The best arrival lounge
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
The best arrival lounge
If you have (very) positive experience at arrival lounge, would you please share? Also would be useful to know who can get into lounge.
My personal experience is that arrival lounges are quite few comparing those to airside and in general are lower qualify. Also, instead of airline lounges, they are owned/managed by third party providers - Priority Pass, SATS, etc.
Said all above, I think the best experience at arrival lounge I had at ZRH. Also, I think the only place (correct me if I am wrong) where one can get access to the lounge by being Star Alliance Gold, instead of flying on C/F.
My personal experience is that arrival lounges are quite few comparing those to airside and in general are lower qualify. Also, instead of airline lounges, they are owned/managed by third party providers - Priority Pass, SATS, etc.
Said all above, I think the best experience at arrival lounge I had at ZRH. Also, I think the only place (correct me if I am wrong) where one can get access to the lounge by being Star Alliance Gold, instead of flying on C/F.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
I've only been to the one at LHR T2 that's accessible to PP holders and it seemed decent for the little time I spent there (albeit fairly dark inside compared to some of the other T2 lounges). The United one seems to get good reviews too but only some *A carriers have access.
#7
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Boulder
Programs: AA Plat, CX Silver
Posts: 2,361
#8
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,088
For Paris, the CDG AirFrance arrivals lounge is a real advantage to shower before going into the city for a meeting (especially since it is rare to be able to check into a hotel early). No other airline has one there.
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: AAdvantage EXPLAT, Hilton Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Citi Exec MC, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,443
that lounge is quite tiny, from what I remember, the size of a living room. Food is nice but arrivals lounges are more of a freshen up and go environment. They should have more showers so we can quickly freshen up and get going.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Only been to one real one (most of the time I prefer to just get on with my day and get to the hotel to freshen up), the VS Revivals Lounge at LHR. Good breakfast, not overly crowded, nice space to change clothes, and it was perfect since we were hopping on the bus to Cambridge so it was going to be a while before getting to the hotel. Sadly missed out on the CX Arrivals lounge last time I was in HKG.
Most of the time in the US, I just use the standard lounge as my arrivals lounge if I need to shower / freshen up after a redeye (e.g., fly SFO - JFK on DL and then just use T4 DL SkyClub).
Most of the time in the US, I just use the standard lounge as my arrivals lounge if I need to shower / freshen up after a redeye (e.g., fly SFO - JFK on DL and then just use T4 DL SkyClub).
#11
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: TK M&S, LH MM, Global Entry, Hertz Gold, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 1,087
#12
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,775
If you have (very) positive experience at arrival lounge, would you please share? Also would be useful to know who can get into lounge.
My personal experience is that arrival lounges are quite few comparing those to airside and in general are lower qualify. Also, instead of airline lounges, they are owned/managed by third party providers - Priority Pass, SATS, etc.
Said all above, I think the best experience at arrival lounge I had at ZRH. Also, I think the only place (correct me if I am wrong) where one can get access to the lounge by being Star Alliance Gold, instead of flying on C/F.
My personal experience is that arrival lounges are quite few comparing those to airside and in general are lower qualify. Also, instead of airline lounges, they are owned/managed by third party providers - Priority Pass, SATS, etc.
Said all above, I think the best experience at arrival lounge I had at ZRH. Also, I think the only place (correct me if I am wrong) where one can get access to the lounge by being Star Alliance Gold, instead of flying on C/F.
#13
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: JFK/EWR/SFO/LAX/YYZ <-> HKG, PEK, CKG
Programs: CX, Hyatt
Posts: 155
Agree - it can get overcrowded at times. Also correcting poster before the lounge is not F/OWE exclusive.
#14
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,775
Only been to one real one (most of the time I prefer to just get on with my day and get to the hotel to freshen up), the VS Revivals Lounge at LHR. Good breakfast, not overly crowded, nice space to change clothes, and it was perfect since we were hopping on the bus to Cambridge so it was going to be a while before getting to the hotel. Sadly missed out on the CX Arrivals lounge last time I was in HKG.
Most of the time in the US, I just use the standard lounge as my arrivals lounge if I need to shower / freshen up after a redeye (e.g., fly SFO - JFK on DL and then just use T4 DL SkyClub).
Most of the time in the US, I just use the standard lounge as my arrivals lounge if I need to shower / freshen up after a redeye (e.g., fly SFO - JFK on DL and then just use T4 DL SkyClub).
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: BA Gold, A3 Gold, FB Gold, Bonvoy Titanium / LTP, Accor Plat
Posts: 13,877
I always find it surprising that, despite just how many showers the LHR T5 arrivals lounge has, one still often has to wait for a shower. Still I'm grateful for it!
The PP arrivals lounge in SIN had pretty good food. Far better than the one at BOM, which is probably the least inspiring arrivals lounge I've been to. Both very strict on timing.
The Ibis does rooms by the hour and it's not that expensive. Shame there aren't any other arrivals lounges for sure.
I thought it was fine for both shower and food, but unlike the CX airside Flounges, it's not one I'd want to spend time at the airport especially for.
The PP arrivals lounge in SIN had pretty good food. Far better than the one at BOM, which is probably the least inspiring arrivals lounge I've been to. Both very strict on timing.
I haven't been to the CX arrivals lounge in HKG for a while but if it was not changed since I was there the last time it is a dark dungeon and a dump. It is ok for a quick shower but this is about it. Used it once and never again (arriving early and heading to a meeting, next time I made sure I could go to the hotel first).