Etihad Airways Etihad Guest - Why is the AUH Business Class Lounge So....Very Very Average?

I have decided I really do not like the AUH J lounge :eek: Actually I prefer the contract lounges in the other terminal. It's such a contrast to the in-air experience & general premium feeling of limo/check-in/flight process.

Why?

* Too small - always a struggle IME to get any decent choice of seat or any privacy.
* Too cramped - what an odd shape! Awkward & a lack of privacy.
* Poor food. In fact awful. Breakfast items cheap quality & limited range. Evening items - don't even go there :(
* Flakey Wi-Fi.
* Lavatories/washrooms in poor state of repair - tiny too.

Is it just me? What could EY do to improve the situation, if anything?

I will now arrive with just enough time to make my flights & avoid/minimise any potential lounge time. Maybe that is EY's strategy :D

EK DXB T3 J lounge isn't great either though is it? As with EK it seems that EY have been focusing on their foreign lounges at the expense of those at the home bases. Let's hope with the mid-field terminal EY will sort out their lounges.

I have decided I really do not like the AUH J lounge :eek: Actually I prefer the contract lounges in the other terminal. It's such a contrast to the in-air experience & general premium feeling of limo/check-in/flight process.

Why?

* Too small - always a struggle IME to get any decent choice of seat or any privacy.
* Too cramped - what an odd shape! Awkward & a lack of privacy.
* Poor food. In fact awful. Breakfast items cheap quality & limited range. Evening items - don't even go there :(
* Flakey Wi-Fi.
* Lavatories/washrooms in poor state of repair - tiny too.

Is it just me? What could EY do to improve the situation, if anything?

I will now arrive with just enough time to make my flights & avoid/minimise any potential lounge time. Maybe that is EY's strategy :D

Are you talking about T3 lounge? I actually like that lounge and the food. It gets super busy during peak times, but if you've ever stayed there the whole day, you see that it's actually quite peaceful most of the time. The peak around midnight - 1am is the worst, followed by another peak around the 6pm mark from memory.

Agreed on the Wi-Fi though. And for a better shower, take one in the Six Senses Spa. Better facilities by far.

Are you talking about T3 lounge? I actually like that lounge and the food. It gets super busy during peak times, but if you've ever stayed there the whole day, you see that it's actually quite peaceful most of the time. The peak around midnight - 1am is the worst, followed by another peak around the 6pm mark from memory.

Agreed on the Wi-Fi though. And for a better shower, take one in the Six Senses Spa. Better facilities by far.

Yes. Have been there early evening & early morning. Rammed. Chaotic. Do not like. Never used the spa - it may be the only sanctuary!

EK DXB T3 J lounge isn't great either though is it? As with EK it seems that EY have been focusing on their foreign lounges at the expense of those at the home bases. Let's hope with the mid-field terminal EY will sort out their lounges.

Not used EK in 10 years, so do not know how they stack up!!

Yes, LHR lounge was GREAT. Excellent service & cooked to order brekkie. Nice. Like :)

Mid-field is years away though. No?

I actually thought the lounge at AUH was fairly decent. Ok, it's not as good as Qatar's premium terminal, but it was much better than EK's T3 lounge at DXB. EY's F lounge at AUH, however, I found to be severely lacking.

Their J lounge at LHR, IMO, was awful compared to EK's. I thought it felt like a Servisair lounge.

Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

I actually thought the lounge at AUH was fairly decent. Ok, it's not as good as Qatar's premium terminal, but it was much better than EK's T3 lounge at DXB. EY's F lounge at AUH, however, I found to be severely lacking.

Their J lounge at LHR, IMO, was awful compared to EK's. I thought it felt like a Servisair lounge.

Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

Really?

* A warm welcome at the desk. Tick.
* Pro-active offer of Six Senses treatments by charming staff. Tick.
* Cooked to order (better than many restaurants) breakfast & table service (plus buffet items, too) Tick.
* Ample seating. Tick.

What Servisair lounges offers this? I must pay them a visit ;)

Really?

* A warm welcome at the desk. Tick.
* Pro-active offer of Six Senses treatments by charming staff. Tick.
* Cooked to order (better than many restaurants) breakfast & table service (plus buffet items, too) Tick.
* Ample seating. Tick.

What Servisair lounges offers this? I must pay them a visit ;)

I was talking about the general feel of the lounge. Maybe I just visited on a bad day, but the food was nothing but 'fine' from the a la carte and the buffet was dismal.

I touch on it briefly in this trip report. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/etihad-airways-etihad-guest/1349858-tr-ek-vs-ey-showdown.html)

I was talking about the general feel of the lounge. Maybe I just visited on a bad day, but the food was nothing but 'fine' from the a la carte and the buffet was dismal.

I touch on it briefly in this trip report. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/etihad-airways-etihad-guest/1349858-tr-ek-vs-ey-showdown.html)

Fair enough. I'll have a look at your report too.

I was in the Terminal 3, AUH lounge yesterday at approx 9am. It was my first visit an probably my last! It was a mess, dirty cups everywhere, kids screeching, little seating available. I notice that silvers can use the AL Reem lounge. I would prefer to use that myself, even though, that too, is looking a little shabby, it is a definitely more calming!

Flight was amazing though.

I was in the Terminal 3, AUH lounge yesterday at approx 9am. It was my first visit an probably my last! It was a mess, dirty cups everywhere, kids screeching, little seating available. I notice that silvers can use the AL Reem lounge. I would prefer to use that myself, even though, that too, is looking a little shabby, it is a definitely more calming!

Flight was amazing though.

Your impressions mirror mine. V. nice in-flight product - poor lounge experience - don't EY top brass realise this? Same thing about the BA CCR at LHR - can't they see how non-premium that feels?? How do these folk keep their jobs!!

OP, just wait until the prime construction completed for Abu Dhabi Airport, the business lounge shall have great treatment and details. But I must agree with you as the current has very less area and you can't get privacy.

OP, just wait until the prime construction completed for Abu Dhabi Airport, the business lounge shall have great treatment and details. But I must agree with you as the current has very less area and you can't get privacy.

Indeed. But that's 5 years away, no??