East Midlands Airport has one lounge, the Escape Lounge, airside and opposite Gate 17. It’s open to any passenger, whatever your airline or ticket. Pre-booked entry starts from £33.99 per person, and walking in on the day costs from £49. Infants up to 35 months get in free, and you can enter up to three hours before your flight.
This guide explains what the lounge offers, when it’s open and how to get in, including with Priority Pass and other memberships. It also helps you decide whether it’s worth paying for, which depends a lot on what time your flight leaves.
East Midlands Airport lounge at a glance
| What you need to know | Details |
|---|---|
| Lounge | Escape Lounge (the airport’s only lounge) |
| Location | Airside, after the shops, opposite Gate 17 |
| Pre-book price | From £33.99 per person |
| Walk-up price | From £49 per person, subject to space |
| Infants | Free for children aged 0 to 35 months |
| Earliest entry | Three hours before your scheduled departure |
| Opening hours | From around 3.30am; closing time varies by day and season |
| Memberships accepted | Priority Pass, DragonPass, LoungeKey, Lounge Club, Diners Club, Lounge Me, TAV Passport, Dreamfolks |
Escape Lounges changes its prices and opening hours regularly. Check the times for your date before you book.
Does East Midlands Airport have more than one lounge?
No. EMA has a single lounge, run by Escape Lounges. Unlike larger airports, there’s no airline lounge to choose between, and no separate premium option.
The lounge was recently refurbished and extended as part of the airport’s investment programme. Because it’s the only lounge in the terminal, it can fill up during busy holiday periods.
How much does the East Midlands Airport lounge cost?
Pre-booking vs walking in
Pre-booked entry starts at £33.99 per person, while walk-up entry starts at £49. That’s a difference of around £15 per adult, so for a family of four the saving can pay for part of the trip.
Pre-booking also guarantees you a space. Walk-up entry depends on availability, and at peak times the lounge may already be full.
Why prices vary between websites
You’ll see a range of starting prices for the EMA lounge online, from the low-to-mid £30s to nearer £40. Prices change with the date, the time of day and how busy the lounge is. Reseller sites don’t always show the same rate as Escape Lounges. Compare the price for your actual date and time before you book.
Children and infants
Children aged 0 to 35 months enter free. Older children need their own booking, so include them when you pay. Check the child price for your date, because the lounge treats teenagers differently from younger children.
When is the lounge open?
The Escape Lounge usually opens at around 3.30am, well before the first wave of morning departures. Closing times are less predictable. Escape Lounges publishes different hours for different days of the week, and they change between seasons. On many days, the lounge closes in the late afternoon or early evening.
That matters more at EMA than at most airports. If your flight leaves in the evening, the lounge may already be closed by the time you clear security. Check the opening times for your exact date before you pay for anything.
You can enter up to three hours before your scheduled departure. Arriving much earlier than that won’t get you in any sooner.
Can you use Priority Pass at East Midlands Airport?
Yes. The Escape Lounge accepts Priority Pass and several other memberships:
- Priority Pass
- DragonPass
- LoungeKey
- Lounge Club
- Diners Club
- Lounge Me
- TAV Passport
- Dreamfolks
Priority Pass and DragonPass holders can pre-book through their own booking portals to guarantee a space. Other memberships are usually accepted on a walk-up basis, which means you may be turned away if the lounge is full.
Some premium credit cards and bank accounts include lounge access through these schemes. Our guide to airport lounge access without business class explains how to find out whether you already have it.
What do you get inside?
The Escape Lounge offers complimentary food and drink served throughout the day, comfortable seating and Wi-Fi. It’s quieter than the main departure lounge and has more space to spread out.
For business travellers, it’s the nearest thing to a workspace in the terminal. It’s somewhere to take a call or finish a presentation before boarding. For families, it offers a calmer place to wait than a busy gate area during school holidays.
Is the East Midlands Airport lounge worth it?
It depends on your flight time, how long you’ll spend airside and who you’re travelling with.
When it’s usually worth it
- Early-morning flights. Many EMA holiday flights leave early in the morning. The lounge opens at around 3.30am, so you can get breakfast and a seat away from the crowds.
- Longer waits. If you’ll be airside for two hours or more, you’ll spend a fair amount on food and drink anyway.
- Families with infants. Children under three go free, so the lounge costs less for young families than it first appears.
- Work before a flight. A quieter room with Wi-Fi is easier than working at a crowded gate.
- You already have a membership. If your card includes Priority Pass or LoungeKey, the only cost is your time. Pre-book where you can.
When it probably isn’t
- Evening flights. The lounge may be closed, or it may close shortly after you arrive.
- Short waits. If you’re only airside for 45 minutes before boarding, you won’t get full value.
- Walk-up on a busy day. You’ll pay more, and you still may not get in.
A simple test: compare the lounge price with what you’d spend on breakfast or a meal and a drink in the terminal. If the difference is small and you’ll use it for at least an hour and a half, it usually pays off.
How to make the most of your lounge visit
Plan your arrival around the three-hour entry window. Check-in, bag drop and security all need to happen first, so allow enough time for them. Our guide to how early to arrive at East Midlands Airport covers realistic timings, including Fast Track security.
A few more tips help:
- Book the lounge as soon as your flight time is confirmed, especially for school holidays.
- Check the opening hours for your date, not the general hours.
- Keep an eye on the departure boards, as the lounge sits opposite Gate 17 and some gates are a longer walk.
- Save your booking confirmation on your phone for entry.
For a full picture of the terminal, including food, shops, family areas and accessibility, see our East Midlands Airport guide.
Getting to East Midlands Airport
A pre-booked transfer makes the lounge easier to plan around, because you know when you’ll arrive. National Executive Transfers offers an East Midlands Airport chauffeur service from across the Midlands, at a fixed price agreed in advance. Pickups include Nottingham, Derby and Leicester.
On the way home, flight monitoring and meet-and-greet mean your chauffeur is waiting in arrivals, even if your flight lands early or late. Families travelling with luggage can book the Mercedes-Benz V-Class, which seats up to seven passengers.
Comparing other airport lounges
If you’re deciding between airports, our comparison of Birmingham and East Midlands airports covers routes, facilities and travel times. We also have a full Birmingham Airport lounges guide, which covers several lounge options at BHX.
Book your East Midlands Airport transfer
National Executive Transfers provides fixed-price chauffeur transfers to and from East Midlands Airport in Mercedes-Benz E-Class, S-Class and V-Class vehicles. Tell us your flight time, and we’ll plan a pickup that leaves time for check-in, security and the lounge. Get a quote and book online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. EMA has one lounge, the Escape Lounge, located airside after the shops and opposite Gate 17. It's open to all passengers, whatever their airline or ticket class.
Pre-booked entry starts from £33.99 per person, and walk-up entry from £49. Infants aged 0 to 35 months go free. Prices vary by date and time.
Yes. The Escape Lounge accepts Priority Pass, and holders can pre-book through the Priority Pass portal. DragonPass works the same way. Other memberships are usually walk-up only.
It usually opens at around 3.30am. Closing times vary by day and season, often in the late afternoon or early evening, so check the hours for your date.
You can enter up to three hours before your scheduled departure time.
Only if it's still open. On many days the lounge closes in the late afternoon or early evening, so check the opening hours for your date before you book.
It can be, especially for early flights and with young children, as infants under three get in free. Book ahead in school holidays, when the lounge can reach capacity.
