Nuster

Am pretty sure that your views are not commercially driven but, although tongue in cheek, it is hard to understand how you can claim "world leading" and "top of the list" if it's not due to some sort of over-familiarity.

rossmacd

Comedy gold this thread so far

Ned1968

To be fair to both points of view, there are two different ways to "judge" a lounge: the wow factor for a first time visitor, and the service element which is potentially different for a frequent visitor where it feels like home.

CCR's strength seems to be the service element rather than wow factor; and that service element is felt strongest by regular visitors who are recognised by the staff.

It's not unfair bias - both points of view are equally valid and depend on the nature of your experience. It's natural for someone to have a positive opinion of a place where they feel comfortable and recognised.

Does the CCR have "wow factor" for less frequent visitors? Doesn't sound like it. I had a couple years of CCR card membership and never felt that it was home. Conversely, the CX lounges definitely have "wow factor" - I haven't visited them often enough to know if regulars feel like part of the (nice but uncontroversial) furniture.

Cap'n Benj

Certainly closer, would prob still choose BA for the food/ crew though and CCR on the way back.

Land-of-Miles

I quite like the CCR changes which seem to amount to reupholstering furniture and creating a more Morrocan theme to the terrace which was always a pretty poor space I always thought.

What is downright poor is the lack of additional power sockets being installed on the terrace (just why would you not do this?). A frankly terrible menu in November and further dumbing down of the wine selection which beyond the LPGS might have credibly been sourced from Lidl.

The bathrooms are still laughably poor both in design and sometimes cleanliness, the 1970s style brown dragon upholstery and carpet tiles in many areas is a bold retro choice.

I paid a visit to the new Plaza Premium lounge by A7 yesterday and was rather impressed by the superior decor and aspect as well as well thought through private workspaces (something entirely absent in the CCR).

The idea that the CCR is in tne top 6 lounges in the world is risible, it probably just about makes it into the top 6 lounges at LHR but that is far from clear cut. I would certainly put the UA, QR, EY, CX and VS lounges well ahead and some of those are J only.

Nuster

So if you're a CCR regular, you will be fine? World leading indeed

Cap'n Benj

As ever these things are personal. You forgot space (as in feeling as opposed to sq footage) and ambience from your list, something I rate fare more highly than most other things on your list.

I much prefer the CCR to the LX F lounge due to the above.

DYKWIA

The service was generally poor to middling whenever I used it (maybe 10 times in total). So, the point you make about regulars getting the better service rings true. It shouldn't be like that - everyone should get good service, all of the time, in the flagship lounge.

My experiences at other lounges (LH FCT, EK F, CX Wing/Pier, QR Al Safwa) have always been a lot better service wise than the CCR.

One of the best experiences was the VS J lounge at BOS. From the moment we entered, we had great personal service (glasses never empty, offers of cocktails etc.). And the food was way better than the CCR. I've not done any other VS lounges - but I'd certainly like to try out the LHR Clubhouse.

SFO777

Why am I not surprised?

Padmeister

it is! it's the same as my car is better than your car argument

It's a bloody lounge for god sake

Cap'n Benj

...because deep down you know it to be true?!

Its interesting your wife is willing to slum it to go direct, given all the QR vs BA threads on here more evidence that us FTers are indeed a breed apart

DYKWIA

But still avoiding BA

orbitmic

It’s perfectly fine to disagree with cws, but to insinuate he’s somehow professionally affiliated with ba or that his appreciation of ba is due to some sort of ‘bribe’ is silly and laughable as well as offensive.

scillyisles

Hmm this sort of implies do not comment until you have actually experienced it which in this case is the new refreshed CCR.
This seems to go against what I thought was one of the unwritten rules of FT in that everyone's views are welcome irrespective of whether they have experience of a particular service or feature etc.

I guess I had better not say anything more about the refurbishment until our next visit in just over a weeks time.

Having read the whole thread, I can wholeheartedly concur with this viewpoint.

I personally would not rate the CCR as in the top 10 airline lounges worldwide although I can understand how regulars can have their views distorted by the superior service which results from being a regular. Since becoming a more frequent user of the CCR, certain staff in the dining area recognise us and the service level received is night and day compared to when we visited infrequently. Even so, the service offered is comparable to the service we get in other top lounges that we visit less often and we still get cold food on occasions (particularly at breakfast time) missing food and drink orders and all the other service irregularities that the CCR is famous for.

NYLON Boy

with all due respect: maybe best to just speak for yourself rather than to presume to speak for all of us on FT?