The reason why most frequent flyers clamor for access to airport lounges is they are places where you can relax occupying comfortable seats and be cut off from the din and bustle of everything happening at the airport. This apart, you can also have office facilities and help yourself to a range of complimentary refreshments. Airport lounges are peaceful sanctuaries where you will find everything you need be it for business or for pleasure. Cheap business class tickets are something everyone would like to enjoy.

In the highly competitive civil aviation sector, any airline company which aims to stay and survive and increase its market share, must come up with innovative ideas that keeps customers interested in their services. One such constructive and rewarding idea is the frequent flyer program, which has enjoyed huge success in the domestic, as well as international sector.

If you are a frequent flyer, then there are quite a few ways you can try to gain access to the airport lounge before or after your flight. If you hold a flight ticket in the upper-class cabins, you will invariably be allowed at least one-time access to the airport lounge.

Frequent flyers are generally graded into three categories bottom tier, middle tier and top tier. As a bottom tier frequent flier, you will be eligible for complimentary lounge passes. Once you move up to mid-tier or top-tier frequent flyer status, you will be granted full access to airport lounges. At some airports you will have an option of alliance lounges to visit and you may select the one in your alliance that provides maximum facilities.

It is a fact that some airlines will expect you to become a member of their airline club to enjoy access to the airport lounge. The membership entails payment of an annual subscription fees and the amount may vary from one airline to another. While the airline club membership may be stiff, you can avail the Priority Pass that is an alternate way to get regular lounge access. Priority Pass has a contract agreement with over 600 lounges worldwide in 100 countries covering 300 cities.

Priority Pass is arguably the worlds largest independent airport access program, and you can enjoy VIP treatment no matter where you travel and whichever airline and class you fly. Most lounges will provide business facilities including phone, fax, email and internet services, and some may even have conference rooms.

As a Priority Pass holder, you are assured of free access to airport lounges regardless of the class of travel or airline that you flying. Priority Pass is available with three levels of membership with differing rates to suit all types of travelers. These are Standard Membership, Standard plus Membership and Prestige Membership.

Assuming you are not interested in paying annual membership fees and you are not regularly flying first class, then you may choose paying for a one-off visit to a lounge. You can book online single lounge visits at the airport of your choice. For instance, American Airlines' Admirals Club offer one-day passes for a fixed payment. You can sometimes find one-time lounge visit passes for sale on eBay but you must check the precise terms and conditions before availing the pass.

While speaking about the many benefits that the airport lounges provide, you must remember that at times, some airport lounges can get very congested negating all advantages. In such cases, finding a quiet seat in the airport terminal will be a more prudent choice.