Edinburgh has two airport lounges and they sit almost next to each other, both on the second floor by Gate 16. They cost within a couple of pounds of each other, so the choice comes down to what time you fly and how long you need to sit down.
This page is written from the live booking data we sell on, so the prices and opening hours are the real ones rather than whatever was true when a page was first published.
How much is the Edinburgh Airport lounge?
Around £47 to £49 per person. The Aspire Lounge is £46.99 and the Turkish Airlines Lounge by Plaza Premium is £49, so there is less than £3 between them for a standard visit. For two adults that is roughly £94 at Aspire and £98 at Turkish.
There is also a longer option: Turkish Airlines sells a 3 to 6 hour stay for £80 per person. That only makes sense if you genuinely have a long wait, because two standard entries cost less than one extended one.
Prices move with the date and the lounges cap numbers per slot, so check your own date rather than budgeting on these figures alone.
Which lounges are there at Edinburgh Airport?
Two, and both are airside near Gate 16.
- Aspire Lounge (Gate 16), operated by Swissport. Open 04:00 to 19:00. Complimentary drinks excluding champagne, continental breakfast, snacks, wifi, newspapers and magazines. Workstations available.
- Turkish Airlines Lounge by Plaza Premium (Gate 16). Open 04:00 to 22:00. Soft and alcoholic drinks included, although premium spirits are charged separately.
You do not need to be flying with Turkish Airlines to use the Turkish Airlines lounge. It is operated by Plaza Premium and sold to any ticketed passenger.
What time do the Edinburgh lounges open and close?
Both open at 04:00, which covers the early Edinburgh departures properly.
They differ at the other end, and this is the thing most likely to catch you out. Aspire closes at 19:00. Turkish closes at 22:00. If you are on an evening flight, Aspire may well be shut by the time you clear security, and Turkish is the only one still open.
Where are the lounges at Edinburgh Airport?
Both are airside on the second floor near Gate 16, so you clear security first.
For Aspire: after security and the duty free shop, turn right, follow the signs to Gate 16, and the lounge is on the second floor.
For Turkish Airlines by Plaza Premium: take the lift or the staircase on the first floor near Gate 16 up to the second floor.
How long can you stay in the Edinburgh lounge?
Aspire caps entry at three hours. That is the standard visit and it is enforced, so it is not the one to pick if your flight is delayed by several hours or you have arrived very early.
Turkish Airlines sells a standard entry and a separate 3 to 6 hour ticket at £80 per person. If you know you have a long wait, that is the honest option rather than hoping nobody notices you overstaying elsewhere.
Is there a dress code at the Edinburgh Airport lounge?
At Aspire, yes, and it is worth knowing before you turn up. The lounge asks for smart casual at all times and does not allow sportswear. Being turned away in a tracksuit after you have already paid is a miserable way to start a holiday, and almost nobody mentions this.
Aspire also refuses entry to single sex groups such as stag and hen parties, and to unofficial groups generally. If that is your booking, it is not the lounge for you.
Can children use the Edinburgh Airport lounges?
Yes. Both lounges admit children, and both charge from age 2. Under twos generally go in free but are still counted, so add them to your booking rather than turning up with an extra person.
Aspire explicitly states that children are allowed, which is not true of every lounge in the UK, so it is a reasonable pick for a family flight.
What is included in the Edinburgh Airport lounge?
At Aspire: complimentary drinks excluding champagne, a continental breakfast, snacks, wifi, newspapers and magazines, television, flight information screens, air conditioning and workstations. Step free access is available.
At Turkish Airlines by Plaza Premium: soft drinks and alcoholic drinks, wifi, television, flight information screens and air conditioning. Premium alcoholic drinks are charged separately, so the bar is not entirely free.
Is the Edinburgh Airport lounge worth it?
Do the sum against what you would spend anyway. Two coffees and two breakfasts airside at Edinburgh will not leave much change from £40, and that is before a drink. At £47 a head the lounge is a small premium over that, and you get a seat, a table and quiet.
It is worth less if you are flying at 19:00 or later, because Aspire is closed and you are down to one option. It is worth more on an early departure, when you are at the airport at five in the morning and the terminal seating is full.
Do you need to book the Edinburgh lounge in advance?
Yes, in practice. Both lounges cap the number of people admitted per time slot, so walk up entry depends entirely on how busy that slot already is. Booking ahead is the difference between a guaranteed seat and standing at the desk being told to come back later.
Can you use Priority Pass at Edinburgh Airport?
Priority Pass access varies by lounge and by time of day, and lounges regularly suspend card access when they are busy, which is exactly when you want it. If you hold a card it is worth checking on the day, but do not rely on it for a flight you cannot afford to start badly. A booked entry is a booked entry.
Edinburgh lounges at a glance
| Lounge | From (per person) | Open | Max stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aspire Lounge (Gate 16) | £46.99 | 04:00 to 19:00 | 3 hours |
| Turkish Airlines by Plaza Premium (Gate 16) | £49.00 | 04:00 to 22:00 | Standard entry |
| Turkish Airlines by Plaza Premium, longer stay | £80.00 | 04:00 to 22:00 | 3 to 6 hours |
Prices shown are for one adult and move with the date. Check your own dates for what is actually bookable.