May 30, 2016, 6:01 am
Last edit by: MatthewLAX
Original discussion: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/etihad-airways-etihad-guest/1624033-f-lounge-auh3-open-still-waiting-2016-a.html
Review with 100+ photos - link (blog)
Review with 100+ photos - link (blog)
F lounge in AUH opened 30MAY2016
Mar 18, 2017, 12:59 pm
#422
Join Date: May 2004
Location: LAX
Posts: 1,849
Qatar - Al Safwa in Doha and First Class Terminal in Frankfurt.
Both have some exclusive unique features (quiet rooms or being driven to the plane)
and both are really amazing. Even Virgin lounge at Heathrow is much better.
This is not different than any business class lounge out there.
Both have some exclusive unique features (quiet rooms or being driven to the plane)
and both are really amazing. Even Virgin lounge at Heathrow is much better.
This is not different than any business class lounge out there.
Mar 18, 2017, 1:09 pm
#423
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
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Mar 18, 2017, 1:12 pm
#424
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: London, UK
Programs: Etihad Gold, Emirates Gold, SPG Gold, Accor Platinum
Posts: 579
Qatar - Al Safwa in Doha and First Class Terminal in Frankfurt.
Both have some exclusive unique features (quiet rooms or being driven to the plane)
and both are really amazing. Even Virgin lounge at Heathrow is much better.
This is not different than any business class lounge out there.
Both have some exclusive unique features (quiet rooms or being driven to the plane)
and both are really amazing. Even Virgin lounge at Heathrow is much better.
This is not different than any business class lounge out there.
Lufthansa F terminal is one to itself but the German spartan decor leaves much to be desired. Won't deny it's much better in most other ways though.
Can not possibly agree it's better than Virgin lounge, sorry.
Compare it to CX, EK, or SQ first lounges, the EY lounge is a lot better.
Mar 18, 2017, 1:18 pm
#425
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
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I've not tried the Al Safwa lounge, I hear it's amazing, but it doesn't have a free spa, free cigars, and I hear the food isn't as good as the Etihad lounge. Actually the spa there is a rip off by all accounts.
Lufthansa F terminal is one to itself but the German spartan decor leaves much to be desired. Won't deny it's much better in most other ways though.
Can not possibly agree it's better than Virgin lounge, sorry.
Compare it to CX, EK, or SQ first lounges, the EY lounge is a lot better.
Lufthansa F terminal is one to itself but the German spartan decor leaves much to be desired. Won't deny it's much better in most other ways though.
Can not possibly agree it's better than Virgin lounge, sorry.
Compare it to CX, EK, or SQ first lounges, the EY lounge is a lot better.
Mar 18, 2017, 1:57 pm
#426
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: London, UK
Programs: Etihad Gold, Emirates Gold, SPG Gold, Accor Platinum
Posts: 579
Mar 18, 2017, 4:09 pm
#427
Join Date: Oct 2011
Programs: Priority Club Platinum Ambassador, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 264
I've not tried the Al Safwa lounge, I hear it's amazing, but it doesn't have a free spa, free cigars, and I hear the food isn't as good as the Etihad lounge. Actually the spa there is a rip off by all accounts.
Lufthansa F terminal is one to itself but the German spartan decor leaves much to be desired. Won't deny it's much better in most other ways though.
Can not possibly agree it's better than Virgin lounge, sorry.
Compare it to CX, EK, or SQ first lounges, the EY lounge is a lot better.
Lufthansa F terminal is one to itself but the German spartan decor leaves much to be desired. Won't deny it's much better in most other ways though.
Can not possibly agree it's better than Virgin lounge, sorry.
Compare it to CX, EK, or SQ first lounges, the EY lounge is a lot better.
the others are 15-30 $ per cigar,i have a photo somewhere.
Also the Hennessy Paradis is no longer available and some of the oldest whisky too.
Mar 18, 2017, 4:18 pm
#428
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Posts: 21,593
Mar 18, 2017, 6:30 pm
#429
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: London, UK
Programs: Etihad Gold, Emirates Gold, SPG Gold, Accor Platinum
Posts: 579
Mar 19, 2017, 9:27 am
#432
Join Date: May 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP (probably nothing w/ AA next year :)), Delta Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 405
Mar 26, 2017, 3:05 pm
#433
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,883
Spent a few hours in the EY F lounge in Feb. Was really looking forward to it after all the talking up. ARRV @ 12 midnight, DEP: around 8 AM.
PROS: The chauffeur service in Mumbai was excellent. Warned them of six pieces of luggage. A BMW SUV for bags and a Mercedes sedan for the two of us. Family and their driver were duly surprised
^
Personnel in the lounge: Very polite, efficient, attentive. Saw one of us in a wheelchair so asked if we needed it on the way out. Was at the lounge at appointed time.
Private Room(S): Read so much about it, it was an anticlimax for us. Yes large room, two couches, service if needed. Sliding doors, not lockable.
