If you have a long overseas flight ahead of you, it’s nice to be able to access an airport lounge preflight to get some last-minute work done, prep for a meeting or do some research on your destination to firm up your vacation plans. Free food and beverages keep travel costs down, and high-speed Wi-Fi lets you check your email and social media.

When you’re flying across the Atlantic to London or from there to New York on British Airways, the United Kingdom’s flag carrier also offers a nice option when you land: an arrival lounge where you can freshen up after your flight.

The airline has 30 of its own lounges — several of them at its Heathrow hub — and over 100 partner lounges around the world that you can access.

British Airways lounge access rules

You can’t pay to access British Airways lounges. You’ll have to rely on your fare class or elite status to get access. Elite status in either the airline’s Executive Club or the Oneworld alliance will work.

In general, lounge access is for the following individuals and one guest:

People booked in first or business class on British Airways.

Silver and Gold Executive Club members flying on British Airways or a Oneworld partner.

Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire elites on flights operated by British Airways or its Oneworld partners.

Ways to access BA lounges, broken down by lounge

Here's a rundown of British Airways lounges and some guidelines on which flyers can get into them:

Concorde Room

Once you earn 5,000 tier points in the airline’s Executive Club frequent flyer program, you'll earn Gold status and receive a Concorde Room card, which gives you and one guest access to Concorde lounges at London’s Heathrow airport and at New York’s John F. Kennedy airport if you are flying on British Airways or other Oneworld carriers. With the Concorde Room card, you can access either of the Concorde lounges regardless of the fare class you are flying. The Concorde card also gets you access to Concorde Room bars in Dubai and Singapore airports if you are traveling in first class.

First class lounges

These lounges are only available to elite status holders and those traveling in first class. Gold members can access if they are flying first, business, premium economy, economy or on a Oneworld partner. Flyers with Executive Club Silver status can get in if they are booked in first class. You can bring one guest in with you. Oneworld Emerald members can access these lounges if they’re on a scheduled flight operated by British Airways or one of their Oneworld partners.

Business class lounges

Gold and Silver elites can access these lounges regardless of their fare class if they're flying on BA or a Oneworld partner airline. Oneworld Emerald or Sapphire members can access the British Airways business class lounge if they’re on a scheduled flight operated by British Airways or one of their Oneworld partners.

There are two lounges in this class depending on location: The Galleries lounge or the Terrace lounge. The Galleries lounge offers dining service in some select locations. The Terraces lounges have work and entertainment zones.

Arrivals lounges

If you are a Gold Executive Club member, you can access these lounges after your flight if you are traveling in first, business class, premium economy or economy. Silver elites can visit the lounges if they are traveling in first or business class. In addition, business and first class passengers can also access this lounge.

If you want British Aiways lounge access ...

Even though you can't pay to access British Airways lounges, earning Executive Club status or holding status through the Oneworld alliance is an attainable way to enjoy the amenities offered by the airline's network of lounges. Just remember that your fare level will also dictate which lounges you can access.