Let’s get one thing straight: airport lounges are not just a perk. They’re a lifestyle choice. A sanctuary. A fluffy-clouded oasis in the middle of the chaos we call air travel. Some people fall in love with Paris, others with pizza—I fell in love with plush armchairs, unlimited snacks, and the occasional glass of complimentary bubbly at 30,000 feet’s waiting room.  Actually, to be clear: I am in love with fancy lounges, not the crowded basic ones where you are lucky to get a pretzel and a cube of cheese. No, no, I like the good ones, and I hunt them down at every airport.

You see, there’s something magical about slipping away from the madness of Gate 23B into a lounge where silence actually exists. No one yelling into their Bluetooth headset, no toddlers practicing parkour on rigid plastic seats. Just soft lighting, peaceful music, and chairs that don’t make your spine feel like it’s signed up for medieval torture. It’s a miracle, wrapped in carpet and calm.

The world’s best lounges become a little mini escape, and a moment for indulgence.  One of my favorite things is to continue my sommelier research with my own impromptu wine tasting, because I believe that ongoing education is important, and I am committed to learning more about wine. One should always honor their commitments.

And don’t even get me started on the food. Lounge buffets are their own food group. Where else can you casually grab a sushi plate, salad, fresh pasta, and a warm cookie that whispers “you deserve this” while your boarding pass waits patiently in your pocket? It’s like a hotel buffet and a café had a very luxurious baby.

Then there’s the Wi-Fi. Not the kind that gaslights you by pretending it’s connected while nothing loads. I’m talking real, stream-your-show-and-send-your-slides kind of connection. I’ve answered emails, uploaded presentations, and watched an entire episode of Succession before they even called my group number.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the bathrooms too—because public airport restrooms? A dystopian novella. But lounge bathrooms? Those are spa-level sanctuaries. Some lounges even have showers. Showers! I once landed after a red-eye, hit the lounge, took a hot shower, and emerged looking (and smelling) like I hadn’t just spent the night wedged between a crying baby and a guy who treated the armrest like a life-or-death negotiation.

And honestly, the people watching? Elite. There’s the guy in a full business suit sipping a martini at 9 AM, the digital nomad furiously typing like she’s coding the next NASA launch, and the occasional celebrity hiding behind sunglasses and a cap. Everyone’s got a story, and lounges are the perfect place to silently narrate them.

But maybe the best part is that feeling—when you walk past the crowded gate area, swipe your card, and glide into this little bubble of peace and privilege. It’s like being just a little bit fancier than you actually are. It’s main character energy in its purest form.

So yes, I love airport lounges. And I’m not sorry about it. They’re the VIP room of travel, the grown-up version of a treehouse, the high-altitude equivalent of finding an extra fry at the bottom of the bag. If you know, you know. And if you don’t—well, maybe it’s time you found out.