Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - Gulf Air lounge

Does anyone have any news on when the Gulf Air lounge in BAH is expected to reopen after renovations?

Mid January.

Enshallah!;)

On December 1 Gulf Air sent the following email to their frequent fliers:

Please be advised that Falcon Gold Lounge at Bahrain International Airport will further be closed for renovation and it is now scheduled to re-open in January 2012.

Meanwhile, we will still continue to offer the lounge facilities to our Falcon Gold passengers at an alternate lounge facility operated by Bahrain Airport Services. Regrettably, we will not be able to accommodate Silver and Gold members travelling in Economy class at the temporary lounge.

While we regret the temporary inconvenience this may cause to enjoy our signature Gulf Air lounge facilities, we are looking forward to receiving our premium customers and our Gold and Silver members to the 'new look' Falcon Gold lounge offering state-of-the art features in a few weeks.

I think its taking too long right now and using the Cathay Pacific lounge is insufficient. Yesterday as I was traveling J on GF BAH-KWI-BAH, the lounge almost got full and I decided to leave since it would take time for me to stroll to my gate (no announcements, then a change of gate, immediately followed by last call!!). I like the Dilmun Lounge but its getting more and more crowded and noisy. I just wish that Bahrain Airport would think of an additional lounge in the far left side area, by gate 11 and 12 and there's available space already there and it seems there might be plans for it.

Bahrain is just too small period. They don't have enough gates, way too many satellite boardings using the buses and the terminal is so narrow there is no where too walk almost. One of the lower end ME airports.

I was in Dilmun Lounge the other day. There was hardly a seat left in the place.

Bahrain is just too small period. They don't have enough gates, way too many satellite boardings using the buses and the terminal is so narrow there is no where too walk almost. One of the lower end ME airports.

well, at least its one of the well-to-do airports. I prefer BAH a lot rather than any airport in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Doha. Don't be fooled by the premium terminal in DOH, the regular one just suck big time. it makes you regret traveling of any other airlines rather than QR. BAH is currently sufficient and in the process of expansion.

well, at least its one of the well-to-do airports. I prefer BAH a lot rather than any airport in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Doha. Don't be fooled by the premium terminal in DOH, the regular one just suck big time. it makes you regret traveling of any other airlines rather than QR. BAH is currently sufficient and in the process of expansion.

I agree BAH is much more civil and Human than DXB or DOH or KWI..very eay to transit and change planes. No airport is perfect but the small size is a great bonus at times.

well, at least its one of the well-to-do airports. I prefer BAH a lot rather than any airport in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Doha. Don't be fooled by the premium terminal in DOH, the regular one just suck big time. it makes you regret traveling of any other airlines rather than QR. BAH is currently sufficient and in the process of expansion.

I wouldn't call it sufficient, I would call it making the best of a less than ideal airport. What is the percentage of satellite busing for flights? Very high, for there is not sufficient gate space. What about transiting during peak times and only 2 security points are open? Yes happens frequently.

These aren't isolated to BAH, any KSA airport is dreadful and I cringe when I have to leave DMM, however with the new egate card for KSA airports (dmm,rdu) it will improve dramatically.

I agree BAH is much more civil and Human than DXB or DOH or KWI..very eay to transit and change planes. No airport is perfect but the small size is a great bonus at times.

DXB and DOH exceed BAH IMO. DXB for sure and the premium terminal in DOH is awesome. AUH is better than BAH IMO as well.

Why does anyone have to be a BAH apologist? It sucks and they are behind the times for what their needs are.

I wouldn't call it sufficient, I would call it making the best of a less than ideal airport. What is the percentage of satellite busing for flights? Very high, for there is not sufficient gate space. What about transiting during peak times and only 2 security points are open? Yes happens frequently.

These aren't isolated to BAH, any KSA airport is dreadful and I cringe when I have to leave DMM, however with the new egate card for KSA airports (dmm,rdu) it will improve dramatically.



DXB and DOH exceed BAH IMO. DXB for sure and the premium terminal in DOH is awesome. AUH is better than BAH IMO as well.

Why does anyone have to be a BAH apologist? It sucks and they are behind the times for what their needs are.

Take note that only gates 16A and those which are 30-36 in the basement part of BAH need satellite busing for flights. Last week, my assigned gate was 11 (the farthest left side of BAH) and while I was by the Mont Blanc store, it was changed to 36 and due to the short length, I did manage to arrive without major rush.
Yes, I do agree that security points in BAH needs major improvement, and it gets crowded during peak season.

