Wifie

I have had a quick search and just want to clarify two questions if anyone can help please.

1. We shall be travelling HBO. Do we need to still visit the check in / bag drop desks first to obtain a lounge pass before going through security?
2. I understand that the lounge is before passport control for non-Schengen. Any feedback on when to leave the lounge to get through to the gate?

Many thanks .

flatlander

Yes. Note that:

• The lounge is past the passport check (leaving Schengen zone) but VIE has security at the gate and it is none too swift so you can’t go from lounge to gate quickly.
• There are two lounges, past the passport check, and the main signs lead to the Austrian Airlines and Star Alliance lounge. The AIR lounge is slightly before the Star lounge and is a single closed door in the wall.
• There is near bugger-all F&B beyond security, only a vending machine for popular soft drinks and water. There are toilets.
• The lounge only does hot food after 17:00, before that it is soup, crisps, bread and salad only. Other food options past passport control are weak - sandwiches with a variety of fillings with cheese, pretzels, etc.
• The lounge does have some good regional beer.

BMWMOT

Thank you flatlander especially the heads up on security at the gates. What do they do, a passport/id check or full blown security checking bags etc?
We have an early flight (7:30 ish) so probably won't spend too much time in the lounge especially now if we have to get in queue at the gate.

Airprox

Security is at the gate, not passport control (you will have gone through that before getting to the lounge)

BMWMOT

Thank you. This is very helpful. I never would have know this. I'm used to going thru security then heading to a lounge and eventually right to the gate. This seems like it makes it difficult to gauge the amount of time needed to go from the lounge into the gate area .

The _Banking_Scot

Hi,

I'm off to VIE on Friday and back Monday and will report back

Regards


TBS

flatlander

I got back from my first visit to VIE today and it was also a surprise for me (my opinions on this probably belong in another thread). It largely negated the convenient lounge positioning.

Yes, it does make it hard to time your lounge to gate exit. I might recommend leaving the lounge 45-50 minutes before departure, as long as the aircraft was on stand at the expected arrival time of the inbound, which should see you about at the head of the queue for security by the time the aircraft begins boarding. If you're a "board last" sort of person obviously that won't do, but unless your timing is excellent you'll end up standing in a queue for security screening and then boarding last. Given all that, since I'd rather sit in an aircraft seat than stand in a queue and I suspect most people also would, even if the lounge is preferable to both of these, I suggest the aforementioned 45-50 minutes.

This is the full, and only, security screening you will go through. No liquids except in STEB bag, etc. Full-on patdown if you ping the metal detector.

Also something that may be useful about getting to the airport: the exit from the train station (CAT or U-Bahn S7) comes out near Terminal 3. While you may have arrived into VIE and felt like you came to the train station from Terminal 3 based on how you walked, BA actually checks in at Terminal 1 which is a non-trivial walk from the train station. At one point you'll be in an area with construction and no clear signage, continue on past the construction and you'll find the T1/1A checkin areas (if you need to check anything in). We may be drifting off a "lounge" thread at this point.

BMWMOT

Thanks again. No worries about drifting off topic. I appreciate the information. Since I have such an early a.m. flight, my plan was to take a taxi from the hotel to the airport where I figure I'd get dropped off at the correct terminal for BA. I'm reading your post and trying to visualize the process. What I take from this is they do the screening as they call boarding vs. getting screened to go sit in the gate area and wait for boarding. If that's the process I guess they don't do priority boarding for CE, OW Elites etc? Everyone just queues in the security line.

BMWMOT

Hi TBS
Just wondering how you made out traveling back from VIE? How was the lounge/security at the gate experience?

Globaliser

A couple of updates:-

1. The voucher system continues to operate in the temporary departure hall. There is now only a self-service restaurant there, but it has quite a reasonable selection of food and drink and (although I haven't been a RTM regular) I doubt that it's substantially more limited than what used to be available in the main terminal building.
2. IIRC, the voucher now says three items up to €15, which sounds like it may have been updated since nldogbert's visit to correct the position. The voucher also says that the eligible items are marked with a BA logo, but as far as I could see, none of the price tickets showed this - but it didn't seem to be a problem.

Sadly, the impressions on the RTM website of the finished main terminal building suggest that the outdoor terrace area(s) may be less congenial than they used to be. Sitting out in the open air with a beer was something to look forward to ... although perhaps not in February.

TedToToe

Visiting DUB for the first time in a few weeks as part of an exEU itinerary. Does the executive lounge have views of the apron or runway? We have a few hours to kill after our positioning flight and Miss T is a keen ‘spotter’!

corporate-wage-slave

Unfortunately it's inside, no views. Aer Lingus' lounge is better for that but you won't be able to access that with a BA or BACF operated service. It's an OK lounge but not for an extended period (and the e-gates won't let you in too early either).

TedToToe

Thank you, c-w-s, we will plan accordingly.

paulaf

Is there any update yet on lounge provision for this airport please, thinking of going in July? Thanks

corporate-wage-slave

There is nothing showing in my reservation. My hunch is that there will be a lounge provision, since the one and only lounge in Podgorica is owned by the airport. Even by the standards of the region, it's pretty poor, just ssome comfy chairs and a limited range of food and drink. It's quite small, just some glass / plasterboard panels separate it from the main departure hall.