South Africa / Durban update
In common with other South African airports, Durban's King Shaka International Airport at La Mercy completely separates international and domestic travellers. In the case of Durban it is done quite skillfully by using glass wall ways to divide up the passenger flows and gates, these could be moved as demand requires, but the upshot is that unfortunately passengers on the DUR-LHR route cannot access the SLOW lounge, a truly excellent lounge (though nothing like as big as JNB) even though it is but a few partitions away from the international area.
Consequently the arrival of the BA service has meant that the one and only lounge in the international area has to be opened up specially for BA's passengers, three hours before departure time, and it closes when boarding is completed. There are sometimes only 2 or 3 international flights a day from DUR. The uMp(h)afa lounge is over two floors, the smaller upstairs area is quieter but some of the seats there show signs of wear and tear - presumably they were brought up from downstairs. There are good views of apron and you can see the BA boarding gate too, to enable leaving the lounge when boarding has started. The lounge is named after a local wildlife reserve, the parenthesis is sometimes used in Zulu and other Bantu languages to modify the sound of the next vowel rather than being directly pronounced.
There is no need to get an invitation card at check-in, the App or self printed boarding pass will do fine.
To give slightly more directions: the international airside area of DUR is quite small. After security and then passport emigration control, there is just the Fego café, a medium sized duty free shop, the seating area and the corridor to the handful of international gates. The lounge is visible just past the café, before the corridor to the gates, and you need to take the lifts (elevator) or stairs up to reach it. It is clearly signed, it would be difficult to miss it.
The entrance is somewhat eye catching.
View from the upper level of the lounge.
Food counters
And the cereal is kept in Tupperware like containers, Balmoral style.
DUR
King Shaka International Airport,
uMp(h)afa lounge
Airside: International departures, upper level past café
Opening hours: 3 hours before departure, closes at Final Call.
Access: standard BA rules but travel needs to be on the BA international service to LHR. Also Priority Pass and cash entry. Operated by Menzies.
Food and drink: Limited selection of hot and cold food and snacks, including some hot breakfast options (bacon, sausages and scrambled egg); cereals, sandwiches, bread; cakes, salads. Ha'lal savouries (Emirates also uses the lounge).
Selection of beer (local Peroni, Amstel, Heineken, Castle and Castle Light, Savanna, and very limited selection of wine (Delheim Sauvignon Blanc, Rustenberg Chardonnay). Standard rnage of Schweppes soft drink cans, Coca Cola including Light, Appletiser and Grapetiser, Cape Aqua still and sparkling water
Champagne: South African sparkling white Kleine Zalze Methode Cap Classique Brut NV
Free lounge and airport Wifi
Local newspapers and magazines
Internet workstations
Business work area
Charging points (ZA and international sockets, no USB)
Toilets and showers inside lounge