Originally Posted by
Land-of-Miles
I think I understand what kered is saying here. If you list the features and consider the welcome, the CX F lounge is of course a clear winner. I just think that many passengers expect a little more from a lounge than a room full of chairs with food at one end and PC's at another (nice enough though it is). The CX Lounge is very functional and ticks the boxes but I find it a little soulless and actively prefer the J side to the F side for this very reason.
The AA FL Lounge has real atmosphere, albeit one which many may not like. FWIW I prefer the AA FL Lounge ambience to the CX Lounge, but then I have never been there when it has been very busy and it was even harder to find a member of staff than it can sometimes be in the LHR BA Lounges.
I haven't been to the CX lounge, but have been the the AA FL lounge in T3 (this past New Year). From what I had seen on Flyertalk, I was expecting a hole, but was pleasantly surprised.
(was a non-status passenger flying AA F - so not much choice in lounges...)
We were in there quite early (our flight was about 11am), but it was quite nice and there was a reasonable selection of snacks etc (much better than the standard Terraces). I wasn't looking for champagne (was on the coffee and orange juice), so didn't miss it. The lounge is quite small and it did get quite busy by the time we were leaving - so it does feel a bit like a "doctors waiting room" in that respect (i.e. the seats are arranged in a way that you are sat with everyone else and not in private little groups...). It probably wont win any "best lounge awards", but it was still very pleasant.
Boo