Updated on December 18, 2007.

IF YOU'RE TRAVELING by plane anytime soon, get ready to spend a few hours overlooking the scenic vista of Terminal B.

Increased consumer demand, overbooking and fewer flights have created a perfect storm for travelers, warns airline expert Terry Trippler, owner of TripplerTravel.com. "The system is wound so tightly that any delay or problem sparks a domino effect," he says.

With more quality time to spend amid crowds at the airport; it's time to reconsider that safe-haven of business travelers the members-only airline club lounge where you can await your boarding call reclined in a cushy armchair while sipping free martinis and watching cable TV. "It's so worth it," raves Stephanie Abrams, host of "Travel with Stephanie Abrams" on the Business Talk Radio Network. "You'll get some peace and sanctuary."

But with the cost of an annual membership ranging from $125 to $610 (depending on your frequent-flier status), escaping the riffraff can come at a steep price. Here are some ways to get in on the cheap:

Forgo annual membership

For most travelers, the annual fee just isn't worth it, says Trippler. You'd have to visit United Airlines' Red Carpet Club more than 10 times each year to get a better per-visit rate on the $500 fee than you would buying individual $50 day passes. That means being loyal to United even members can't get into the club without a valid ticket from the sponsoring airline. A day pass should only set you back $25 to $50.

Annual memberships only make sense for business travelers and globetrotters, he says. Ironically, many of those are the travelers who are probably getting complimentary access anyway. American Airlines, United and US Airways all offer free access to travelers in the higher tiers of their frequent-flier programs, while Continental and Delta offer bulk discounts to employers.

Check your wallet...

Its contents and not just those in the cash compartment may be the key to getting you in for free, says Abrams. Lounge access is a common benefit for platinum cards. The $395 annual fee for an American Express Platinum, for example, includes complimentary access for cardholders to the clubs of Continental, Delta and Northwest.

...And your ticket, too

All airlines offer free club access to passengers traveling in first or business class on an international flight.

Negotiate

If you're getting bumped, or volunteering to give up your seat, ask for access to the airline club as part of your compensation, Trippler suggests. "Sure, I'll take the airline voucher, but if the next flight doesn't leave for a few hours, I'll need a day pass to your club," he says.

Head to eBay

Airlines encourage travelers to purchase club day passes in advance, says Abrams. But they can often go unused. (Say, if a long security line may drain your time before boarding, or a delay turns that long layover into a mad dash for a connecting plane.) As a result, you'll find plenty on eBay, for discounts of up to 20%. A pair of United Airlines passes sold for $86 a 14% discount off the $100 face value.

Shop around

Thanks to partnership agreements among airlines, your ticket on one may enable you to enter the club of another, says Susan Foster, author of "Smart Packing for Today's Traveler." Northwest Airlines passengers, for example, can also enter Continental and Delta lounges. Even better, Delta allows travelers to purchase $25 day passes to its clubs no matter what airline they are flying. Compared with other airlines' prices of $40 to $50, that's a savings of at least 38%.

Assess before paying

"Clubs can get busy, especially at the airport hubs," says Trippler. "Sometimes you can barely find a place to sit." Before you pay for a pass, take a quick look around the club to ensure that you can get what you want out of your visit whether that's a quiet place to relax or a free computer to check your email.

Exactly what you'll find in each club varies from location to location, as well as airline to airline. Here's a rundown of what each of the major U.S. airlines offers: