Review of the Aspire Lounge at Bristol Airport

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This is our review of the Aspire Executive Lounge at Bristol Airport.

Reader Wendy kindly sent us a review of the Aspire Executive Lounge at Bristol Airport. We have previously covered the other lounge at Bristol, Aspire Plus, in this review.

You can find all of our other UK airport lounge reviews here. We’re making good progress now!

Over to Wendy:

“The Aspire Lounge at Bristol Airport is located on the upper level past security and through the duty free shop. (Below is an official photo from the Executive Lounges website). The AspirePlus lounge is nearby – this ‘premium’ lounge requires you to a pay a £10 cash supplement if you want to get access via Priority Pass or Lounge Club.

Aspire Bristol official photo

Whilst I have never been in AspirePlus, I was perfectly happy in the main Aspire lounge and didn’t see any need to pay the additional £10. The Aspire lounge was quiet with plenty of free seats even though the airport itself was very busy.

Aspire Lounge Bristol Airport review

There was a glass front with view into the main airport area which, to be honest, wasn’t very exciting.

Aspire Lounge Bristol Airport review

Food and drink

There was a range of wines (two reds and two whites) and spirits (the usual mainstream brands) as well as beers. Alcholic drinks must be ordered from the bar …..

Aspire Lounge Bristol Airport review

…. or you can help yourself at the self-service area where you can get tea/coffee and soft drinks.

Aspire Lounge Bristol Airport review

As my flight was in the afternoon the menu consisted of a cream tea, hot pasta dish, ham, cheese, olives, snacks and fresh rolls. It was a great selection of food in my opinion. The lounge also has more substantial food available to order for an extra charge.

Aspire Lounge Bristol Airport review

The Aspire Lounge has free wifi and a Quiet Zone if you need to catch up on work. Overall I found it a very decent lounge and a great alternative to busy main terminal.”

Thanks Wendy. You can access the Aspire Lounge at Bristol Airport via Priority Pass (buy one, or get one free with Amex Platinum), Lounge Club (free with Amex Gold) or you can book access for cash in advance via the Aspire website here.

Getting airport lounge access for free from a credit card

How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (December 2021)

As a reminder, here are the three options to get FREE airport lounge access via a credit or charge card:

American Express Platinum card Amex

The Platinum Card from American Express

30,000 points and an unbeatable set of travel benefits – for a fee Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with two free Priority Pass cards, one for you and one for a supplementary cardholder. Each card admits two so a family of four gets in free. You get access to all 1,300 lounges in the Priority Pass network – search it here.

You also get access to Plaza Premium, Delta and Eurostar lounges. Our American Express Platinum review is here. You can apply here.

Nectar American Express

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & two airport lounge passes Read our full review

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for the first year. It comes with a Priority Pass card loaded with two free visits to any Priority Pass lounge – see the list here.

Additional lounge visits are charged at £20. You get two more free visits for every year you keep the card.

There is no annual fee for Amex Gold in Year 1 and you get a 20,000 points sign-up bonus. Full details are in our American Express Preferred Rewards Gold review here.

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard

A huge bonus, but only available to HSBC Premier clients Read our full review

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard gets you get a free LoungeKey card, allowing you access to the LoungeKey network. Guests are charged at £20 although it may be cheaper to pay £60 for a supplementary credit card for your partner.

The card has a fee of £195 and there are strict financial requirements to become a HSBC Premier customer. Full details are in my HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard review.

PS. You can find all of HfP’s UK airport lounge reviews – and we’ve been to most of them – indexed here.

Category

Airport Lounge Reviews (UK)

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

Simon says:

20 May20 May 12:10

I think I preferred the lounge when all the drinks were self serve. They do turn priority pass and dragon pass customers away sometimes when they are busy.

Bristol opened a new dedicated fast track lane this week, before you beat the queue to get to the bag scanners but then joined everyone else much your bag through, the new lane is much quicker.
Simon says:

20 May20 May 16:06

I wouldn’t really say the Aspire is opposite the Aspire Plus. It’s probably 50 metres away, if not a little more, and on the same side of the terminal. Opposite would imply it’s against the airside wall but both lounges are against the same wall overlooking the check in area. There’s a bar, a Soho Coffee and a set of toilets in between them.

You can also get access to the Plus lounge if you’re flying KLM business class. We originally headed to the normal Aspire lounge but we’re directed to the Plus lounge by the reception a few weeks ago.

As for the normal Aspire lounge, one issue is that the toilet provisions are wholly inadequate. I’ve been in there a few times when there’s been a reasonable queue to use the facilities. Other than that, it’s fine and they have bacon sandwiches in the mornings – always a winner.

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.