Review: the Upperdeck lounge at Glasgow Airport, used by Priority Pass
Links on Head for Points may pay us an affiliate commission. A list of partners is here.
This is our review of the Upperdeck lounge at Glasgow International Airport.
This is part of our series of reviews of airport lounges across the UK. You see all of the reviews here.
I first reviewed the Upperdeck lounge in Glasgow just over two years. I didn’t plan to review it again, but there has been a big change – the kids play area, which was the only stand-out thing about the lounge, has gone. I thought it was worth updating my original article. The photos are all new except where noted.
Whilst British Airways has its own lounge in Glasgow (it is very pleasant and I reviewed it here), there is a second lounge in the airport – the Upperdeck lounge. This is your alternative to the BA lounge if you have a Priority Pass or HSBC World Elite credit card LoungeKey card, or your only option if you don’t have access to the BA facility.
You will also be sent to this lounge if you are flying with Delta or Virgin Atlantic. Emirates passengers do not use it – Emirates has its own lounge.
The Upperdeck lounge was previously known as the Skylounge – you may know it under that name from a previous visit. It appears to be run by Aspire / Servisair (they sell access on their website and the wi-fi network is called ‘Servisair’) but does not carry either of those brands.
For some reason, the Upperdeck lounge didn’t really do it for me. This is purely a personal opinion though – it is big and light and it may well work for you.
The lounge is situated above the main airport restaurant and is a little tricky to find. Once you make it up there, you are greeted with a bright large space:
If that doesn’t appeal (and the banquette seating doesn’t do it for me) there is more traditional seating on the left:
and
Part of my lack of enthusiasm for the lounge, I think, is that it looks a bit like you are still inside the main terminal. The British Airways lounge is designed to feel like a private club and does give a sense of being apart from crowds.
This time I was there for breakfast. It wasn’t hugely exciting. Apart from a few cereals and pastries, the only other option – and the only hot option I could see – was bacon rolls:
The photo of the reading selection is from 2017 but it is still as messy today!
Here is the bad news. In 2017, Upperdeck had (note the past tense) a fantastic kids play area:
Now it doesn’t:
A new bar has also been added in part of the space previously occupied by the play area. There is a very small kids seating area in one corner but it is about 5% as much fun as it used to be.
In terms of access, the Upperdeck lounge is a member of Priority Pass (free with American Express Platinum). It is not, however, part of Lounge Club (two free passes with the free American Express Gold). It is part of HSBC’s LoungeKey.
You can also pay for entry. You can pre-book spaces on the Aspire / Servisair website here at £23 for adults and £17 for children aged 2 or above.
If I was back in Glasgow and flying British Airways, I would choose the BA lounge over Upperdeck. That is due to the BA lounge being rather impressive rather than any failings here – Upperdeck is perfectly acceptable. It is only a shame that the only unique selling point – the best kids facilities of any UK airport lounge – has now gone.
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:
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.
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.
Lady London 
Shoestring 
Andrew 
Jamesay 
Peter 
Rob 
Alan 
LB 
Scott 
Hingeless 
Glasgow user 
Andrew MCINTOSH 
SamG
Nick
Geoff 1977
blenz101
Comments (34)