Travellers discover little-known $36 lounge with unlimited drinks and food buffet at Sydney International Airport - and it's open to EVERY airline
Flying economy just got a first-class glow-up - and Aussie travellers are going wild for it.
A little-known travel hack is doing the rounds TikTok, and it's all about scoring airport luxury without the hefty price tag.
We're talking comfy lounges, unlimited drinks, all-you-can-eat food buffets, showers, and even a cheeky pre-flight vino… all for as little as $36.
'Noooo I've been gatekeeping this for a while... the house is goated,' commented one TikTok user of the little-known perk available to travellers.
'I've been gatekeeping this for ages, always an affordable way to calm my nerves before a flight,' another wrote.
The Priority Pass lounge program might just upgrade your travel-game forevermore with it's 'secret' VIP card turning even the most budget flight into a bougie experience.
So how does it work?
Priority Pass is a global airport lounge membership program that gives travellers access to over 1000 lounges worldwide - including hidden gems right here in Australia, like The House lounge at Sydney International Airport.
The best part, and what TikTokers are raving about, is that you don't need to be flying business or first class as the program is available to anyone - regardless of what airline you fly or how cheap your ticket was.
A programme like this is aimed at travellers who fly on a range of airlines, primarily in Economy or Premium Economy and are not (or can't be) loyal to a particular alliance.
'Memberships can be purchased but do also come included with certain high-end credit cards such as the American Express Platinum Card,' said Brandon Loo of Points Hacks Australia.
'There are different membership options available: the most expensive options include unlimited yearly visits, while the cheapest one is merely access to the Priority Pass network, with each visit being chargeable at US$35 a pop.
'But not only does your membership unlock lounges - it can also be used for access to certain specialty locations, such as spas.'
If you are travelling from Australia, most Priority Pass facilities (and all three lounges in NZ) are located in international terminals, and some eateries, as well as the Rex Lounges, are located in domestic terminals.
For selected airport eateries (there are six in Sydney, two in Perth, eight in Melbourne, three in Canberra, five in Brisbane, and two in the Gold Coast) eligible membership holders can simply show up at the eatery with their card and boarding pass.
'The restaurant will swipe your card, and you will receive A$36 per person for food and drinks,' said Brandon.
If you feel like you've been living under a rock, the 'secret' Priority Pass lounge program might just upgrade your travel-game forever - as seen on one viral TikTok video from @claudiacasaceli
'Each $36 credit is charged as a visit to your Priority Pass card. For example, if you and a guest turn up at the eatery, you could get a combined $72 credit to spend.'
Some premium credit cards and travel-friendly debit cards offer free Priority Pass memberships as a perk, so if you currently have an AMEX Platinum, ANZ Rewards Black or Citi Prestige, it might be worth double checking first.
'Unlimited access is the way to go, especially if eateries are included,' said Brandon, who added that it's probably not worth paying for a Priority Pass membership unless you often travel internationally.
'But if you have it included with a credit card, it's good to know where you can use it domestically and overseas.
'One neat thing about the unlimited access with the Amex Platinum Card and Citi Prestige Mastercard is that in an airport with multiple lounges, you can just walk out of a lounge if you don't like it and find another.'
Not all lounges are created equal, so Brandon recommended researching lounges before you visit using TripAdvisor or Google to guarantee the best deal.
For even more money-saving tips, Aussie travellers can now earn points on their way to the airport.
Riders can link their Uber and Qantas Frequent Flyer accounts in the Uber app and rack up points by booking trips to and from the airport on their next getaway.
One point for every $2 spent can be earned when taking Uber journeys to and from 21 eligible airports around the country.
Uber users who book a Reserve trip up to 90 days before their journey earn one Qantas Point for every $1 spent to or from the eligible airports.
Those who don't have an Uber account can sign up and link their Qantas Frequent Flyer to earn 1,000 points.
Frequent flyer expert and blogger Adele Eliseo behind The Champagne Mile said millions of Qantas points go unclaimed because many don't realise they can link their accounts.
'Qantas Points have the power to unlock incredible travel redemptions, so it's sad to hear that so many Aussies are missing out!' she said.
'The good news is that in the space of a minute, Aussies can set themselves up to earn points whilst also getting in with the chance of winning one million Qantas Points with one simple hack.'
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