corporate-wage-slave

Right, a bit slow off the mark here, but I have now been able to check this out. Unbeknownst to me, BA benefits from TWO lounges in Sofia, Pliska (Плиска) and Preslav (Преслав). Pliska is on the same level as boarding and is the inferior of the two. Preslav is near the exit passport control, down one level, but actually nearer to the BA gates. It has a better set-up, food and drink, more space too, however it also has a room for smokers and they haven't separated out the ventilation between that room and the main lounge - a common issue in Bulgaria, though they have generally moved to a "smoking outdoors" model. I think you get a better reception if you present an invitation card from check in.

I think (but I'm not entirely sure) that the Balkans lounge is the one in Terminal 1, now operated by Swissport. I will put something in the BA lounge thread to clarify.

headingwest

The Pliska lounge was quite pleasant, but the food offering was rather poor. Nobody there knew where the Balkans lounge was...so you did well to suss that one out.

I actually checked in using the self-check in, so you're probably right, they wouldn't have been so confused perhaps.

Calchas

Why is this? BA paid for two or one is a oneworld lounge??

corporate-wage-slave

I think it has the same third party management running both lounges, so it doesn't bother them which one BA passengers end up using.

Leavinglondon

Genoa.... well I didn't actually go in it looked so awful and I didn't want BA to be charged for me entering a cupboard that I wouldn't have stayed in. Verona I went into and it was grim.

stevehh

The Garuda Lounge at Bali's new airport terminal is totally surreal.

But because there's virtually nowhere to sit in the departure area once you've cleared security it's actually a great relief to get in the lounge. At least there's somewhere to sit down!

(You don't need a biz class ticket - a discreet and moderate fee will get you in there - nudge nudge, wink wink).

SukiB

Kinshasa, DR Congo in 2009. It looked like a random jumble sale of leather couches from the 70's, and it was about 40 centigrade in there. The only offering was lukewarm Skol which needed to be paid for. Thank you Brussels Airlines, you could have given us a voucher!

77W_12A

I couldn't agree more! Even their FL lounge at LAX isn't all that great. I would go out on a limb and say the CX long at BKK is better than the FL lounge.

Beansprout

I count 3! After security you can turn left or right and walk to either end of the terminal...both appear to be quite similar. I've used the one to the right ('Pliska', lounge 2 according to the signs offhand). The one to the left looked similar at a glance - the same sign outside at least - on my next trip I'll try accessing it.

Downstairs is the "smoking lounge" according to the signs. I've not looked at it.

Smoking in enclosed public spaces has been banned since 2012, but you'd never believe me....

morges1

The CX lounge is bigger but somehow I still prefer the BA Flounge, although it does get rather full these days.

For close friendship forming contacts, try ABV!

corporate-wage-slave

Yes, Pliska is upstairs and right lounge 2, Preslav is downstairs (and has a separate smoking saloon), and so by the sounds of it a mystery lounge upstairs and left (lounge 1?). I thought Preslav was lounge 1 but I didn't investigate further. Further information on the SOF lounge glut would be warmly appreciated, however I doubt there's much cause for a lounge run there.

corporate-wage-slave

Photos and further information now in:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...-caucasus.html

South London Bon Viveur

The decor sounds like a lounge I visited in Ho Chi Minh once (no idea what it was called) although this one had free food and drink including noodles which were nice.

markn50

On this one no BA lounge can hold a candle to Air France. Sadly in Paris Qatar has to use the KLM Air France Premiere lounge, so forget in flight dining because here there is no end of choice of... pot noodles! Or of course the cold buffet of curled sandwiches. From the bar, gin but no tonic or 5 euro wine. And the service... well here remember that in French 'service' means a favour.

Rubecula

A few weeks ago I read a view that the T5 Concorde room was a business class lounge. I have been in the Concorde room and the Almaty business lounge. I proffer, with confidence, the view that there is no comparison. One reminds me of a 1970s British Rail station cafe, the other does not.