FAQ No.1: Aer Lingus Lounges
May 19, 2013, 5:18 am
#76
Moderator, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles & Accor ALL
Join Date: Apr 2009
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May 19, 2013, 7:28 am
#77
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Join Date: Feb 2009
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Don't showers on the northside normally consist of discharging most of a can of Lynx on yourself and any bystanders? 
May 20, 2013, 3:52 am
#78
Moderator, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles & Accor ALL
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: BRU
Programs: TK*G, Accor ALL Platinum
Posts: 7,587
May 26, 2013, 2:08 am
#79
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,860
The lounge was fantastic and beat the Lufthansa Business lounge @ DTW by quite a bit.
I am going to post a review here of my EI123 flight in just a moment.
May 31, 2013, 11:48 am
#82
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London
Posts: 2,385
Maybe. But why do they continue to refresh the username/passwords, and print new tickets on reception periodically. Just seems pointless. Firstly its no longer necessary to "protect" their bandwidth, but secondly its an annoyance to their customer base to be tricked into thinking that they have to type out two alphanumeric sequences to get tinternet.
May 31, 2013, 11:56 am
#83
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Join Date: Feb 2009
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My money is on a failure to realise it, or (unlikely) a cunning ploy to keep their bandwidth bill down.
Jun 11, 2013, 11:51 am
#84
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London / Los Angeles
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Knock (NOC) aka Ireland West Airport
Lounge is airside near gate 3, unclear if access is offered to GCC cardholders.
Lounge is airside near gate 3, unclear if access is offered to GCC cardholders.
They take priority pass too.
Jun 25, 2013, 2:52 am
#85
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: London
Programs: Mucci (Scirocco Sash), BAEC Gold, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 864
It seems Southend has a lounge, operated by Stobart and accessible to Gold Circle Club. Looks highly glamorous at the link below 
http://www.southendairport.com/at-th...-class-lounge/
I’m flying out of there this Saturday morning so will report back. I’ve flown from Southend before, but when they still operated in the old terminal (which had the delightful air of nothing more than a transport caff), so I’m looking forward to seeing the new facilities.
And on a sadder note this will be my last hurrah with my expiring Gold Circle Club. It's been a pleasant year, thanks Green Diamond ^
http://www.southendairport.com/at-th...-class-lounge/
I’m flying out of there this Saturday morning so will report back. I’ve flown from Southend before, but when they still operated in the old terminal (which had the delightful air of nothing more than a transport caff), so I’m looking forward to seeing the new facilities.
And on a sadder note this will be my last hurrah with my expiring Gold Circle Club. It's been a pleasant year, thanks Green Diamond ^
Jun 30, 2013, 2:43 pm
#86
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,899
Had the experience of the lounge and first time to Southend Airport.
Check in was 35 mins late opening with no information while we were all standing there wondering what was going on.
Security was too slow with one guy telling people to take things off and put gels etc.. in the trays. Then he would go over to look at the monitor to screen the bags. Normally you have two seperate people to do this not a one man band!
When I finally got to the lounge it was empty and have to say it was quite decent. Only thing is the wifi was a pain. The lounge girl had to set up a guest password and username to get access. Just alot of messing about when they should just have a general password for all and change it once a month like other airport lounges. Everyone gets 2 hours free at the moment via the Airport wifi but its quite slow and even states this on the log in page. After that you can pay 1p an hour via credit card , all a bit weird!
Snacks and drinks were good though. Cake/muffins/Cadburys choc bars
Plenty of iPads to surf on and a Nespresso machine.
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Could not do OLCI either on the Aer Lingus App as Southend Airport is not listed on the menu ! Only available on the main site as I found out rather too late to be able to print a BP and thus bypass check in. Something for EI to update .
On the whole its a decent enough airport and good for people heading to Central London. There is an excellent train service opposite the terminal building. It was a bit of a treck for me heading to Surrey but made for an interesting change. Easyjet rule the roost here with flights to Amsterdam,Berlin,Barcelona and Malaga.
There is an extension currently being built to be completed by December. Oh and for any fans of the wonderful Vulcan there is one being restored by the car park with a visitors centre and cafe. ^
Check in was 35 mins late opening with no information while we were all standing there wondering what was going on.
Security was too slow with one guy telling people to take things off and put gels etc.. in the trays. Then he would go over to look at the monitor to screen the bags. Normally you have two seperate people to do this not a one man band!
When I finally got to the lounge it was empty and have to say it was quite decent. Only thing is the wifi was a pain. The lounge girl had to set up a guest password and username to get access. Just alot of messing about when they should just have a general password for all and change it once a month like other airport lounges. Everyone gets 2 hours free at the moment via the Airport wifi but its quite slow and even states this on the log in page. After that you can pay 1p an hour via credit card , all a bit weird!
Snacks and drinks were good though. Cake/muffins/Cadburys choc bars
Plenty of iPads to surf on and a Nespresso machine.
.
.
.
.
Could not do OLCI either on the Aer Lingus App as Southend Airport is not listed on the menu ! Only available on the main site as I found out rather too late to be able to print a BP and thus bypass check in. Something for EI to update .
