Review: the Causeway Lounge at Belfast International Airport

This is our review of the Causeway Lounge at Belfast Airport.

This is part of our series of reviews of airport lounges across the UK.  You see all of the reviews here.

Reader Gordon kindly sent in some photographs and a brief review of the Causeway Lounge at Belfast Airport:

“The Causeway Lounge is managed by the airport.  It is located as you pass through duty free shopping and turn left past Starbucks walking up the ramp towards gates 16/17. Access to the lounge is available via Priority Pass, Lounge Club and by direct booking.

The lounge was completely refurbished in 2016 with all new seating in a range of styles. Entry is via double doors with the reception in front, the lounge to the left and toilets to the right.

According to the airport website the lounge “reflects the shape of the iconic north coast landmark”. It is hexagonal shaped with 5 glass walls looking out towards the runway and a curved wall which sweeps round from reception forming the 6th wall

There is a range of seating with sofas and coffee tables around the glass walls, tow and four person tables plus some high tables with stools to the left of the food and drinks area. The lounge is well served with UK power points and wifi is via the airport’s public wifi.

I visited in the early morning when breakfast was available. This consisted of bacon and mini rolls for you to make your own, bread for toast, fresh yoghurt with fruit and pastries. There were also snacks including biscuits and crisps. Drinks included a range of soft drinks, tea, coffee, a couple of beer options and a limited wine choice.

A notice states that guests are allowed up to three complimentary alcoholic drinks with beer, wine and spirits priced at £3 thereafter. No spirits were available at the time I was in the lounge and as the drinks are self service it’s unclear how charges would be collected.

The Macco coffee machine played classical music with each coffee served.

This was the selection of pastries.

Reading material is limited with only a few newspapers and a couple of local magazines.

The lounge is open between 05:00 and 21.15.

Conclusion

I’ve visited the lounge at different times and it’s rarely busy despite being the only lounge at the airport. It offers good views of the runway and has a range of seating options.

The airport itself is quite small and has limited seating away from Starbucks and the bar areas. As such the lounge offers a comfortable retreat.

It’s perfect if you have complimentary access via a card.  If they do impose an additional charge after your third drink I’m not sure it’s worth the £20 cash booking fee.”

Thanks Gordon.  If you want to prebook a cash visit to the Causeway Lounge, you can do so via this website where the £20 on-the-door price is reduced to £17.

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How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (January 2024)

Here are the four options to get FREE airport lounge access via a UK credit card.

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 Air Lines and Eurostar lounges.  Our American Express Platinum review is here. You can apply here.

If you have a small business, consider American Express Business Platinum instead.

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

Additional lounge visits are charged at £24.  You get four 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 gets you get a free Priority Pass card, allowing you access to the Priority Pass network.  Guests are charged at £24 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.