers and runway-view seating. Premium spirits and cocktails outside the standard list are paid extras (card only, no cash).
Can children use the Aberdeen Northern Lights Lounge?
Yes. Children aged 4 to 17 are £18 each. Babies under three are free. There is no minimum age above the under-three free band. A family of four with two school-age children is £108 for a three-hour visit.
What time does the Northern Lights Lounge open?
Mondays to Wednesdays 04:00 to 19:00. Thursdays and Fridays 04:00 to 18:30. Saturdays 04:00 to 17:30. Sundays 04:00 to 20:00. The 04:00 open is the standout feature for Aberdeen specifically, most regional UK lounges open at 05:00 or 06:00.
How long can I stay in the Aberdeen Airport lounge?
The maximum stay is three hours before your scheduled departure. If your flight is delayed, staff will typically extend at their discretion but it is not guaranteed.
Is the Northern Lights Lounge accessible by lift?
At the time of writing the lift to the first-floor lounge is out of service, so access is by stairs only. If you have mobility needs, contact the airport directly before booking.
Where is the Northern Lights Lounge at Aberdeen Airport?
Airside, on the first floor, accessed once you have cleared security. Departing passengers only. Full-height windows onto the apron give the best runway view of any UK regional airport lounge.