Originally Posted by
corporate-wage-slave
A lot will depend on whether it is possible to run lounges in a way which is efficient in terms of staff costs and avoiding waste. The one advantage of an order menu system is that you could potentially scale the food and staff costs. If there aren't many people flying then running a full buffet would be a bit of a waste (food and staff), as was often the case in the T3 Flounge after the main slug of flights had departed mid afternoon. On the other hand you could scale staff numbers quite neatly from a low base of passengers, and of course you can track their food patterns and timings too. So while this event has certainly shown up the weaknesses of lounges, with a bit of creativity there are opportunities too.
Moreover, I'm in the very fortunate position of flying throughout the pandemic and speaking only personally, I hope I will never take simple pleasures - like walking into a café, sitting down with a newspaper and having a coffee - for granted ever again. When the lounges are back I hope people will have a positive mindset about it. Carpe diem (even if carp has yet to appeared on the CCR menu).
While UK has been late in the game compared to Asia and even the rest of Europe. In Asia, several lounges have remained open, although with Adjustment. Even Plaza Premium has several lounges opened in Asia. SOme Europen airports still operate a lounge,
Buffet style has to be adapted. Typically there is a physical separation (glass /plastic wall, so that the pax cannot contaminate the buffet. He points to a dish and a waiter behind the glass serves it.
The choice offering is somewhat reduced (although not necessarily for dishes individually prepared) and the personel cost per pax might be a bit higher. Unfortunately, this is likely to stay for the coming years and we have to accept it. If the cost for the airline is (slightly) higher, then the airline might try to reduce the number of pax having access to it. Anyway, there will be much fewer status pax in the future given the reduction in flying.
Another reason why I want a lounge is when I have a transit of several hours and can enjoy a comfy seat like outdoor CCR.