At a glance
- Where: Cardiff Airport, airside — the airport’s only lounge
- Summer hours (1 May–31 Oct): 03:30–18:00 daily
- Winter hours (1 Nov–30 Apr): 07:00–18:00 daily
- Stay: up to three hours
- Drinks: four alcoholic drinks included, plus tea, coffee, juices and soft drinks all day
- Access: pay on the day or book ahead; DragonPass accepted, subject to availability
- Also: free wifi, business facilities, smart-casual dress code, wheelchair accessible
Why it’s so popular
For a single lounge at a regional airport, that’s a lot of feedback. The 51° has more than 800 reviews on TripAdvisor, and 90% of the 203 customers who reviewed it with Holiday Extras said they’d book again.
The thing reviewers come back to is the people. Recent visitors describe staff who “couldn’t do enough for us” and a relaxed, spacious room — and in May 2026 one reviewer thanked four of the team by name. That kind of personal praise is what a small independent lounge can offer that a big-brand one often can’t.
Food and drink
Four drinks on the house
Entry includes four alcoholic drinks — beers, wines, ciders and spirits — with speciality teas, freshly ground coffee, juices and soft drinks available all day on top. That’s Cardiff Airport’s own figure; some third-party booking sites still say three, which is out of date.
Four is a generous cap for a pre-flight stop, and a clear one: you know exactly what you’re getting, rather than hoping a free-pour bar doesn’t run dry.
A menu that changes through the day
Mornings bring toast, pancakes and paninis; later it switches to jacket potatoes, soup and quiche. Yoghurt, fresh fruit and bara brith — the Welsh fruit loaf — are out all day, a nice local touch.
Worth knowing: food is where reviews divide. It’s a light, snack-style menu with a small hot selection, and some visitors have reported being limited to one hot item each. Treat it as a good breakfast or a light lunch rather than a full meal.
Getting in
Book ahead or pay on the day
Anyone flying from Cardiff can use it, whatever the airline or cabin. Booking ahead is the safer bet in the summer season, when the early-morning holiday flights fill the room.
DragonPass: yes
Cardiff Airport welcomes DragonPass cardholders, subject to availability on the day — so at peak times it’s worth arriving early or pre-booking.
Priority Pass: not here — but there’s a workaround
Priority Pass doesn’t list a lounge at Cardiff. Instead, members get a dining credit at Y Castell, the airside restaurant. Useful to know before you turn up at the lounge desk with the wrong card.
Free for KLM premium travellers
Business Class passengers on the KLM flight, and KLM Flying Blue Platinum and Gold members, are welcomed without paying.
Is it worth it?
Yes, if you’re on an early summer departure and want somewhere calm with a proper coffee, breakfast and a drink before a holiday — the service is the reason people rate it, and four included drinks go a long way.
Think twice if you’re after a big meal, or you’re flying after 18:00 — it’ll be closed. Its overall TripAdvisor score of 3.8 out of 5 reflects that split: glowing on staff and atmosphere, more mixed on food and value.
Frequently asked
Is there a lounge at Cardiff Airport?
Yes — the 51° Executive Lounge, the airport’s only pay-to-enter lounge. Anyone flying from Cardiff can book it, whatever the airline or cabin.
How many drinks are included at the 51° lounge?
Four alcoholic drinks are included in the entry price, according to Cardiff Airport’s booking page. Tea, coffee, juices and soft drinks are available all day. Some third-party sites still say three, which is out of date.
What are the 51° Executive Lounge opening hours?
It is seasonal. From 1 May to 31 October it opens 03:30–18:00 every day; from 1 November to 30 April it opens 07:00–18:00. It closes at 18:00 all year, so it won’t help on an evening departure.
Can I use DragonPass or Priority Pass at Cardiff?
DragonPass, yes — Cardiff Airport welcomes DragonPass cardholders, subject to availability on the day. Priority Pass doesn’t list a Cardiff lounge; its members get a dining credit at the Y Castell restaurant airside instead.
How long can I stay in the lounge?
Up to three hours.
Who gets in free?
KLM Business Class passengers on the KLM flight, and KLM Flying Blue Platinum and Gold members. Everyone else books or pays.
Flying from a nearby airport instead?
The closest alternatives we’ve verified a current price for.