On the whole its a decent enough airport and good for people heading to Central London. There is an excellent train service opposite the terminal building. It was a bit of a treck for me heading to Surrey but made for an interesting change. Easyjet rule the roost here with flights to Amsterdam,Berlin,Barcelona and Malaga.
There is an extension currently being built to be completed by December. Oh and for any fans of the wonderful Vulcan there is one being restored by the car park with a visitors centre and cafe. ^
Jul 1, 2013, 4:04 am
#87
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: London
Programs: Mucci (Scirocco Sash), BAEC Gold, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 864
Er, what Dellas said 
[Great pics btw]
Nice little lounge, reasonably well stocked (Nespresso machine is always a plus), with comfortable seating. There is a little desk that is sporadically manned, otherwise there is a sign directing you to ask at the bar next door. I was asked for my booking reference in addition to my Gold Circle card and boarding pass; thankfully I had it written down, I don’t always.
One downside is that the lounge is effectively open to the main security screening, situated just past the escalators that take you down to the main part of the Departures area, so it can feel a little exposed if you sit in the front section. You also have a nice soundtrack from the high velocity hand dryers in the toilets alongside
Saturday morning was VERY crowded at SEN, with EZ flights to Alicante and somewhere else in Spain and a Volotea to Palma de Mallorca (I think) departing at the same time as EI3301. Just something to bear in mind, and there don’t appear to be any flights scheduled around the time of the afternoon EI departure (2pm or 3pm I think?) so it should be less hectic.
[Great pics btw]Nice little lounge, reasonably well stocked (Nespresso machine is always a plus), with comfortable seating. There is a little desk that is sporadically manned, otherwise there is a sign directing you to ask at the bar next door. I was asked for my booking reference in addition to my Gold Circle card and boarding pass; thankfully I had it written down, I don’t always.
One downside is that the lounge is effectively open to the main security screening, situated just past the escalators that take you down to the main part of the Departures area, so it can feel a little exposed if you sit in the front section. You also have a nice soundtrack from the high velocity hand dryers in the toilets alongside
Saturday morning was VERY crowded at SEN, with EZ flights to Alicante and somewhere else in Spain and a Volotea to Palma de Mallorca (I think) departing at the same time as EI3301. Just something to bear in mind, and there don’t appear to be any flights scheduled around the time of the afternoon EI departure (2pm or 3pm I think?) so it should be less hectic.
Jul 1, 2013, 5:31 am
#88
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,899
Er, what Dellas said [Great pics btw]
Nice little lounge, reasonably well stocked (Nespresso machine is always a plus), with comfortable seating. There is a little desk that is sporadically manned, otherwise there is a sign directing you to ask at the bar next door. I was asked for my booking reference in addition to my Gold Circle card and boarding pass; thankfully I had it written down, I don’t always.
One downside is that the lounge is effectively open to the main security screening, situated just past the escalators that take you down to the main part of the Departures area, so it can feel a little exposed if you sit in the front section. You also have a nice soundtrack from the high velocity hand dryers in the toilets alongside
Saturday morning was VERY crowded at SEN, with EZ flights to Alicante and somewhere else in Spain and a Volotea to Palma de Mallorca (I think) departing at the same time as EI3301. Just something to bear in mind, and there don’t appear to be any flights scheduled around the time of the afternoon EI departure (2pm or 3pm I think?) so it should be less hectic.
[Great pics btw]Nice little lounge, reasonably well stocked (Nespresso machine is always a plus), with comfortable seating. There is a little desk that is sporadically manned, otherwise there is a sign directing you to ask at the bar next door. I was asked for my booking reference in addition to my Gold Circle card and boarding pass; thankfully I had it written down, I don’t always.
One downside is that the lounge is effectively open to the main security screening, situated just past the escalators that take you down to the main part of the Departures area, so it can feel a little exposed if you sit in the front section. You also have a nice soundtrack from the high velocity hand dryers in the toilets alongside
Saturday morning was VERY crowded at SEN, with EZ flights to Alicante and somewhere else in Spain and a Volotea to Palma de Mallorca (I think) departing at the same time as EI3301. Just something to bear in mind, and there don’t appear to be any flights scheduled around the time of the afternoon EI departure (2pm or 3pm I think?) so it should be less hectic.
On the flip side the ones coming through security can watch you sipping your drink and eating your 2nd bar of Cadburys Fruit and Nut
Totally agree love it when I see a Nespresso machine in the place.
Think your right about the flights/crowds. It was very calm around that time and I can imagine how a few loads of EZY mafia could pack the place out.
Still the pleasant lounge would make you forget you were actually in Essex
Jul 1, 2013, 5:53 am
#89
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: London
Programs: Mucci (Scirocco Sash), BAEC Gold, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 864
My favourite moment was the older lady in her Spanish costa finery (including linen pants and sun hat) whose bag was selected for secondary screening – when the guy mentioned that she had liquids in her bag her response was “Oh no dear, they’re creams”... 
Thankfully I was in plenty of time for once so was able to find it all quite amusing.
Thankfully I was in plenty of time for once so was able to find it all quite amusing.