It seems the new Emerald Lounge in Madrid takes privacy very seriously. Judging by the seat layout, solo travellers are clearly the target audience — plenty of great options if you’re flying alone. For two people, there are still a few workable choices. For three, the options become… limited. And for four or more, face-to-face conversation appears to be strongly discouraged: most seats are back-to-back. Of course, there’s always Microsoft Teams or Zoom if a “talk” is required.

There also doesn’t appear to be a dedicated dining area, so no à la carte service. I already find myself missing the legendary 500ml bottle of actually fresh orange juice (à la Mercadona). Or perhaps a few tapas? One can hope.