oneworld Lounges When Traveling Internationally
 

Question for those of you in the know...

As a lifetime Star *G with UA, I definitely have my favorite lounges in their network when traveling. However, I know next to nothing about the OW Lounge landscape and will have access once I become an OWE.

Do you have a favorite?

Is there a shining star in their network?

I'm curious what insights people may have, especially (hopefully?) as my International travel resumes again late this year, or more likely in '22.

If/when HKG gets back to normal, the CX Pier F lounge. I also think CX's BKK lounge is really nice. Dim sum, a flat white and Moët before a morning flight isn't too shabby.

Getting into AA Flagship Dining at JFK or LAX is a treat (done it as an AA and CX pax), though this is like the Concorde Room or the LH FCT in that you need to be in a longhaul first class cabin or have high up AA status, not just alliance status to access it. The Flagship lounges there are... nice enough but they are not as tranquil/well designed as CX's F/J lounges. Pier F feels more like "stylish living room" than "airport lounge", if that makes sense.

(Wing F/J is... OK. I don't care for it as much as Pier.) CX's lounge at SFO is great.

I thought AY's J lounge at HEL was... very Scandinavian. Not particularly amazing but a decent enough place to while away a few hours (while I waited for a U2 flight on a throwaway AY segment).

QR's lounge at BKK is fine, though their breakfast offering leaves something to be desired (compared CX and QR lounges on UL and AY J morning flights about 6 months apart, CX is the winner). QR might be a better BKK lounge in later hours. (That site is wrong, by the way. I accessed the QR lounge on a UL J ticket.)

I also got time in BA's T5 Galleries J lounge on an AS flight with MVPG status. It was thoroughly rammed and serviceable if not memorable. BA's lounge at SEA is probably the only one with a shower (oddly enough, didn't access it for a BA flight, it's a BR contract lounge for their flights). I haven’t been in BA’s new SFO lounge. I used to hit it up on CX F awards though, since it’s actually near the gates as opposed to very far away.

Finally... the QF F lounge at LAX... that one is also very good (dining room serving very solid food), though it doesn't really have direct natural light/views of the tarmac. I'm sure to hit that up if I am flying CX.

^ That's amazing, thank you for the intel. I've been in Galleries before, but none of the others. I assumed the Pier (F) at HKG would be high on the list from various trip reports I've seen.

Here's to better days on the horizon and the opportunity to visit those all, given admittance protocols.

Edited to add: Actually, I also visited CX's lounge at SFO around 2016/2017 or so, back when I had an AL membership. I loved it, especially the dan dan noodles. That is a really nice space.

On second thought and looking at itineraries, I think it was winter of '18, but I haven't been back since as my membership expired that Spring. Here's to hoping the glorious AL @ SFO actually opens in my lifetime. ;-)

Best [AS] domestic lounge. :p

Too bad we probably won't see it open for the foreseeable future or for AS flights. Was always chatty with the lead lounge attendant the few years I was regularly visiting.

Another nod for CX's Pier F Lounge at HKG. I value a lounge based on its beverage offerings, so naturally, enjoying vintage Champagne whilst slurping made-to-order noodles goes a long way.

AA's Flagship F Lounges at DFW & LAX were both quite enjoyable, albeit both were completely empty when I visited. I made good use of the bottomless Krug in both.

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Pier F @ HKG
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Pier F @ HKG
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Pier F @ HKG
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Pier F @ HKG
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AA FF @ DFW
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AA FF @ DFW

I concur with everything above (the BA SEA S-Gate lounges are so underwhelming as to be embarrassing), but I would also give major props to the IB Dali lounge at MAD. Man, the quality of the food and--especially--the wine blew us away a couple of years ago.

Good grief, I'm suddenly very thirsty (for vintage champagne)!

Worth noting that as of the pandemic, access to AA FFD is restricted to AA Flagship F and a very few carriers which pay AA for the service, e.g. BA & CX, separate and apart from OW. AS would need to make those arrangements with AA and that would seem doubtful.

We'll have to see what happens when FL and then FFD reopens.

LHR: Galleries F. The T3 variant is not visually striking as the T5 one, but it's often so peaceful as BA have fewer T3 flights. At T5, I wish the showers were as nice on the inside as they look from the outside; there's often a long lineup for one, which is inconvenient because they're outside the lounges themselves. As F shares the showers with J, the number of people seeking one can be quite high in the mornings when all the red-eyes arrive. CX F is also great, especially for breakfast, noodles, and dim sum. Also rather peaceful and quiet. AA Flounge at LHR is very much worth missing. The food is mediocre and there are invariably lots of noisy pax, not just those with a USA destination.
HKG: I am a fan of both Wing F and Pier F. Food and drink selections are nice. The nap rooms (with bathtub) are a treat, and the sit-down restaurants are both incredible. I know I can get all these things away from an airport, but 15 minutes of massage really improves my outlook on life.
TYO: AA NRT AC is okay, but JL F is super nice. Great food, lots of different comfortable places to sit. Very quiet. Most people observe the no mobile phones signs. Used to have
good massages, but I believe they've been discontinued. HND has been renovated since my last visit; I believe the massage chairs which replaced the human massages are no longer available. The best thing about automated body pummeling is that unless there is a lineup, I have no qualms about pushing the button for additional pummeling. Both have freshly-made sushi during certain hours, and IIRC NRT has a ramen restaurant too.
FUK: Amazingly, there is a Flounge here too. One of the most serene lounges I've gotten to wait in. Just businessmen and me with my Emerald status.
LAX: Qantas-operated OW Flounge. Incredibly competent and friendly staff who recognize me from my few-times-a-year visits. Stupendous seasonal menu in the restaurant (people rave about salt-and-pepper squid, my favourite is the duck salad) and outstanding choices at the bar, including some high-quality Australian red wines.
MEL: I had one visit to the Flounge here. All I remember was a great massage and a rack of lamb. I slept like a rock on the ensuing CX flight to HKG. I shared this lounge with a few businesspeople and some very elegant-looking retired people who looked as if they could afford to be there.
JFK: AA Flagship can be crowded and noisy, especially in the late afternoon before all the Europe flights leave. The food choices are quite good though, and I like the showers a lot.
YVR: Honourable mention to CX for its open design. It takes advantage of the beautiful YVR terminal design. The noodle and dim sum choices are tasty and prepared to order.

I agree on the BA SEA S-Gate lounge -- TERRIBLE.

However, I disagree on the IB MAD Dali Lounge. The only hot option was soup and then some sandwiches when I visited in the afternoon. Perhaps they put out better food around dinner time.

Are you perhaps thinking of the Dining Room at the the Velazquez Lounge that offers full service meals (only open for late night dining)?

Let's not forget the QF F Lounge at LAX and SYD.

Both are very good. The one in SYD is really phenomenal.

Of course, who knows when traveling through Oz will be okay again. :(

I rather enjoy the pancakes in the dining area at the currently-closed Qantas international F lounge in Sydney, though the burgers aren't bad, either.

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More photos of the Sydney lounge are HERE

I've also been to the Qantas first class international lounge in Melbourne (more pancakes) which is a little smaller.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...10966aa2f4.jpg

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More photos of the Melbourne lounge HERE

Might have been. I remember that the cold cuts were more than just jamon and manchego. Everything was native Spanish and exceptional. And the wine...

JL First at NRT.