Trying to get into a UK airport lounge these days feels a bit like trying to score a table at Nando’s on a Saturday night – plenty of hungry travellers, nowhere to sit, and you’re left circling with your plate (or in this case, your boarding pass) hoping someone moves on. Priority Pass holders know this pain all too well – those dreaded “Lounge Full” signs are becoming a regular pre-flight mood killer.
But now, finally, American Express has stopped double-charging Platinum cardholders just for the privilege of locking in a lounge seat. Say hello to free UK lounge pre-booking credits for all Platinum and Business Platinum Cardmembers, live as of 30 July 2025, and running until at least the end of 2027.
In This Post
How Many Free Lounge Pre-Bookings Do You Get?
- 2025: 4 credits per primary cardholder (one credit = one person).
- 2026 & 2027: 8 credits per year (double the fun).
- Credits reset annually. Use them or lose them.
- Supplementary cardholders? Nada. Amex giveth, Amex taketh away.
- Couples need 2 credits for a visit. Families may want to pack a Pret meal deal just in case.
Where You Can Actually Pre-Book
Here’s the current Priority Pass line-up for UK pre-bookings: Your Guide to Amex Platinum Lounge Benefits (UK Cardholders)
- Aberdeen: Northern Lights Lounge
- Belfast City: Aspire Lounge
- Birmingham: Aspire Lounge (North & South), No1 Lounge
- Edinburgh: Aspire Gate 16 Lounge
- Glasgow: Upper Deck
- Humberside, Inverness, Liverpool: Aspire Lounges
- London Gatwick: No1 Lounges, My Lounge (North & South), Club Aspire (South)
- London Heathrow: No1 Lounges (T2 & T3), My Lounge (T3), Club Aspire (T5)
- London Luton: No1 Lounge, My Lounge
- Manchester: Aspire Lounges (T1 & T2)
- Newcastle: Aspire Lounge
- Southampton: Spitfire Lounge
Notably missing: Plaza Premium lounges and Clubrooms. Plaza Premium not being included is a real loss at Heathrow T5, where BA’s non-status crowd already fight for scraps of lounge space.
How to Lock In Your Spot
- Download the Priority Pass app or head to the website.
- Register your Amex Platinum and search your airport.
- If the lounge allows pre-booking, a shiny “Pre-Book” button appears.
- Credits are deducted at booking, not on the day of travel.
- Cancel 48+ hours before to get your credit back. Miss that window or no-show, and the credit vanishes into thin air.
- Book in December for a January trip? That uses your December allowance.
The Reality Check (IT Bugs Edition)
As of 31 July (4pm), many users (yours truly included) can’t actually select credits during checkout. The tech is clearly on holiday.
Workaround:
- Pay the booking fee upfront.
- Go back into “Amend Booking”.
- Go to checkout again. The system shows “£0 due”.
- Refund lands almost immediately.
Not ideal, but it works until Amex and Priority Pass fix their IT gremlins.
Other Wins Worth Knowing About
- London City Airport finally gets a perk: No lounge? No problem. Show your Priority Pass at Juniper & Co restaurant and score £18 credit per person off your bill (£36 for you and a guest).
- You can pre-book lounges up to 3 months in advance.
- Credits are per person, even for free guests – yes, it’s stingy.
Why This Perk Matters
The Amex Platinum is expensive – no way around it. And having to pay extra to guarantee a lounge seat felt like adding insult to injury. With this change, Platinum’s value proposition jumps back where it should be, making early airport arrivals far less stressful – even if you’re ditching BA for EasyJet Plus (review coming soon).
WingTips Verdict
Amex has finally given UK Platinum cardholders what should’ve been included all along: free lounge reservations. The tech might be clunky, guests still cost double credits, and Plaza Premium lounges are MIA – but it’s a big step forward.
For once, you can leave your pre-flight begging skills at home and sip your complimentary G&T without fearing the dreaded “Lounge Full” sign.
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