Dublin T1 DAA lounge - a whinge
Jun 1, 2018, 12:50 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Programs: DC *S
Posts: 78
Dublin T1 DAA lounge - a whinge
For the last month I have been travelling back to LHR from DUB at the weekends. This is the 2nd Friday in this period that I have arrived at the DAA lounge used by BA around 17:30 to discover that they have run out of red wine! How? Its Friday evening. Surely apart from G&T red and white wine are the staples a weary traveller needs. To compound matters, I am Coeliac and the lounge provides (a bonus) a gluten free pack - crisps, two packaged slices of Gluten Free bread (presumably to have with the gluten free soup!).
However, every week I've arrived around 17:15, the soup is finished and won't be replenished before closing. I know I'm a grumpy old man, but surely a lounge would try and impress its travellers with the food and drink offering when said travellers are in most need of a a little pick me up. Is this an abherration or power for the course with this lounge?
However, every week I've arrived around 17:15, the soup is finished and won't be replenished before closing. I know I'm a grumpy old man, but surely a lounge would try and impress its travellers with the food and drink offering when said travellers are in most need of a a little pick me up. Is this an abherration or power for the course with this lounge?
Jun 1, 2018, 3:47 pm
#4
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Goodness, finally a lounge rant that with which I could participate! Welcome to Flyertalk and welcome to the BA forum Rngdb, it's good to get new members here and even better if they become regular contributors.
Jun 1, 2018, 5:02 pm
#6
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,152
Like many FTr's I have been there a few times and found the breakfast OK but there was NO atmosphere and definitely NO ambience!!!! Shocking! 
A very bland lounge but away from the crowds is the main thing.
A very bland lounge but away from the crowds is the main thing.
Jun 1, 2018, 8:25 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: EWR
Programs: Mucci, AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 587
I have been at this lounge many, many times. The primary benefit is the respite from the crowds. The food and drink are never (in my opinion), worth the visit. Invariably, I've avoided the lounge on my past few visits. Instead, I spend some time in the Butler's chocolate bar sipping a hot chocolate of some sort. Nice way to bid adieu to Dublin!
Jun 1, 2018, 8:45 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: DUB-BOS
Programs: various
Posts: 3,690
This truly is a terrible lounge. Amazingly the last refurb actually made it worse, however DUB lounges are just weak in general.
The EI lounge is a bit better (not much), and EY lounge is (was?) the only really good lounge.
The EI lounge is a bit better (not much), and EY lounge is (was?) the only really good lounge.
Jun 1, 2018, 10:51 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: DUB/ORD/SIN/PVG
Programs: EI AerClub Concierge, EK Gold, BA Gold, BD Gold (Retired), HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold
Posts: 2,923
Having such poor lounges does at least mean the locals are free from the tyranny off FF programmes and helps keep ex-DUB prices down!
Jun 2, 2018, 11:49 am
#10
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 411
I visited this lounge many times over probably around the last 5 years. Over that time the quality has steadily declined to the point that I will not always even bother to visit unless I have a lot time before the flight. I certainly wouldn't describe it as terrible, but wouldn't rate it anything higher than ok. It used to be a really nice lounge that I enjoyed visiting but it is obvious that there has been significant cost cutting taking place. If paying for entry it certainly isn't worth the 20 euros that I think they charge.
Jun 2, 2018, 4:53 pm
#12
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Dublin
Programs: BA GGL, Hilton Gold
Posts: 196
The last refurbishment seemed to be all about packing more individuals in while at the same time making it more difficult to access not just alcohol but also soup, coffee, etc.
The staff are friendly and helpful but the running out of non-perishable basic goods is too frequent. In addition to the already mentioned wine, tonic and soup, please add Coke/Diet Coke and the free Irish Times newspapers. In addition, the sandwiches and crisps sometimes come and go with explanation.
The staff are friendly and helpful but the running out of non-perishable basic goods is too frequent. In addition to the already mentioned wine, tonic and soup, please add Coke/Diet Coke and the free Irish Times newspapers. In addition, the sandwiches and crisps sometimes come and go with explanation.
Jun 3, 2018, 1:20 am
#13
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Spire Elite
Posts: 289
Jun 3, 2018, 1:35 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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For the last month I have been travelling back to LHR from DUB at the weekends. This is the 2nd Friday in this period that I have arrived at the DAA lounge used by BA around 17:30 to discover that they have run out of red wine! How? Its Friday evening. Surely apart from G&T red and white wine are the staples a weary traveller needs. To compound matters, I am Coeliac and the lounge provides (a bonus) a gluten free pack - crisps, two packaged slices of Gluten Free bread (presumably to have with the gluten free soup!).
However, every week I've arrived around 17:15, the soup is finished and won't be replenished before closing. I know I'm a grumpy old man, but surely a lounge would try and impress its travellers with the food and drink offering when said travellers are in most need of a a little pick me up. Is this an abherration or power for the course with this lounge?
However, every week I've arrived around 17:15, the soup is finished and won't be replenished before closing. I know I'm a grumpy old man, but surely a lounge would try and impress its travellers with the food and drink offering when said travellers are in most need of a a little pick me up. Is this an abherration or power for the course with this lounge?
Jun 3, 2018, 1:43 am
#15
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Programs: BA Gold, Mucci
Posts: 2,068
I agree with all the comments above. It really is a pretty bad lounge - awful decor, the bare minimum of cold food options (tasty, but not many choices) and just a bit of a snore all round. Interestingly, the 51st and Green lounge after US Preclearance is much better in every respect, but you have to be flying to the United States to access that.
It's a shame there isn't another lounge at Dublin to compete, as the DAA lounge in T1 is not great, and that's putting it mildly.