But then, I purely hate going to DMM airport. That place is like a morgue. It has one of the worst lounges aside from RUH. I can't believe that people call it an airport. Forgetting which floor your parked your car in at night drove me crazy once, thinking I got my car jacked!!

Take note that only gates 16A and those which are 30-36 in the basement part of BAH need satellite busing for flights. Last week, my assigned gate was 11 (the farthest left side of BAH) and while I was by the Mont Blanc store, it was changed to 36 and due to the short length, I did manage to arrive without major rush.
Yes, I do agree that security points in BAH needs major improvement, and it gets crowded during peak season.

But then, I purely hate going to DMM airport. That place is like a morgue. It has one of the worst lounges aside from RUH. I can't believe that people call it an airport. Forgetting which floor your parked your car in at night drove me crazy once, thinking I got my car jacked!!

I know what you mean about DMM. The car parking is like a maze. The big negative to me has always been immigration as it takes forever sometimes with locals simply cutting in line and que's that get large when agents go on "break". With the new egate (which I just got) I'm hoping this problem goes away. The lounge is dreadful for sure and can't believe even the carpet can't be changed, gross.

I know what you mean about DMM. The car parking is like a maze. The big negative to me has always been immigration as it takes forever sometimes with locals simply cutting in line and que's that get large when agents go on "break". With the new egate (which I just got) I'm hoping this problem goes away. The lounge is dreadful for sure and can't believe even the carpet can't be changed, gross.

you kiddin' me? our expat friends stay in the immigration a minimum of two hours and that's considered being lucky!! the staff there is one of the laziest, racist people on earth (don't worry, I'm an arab too, so no offense is taken lol) and it's truly shameful to see this kind of treatment for visitors. Aside from that, you can't find any sandwiches/pasteries that are worse in taste and as stale as the ones in their DMM lounge. Check my blog www.lunardream.net , I have posted a review about it in the travel section.

I use BAH airport as transit, one or two times a week, DXB-DMM-DXB or DXB-CAI-DXB..

I have to say, it bears well to short connection time, usually 45 mins on the DXB-DMM and i have never missed a connection, OK the tansit point is bad sometimes, but only as the majority of passengers wait until they are at the x-ray machine to remove any items that may trigger off the warnings.

I laugh each time, when there is no one there, as you still have to walk round the railings... :)

They need a J class or GF Gold transit point so you dont have to queue, that would make it easier all round, but on the whole I like BAH for transits over DOH anyday.

I use DOH on DXB-DOH-ALG and we get on the same plane we got off, just to sit on bus for 15 mins each way. i never use the lounge, almost jump back on the same bus and onto the same plane - a waste of time!

Based in DXB i am thankful of my E-Gate card, lines in immigration on arriving are always bad!

The reson i take GF to DMM is that they arrive on smaller aircraft in the morning, before QR and after Air Arabia have finished. No lines, usually takes me 15 minutes from landing, to lighting up my ciggie on the outside (avoid check in bags at DMM) they take forever!

I use BAH airport as transit, one or two times a week, DXB-DMM-DXB or DXB-CAI-DXB..

I have to say, it bears well to short connection time, usually 45 mins on the DXB-DMM and i have never missed a connection, OK the tansit point is bad sometimes, but only as the majority of passengers wait until they are at the x-ray machine to remove any items that may trigger off the warnings.

I laugh each time, when there is no one there, as you still have to walk round the railings... :)

They need a J class or GF Gold transit point so you dont have to queue, that would make it easier all round, but on the whole I like BAH for transits over DOH anyday.

I use DOH on DXB-DOH-ALG and we get on the same plane we got off, just to sit on bus for 15 mins each way. i never use the lounge, almost jump back on the same bus and onto the same plane - a waste of time!

Based in DXB i am thankful of my E-Gate card, lines in immigration on arriving are always bad!

The reson i take GF to DMM is that they arrive on smaller aircraft in the morning, before QR and after Air Arabia have finished. No lines, usually takes me 15 minutes from landing, to lighting up my ciggie on the outside (avoid check in bags at DMM) they take forever!

couldn't agree more about what you have mentioned about BAH. I truly dislike the DOH for the 15 minutes plus for the bus drive just to get back on the same plane, true waste of time. The lines at the transit in BAH are pretty annoying with that mini maze that you just have to go through..Sometimes, during evening flights, it gets packed to the point that I remember seeing lines all the way to the security check points.
btw, did you ever experince problems with the -e-gate card at AUH? after I got it, I had problems in getting it to work properly at the gate itself.