Originally Posted by
DirektornSE
* I have access to almost all ethiopian airlines lounges but also have access to Priority pass. As I understand it the cloud nine lounge could be quite busy and the Plaza Premium longe locked quite nice. Is it worth spending time there?
* I'm also planning to perhaps visit the Cloud Nine lounge, but just to take a shower, are they any good? I expect I have to wait?
* I'm a Star Alliance Gold, and will be departing at T2 and A gates, should I use the Gold security to speed up things? If doing so how much time should I add?
* There is no contest between the very mediocre Plaza Premium lounge and the Cloud Nine/Star Gold lounges. Do not make the mistake of doing anything more than glancing at the PP lounge as you walk past it (which you probably won't even do if you are in transit because it's right the other end of the terminal near the departure immigration). I don't know why anyone thinks that the C9/*G lounges are "crowded". Maybe you won't get a 4-seater table to yourself by the window, but other than that the ET lounges are huuuuuge (over 1500 seats between them) and I have never seen them even come close to being full.
* The Cloud Nine showers are fine. You're more likely to find them all locked and unused rather than have to wait. Just ask the attendants.
* Given a choice between a 10 minute wait in a long regular line or a zero minute wait in the Gold Track line, I assume you would pick the latter. I've never taken more than 3-4 minutes total at the Gold Track transit security checkpoint. Short of having an AK47 strapped to your torso, they pretty much don't care what you carry through that checkpoint anyway as long as you take off your shoes and belt and remove your laptop.