Originally Posted by
lolstebbo
I wonder how extensive the renovation would be. There's that whole bar area that isn't really being used as a bar, but it's not like getting rid of it would free up much space unless they reconfigured the rest of the lounge, and the current exclusive space is pretty tiny anyway.
If AF hadn't just remodeled their lounge, I almost wonder if combining that, the Golden Gate Lounge, and the VS clubhouse could've worked for a combined Skyteam lounge. Those are vertically right atop each other, right?
Skyteam Lounge is just a no no, a downgrade. Might as well make it Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse.
Yes, they are vertically on top of each other.
Air France Lounge is in Terminal A, left after security.
China Airlines Lounge is the same, but at level 4 left hand side.
Golden Gate Lounge is the same, but at level 4 right hand side.
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse is the same, but at level 5.
Originally Posted by
bzcat
CI has enough frequent fliers and multiple daily flights at SFO to justify operating its own lounge. They probably also make decent money from PP and serving overflow SkyTeam elites when they are not busy with CI departures.
SFO-TPE has heavy J cabin demand due to all the tech business located in the Bay Area so having its own lounge is important for CI. Anecdotally, the lack of decent lounge option at LAX for CI is a common complaint from a lot of frequent travelers I know on the route.
For Taiwanese carriers the gold mine is still at LAX, most of the SFO business passengers are on UA. CI/SFO is at max 10 weekly and going down on 7/14 to accommodate SEA launch.
AF denied PP entry after their renovation, wonder what will happen to CI (but they don't have any flights till late evening, I would assume they would still admit pax till 7pm).
The KAL Skyteam Lounge at LAX is a joke (and nothing is being done about it after complaints). Pax might as well go use the DL One Lounge at Terminal 3.
Originally Posted by
mlin32
Fun fact : the CAAC has started allowing airlines based in the Taiwan region to overfly its airspace en route to/from Europe. At least for now. Both CI and BR.
This route has been available for a while, but it was hardly ever used.
As long as the Taiwanese carriers does not cross Northeast China, CAAC blinks.