FOOD: Coffee good. Breakfast from menu only. Nothing to praise except not crowded at that hour.
SPA: Took the massages. Pretty regular stuff.
SLEEPING: Dozed in the Relaxation Lounge. Lounges, eye mask, socks and blankets supplied. Supposedly soothing wall sized moving abstract images.(
)
CONS
Private rooms overrated. Could not stretch out completely on the couches.
Could not kill the piped music. Ditto for lights.
FOOD: No buffets. Got the usual egg preparation.
OVEALL: Underwhelmed after the bated breath postings.
Yes one person's opinion ( wife agreed). Not worth the extra $ or miles).
PROS: The chauffeur service in Mumbai was excellent. Warned them of six pieces of luggage. A BMW SUV for bags and a Mercedes sedan for the two of us. Family and their driver were duly surprised
^Personnel in the lounge: Very polite, efficient, attentive. Saw one of us in a wheelchair so asked if we needed it on the way out. Was at the lounge at appointed time.
Private Room(S): Read so much about it, it was an anticlimax for us. Yes large room, two couches, service if needed. Sliding doors, not lockable.
FOOD: Coffee good. Breakfast from menu only. Nothing to praise except not crowded at that hour.
SPA: Took the massages. Pretty regular stuff.
SLEEPING: Dozed in the Relaxation Lounge. Lounges, eye mask, socks and blankets supplied. Supposedly soothing wall sized moving abstract images.(
)CONS
Private rooms overrated. Could not stretch out completely on the couches.
Could not kill the piped music. Ditto for lights.
FOOD: No buffets. Got the usual egg preparation.
OVEALL: Underwhelmed after the bated breath postings.
Yes one person's opinion ( wife agreed). Not worth the extra $ or miles).
Mar 27, 2017, 4:46 am
#434
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 706
I was in the AUH F lounge for 4 hours yesterday. I was very surprised by the following:
- Relaxation room chairs have replaced in the last month. The reclining chairs have been replaced by fixed chairs with no recline. According to staff, this was a 'management decision' that they acknowledged didn't make sense. This is ludicrous as now guests have to sprawl out over couches elsewhere in the lounge. Between midnight and 4am, the relaxation room was completely empty but I saw three guests sleeping on couches in the TV room area.
- Buffet has been eliminated. According to staff, this was because flies were constantly on the food in the buffet. While initially surprised by this, I later noticed flies on the dessert station area (actually on the food itself), and also in the men's toilets by the sinks on the face cloths. This was pretty disgusting.
- Emirates Palace Tasting Menu has been eliminated in the last week. According to staff, this was also a 'management decision' that they were surprised at. The lounge dining menu now only offers 9-10 dishes that are the same for lunch and dinner, and only differ for breakfast.
- As noted before by other posters, the private rooms offer no ability to turn down the bright lights or loud music. When you're trying to catch up on some much needed sleep between 2am and 4am, the situation is pretty frustrating. Furthermore, the doors don't lock (so frequent interruptions) and there is a huge security camera on the ceiling looking down (so felt lack of privacy). Lastly, the private room I was in had a back door that overlooked into the Residence area, so I could see the guests in there easily.
- Self-serve drinks area seems to have been eliminated. In a blog review from February 2017, I saw photos of a drinks station area with coffee etc. That didn't exist on my visit.
On a positive note:
- The bartender was fun and the cocktails different and interesting
- The showers were roomy and ideal
- Relaxation room chairs have replaced in the last month. The reclining chairs have been replaced by fixed chairs with no recline. According to staff, this was a 'management decision' that they acknowledged didn't make sense. This is ludicrous as now guests have to sprawl out over couches elsewhere in the lounge. Between midnight and 4am, the relaxation room was completely empty but I saw three guests sleeping on couches in the TV room area.
- Buffet has been eliminated. According to staff, this was because flies were constantly on the food in the buffet. While initially surprised by this, I later noticed flies on the dessert station area (actually on the food itself), and also in the men's toilets by the sinks on the face cloths. This was pretty disgusting.
- Emirates Palace Tasting Menu has been eliminated in the last week. According to staff, this was also a 'management decision' that they were surprised at. The lounge dining menu now only offers 9-10 dishes that are the same for lunch and dinner, and only differ for breakfast.
- As noted before by other posters, the private rooms offer no ability to turn down the bright lights or loud music. When you're trying to catch up on some much needed sleep between 2am and 4am, the situation is pretty frustrating. Furthermore, the doors don't lock (so frequent interruptions) and there is a huge security camera on the ceiling looking down (so felt lack of privacy). Lastly, the private room I was in had a back door that overlooked into the Residence area, so I could see the guests in there easily.
- Self-serve drinks area seems to have been eliminated. In a blog review from February 2017, I saw photos of a drinks station area with coffee etc. That didn't exist on my visit.
On a positive note:
- The bartender was fun and the cocktails different and interesting
- The showers were roomy and ideal