Vote for the worst and best lounge
Mar 15, 2019, 10:03 am
#76
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 14
Nowhere near as widely travelled as many, my vote for worst with BA is Bilbao BIO. Food selection on my visit was either squished sandwiches badly wrapped in cling film, crisps, or naff biscuits, and the room itself is stuck away in a corner of the terminal with only a view of piled up road furniture.
Contrary to the experiences of @vicstone in Japan, I absolutely loved the JL F lounge in HND.
Contrary to the experiences of @vicstone in Japan, I absolutely loved the JL F lounge in HND.
Last edited by vicstone; Mar 15, 2019 at 10:05 am Reason: correction
Mar 15, 2019, 10:09 am
#77
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: BA Gold, A3 Gold, FB Gold, Bonvoy Titanium / LTP, Accor Plat
Posts: 13,878
Worst (BA, and anyone): What pretended to pass for a lounge in TIP.
Although the old Saudia lounge in RUH was only useful because it got you away from the main terminal.
And many so-called lounges in the US for AA and UA - though I really do like the Flagship AA lounge in LAX.
Best: I think it's easy to underestimate the food in the BA T5 Flounge, and I like being there despite everything. The CX HK F lounges of course are excellent. And my home lounge in DAR, because while it has very little to recommend it, it's still just so much better than the rest of the airport...
Although the old Saudia lounge in RUH was only useful because it got you away from the main terminal.
And many so-called lounges in the US for AA and UA - though I really do like the Flagship AA lounge in LAX.
Best: I think it's easy to underestimate the food in the BA T5 Flounge, and I like being there despite everything. The CX HK F lounges of course are excellent. And my home lounge in DAR, because while it has very little to recommend it, it's still just so much better than the rest of the airport...
Mar 15, 2019, 11:20 am
#78
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 1,830
True, but there are some bad lounges here. Nothing on the scale of some of the worst worldwide, but having flown CX recently (OW relevance) out of T2 there is no good option that has natural light or space to breath. I wonder if it's any better in the Virgin lounge?
I was in KIX recently and the lounges there ranged from minimal (whatever CX got me) to risible (some lounges with just a few seats and a small fridge with a few soft drink cans in them, AMEX?).
Best: Pier F HKG, I rate it above CCR LHR. But there are lots of lounges other people rate e.g. LH and QA ones that I have never visited.
I was in KIX recently and the lounges there ranged from minimal (whatever CX got me) to risible (some lounges with just a few seats and a small fridge with a few soft drink cans in them, AMEX?).
Best: Pier F HKG, I rate it above CCR LHR. But there are lots of lounges other people rate e.g. LH and QA ones that I have never visited.
Mar 15, 2019, 11:48 am
#80
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 37
Best and worst lounges
Worst: Again the CW lounge at ORD T5, (food - oh dear, though the staff really tried). If it's non-Oneworld the tiny 'lounge' in Brussels Charleroi takes the prize for best waste of a lounge pass (no alcohol, just some sweets as I recall, no windows, no staff, just some sofas in a room. No wonder they make you pay before you see it!)
Mar 15, 2019, 12:01 pm
#81
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,148
Just arrived from Bangkok (Thai Airways) via Tokyo Haneda (ANA) to New York JFK. First Class should be very good. Not so!
Thai Airways in Bangkok - The best I have ever visited. They provided electric car to take me to that large lounge. You get your own rather large room with a desk, sitting area with a couch and side chairs, huge TV. You can dine there or go to a stunning restaurant at the end of the lounge. Lounge was mostly empty.
ANA First Class lounge at the gate 110 at Haneda airport - Huge lounge, at the entrance, left side had sitting booths and a restaurant (all booths were occupied, restaurant wait time was over 30 minutes - I did not like that). I went to the right at the entrance. It was difficult to find a seat, since it was completely occupied, food selection was mediocre. People were swarming over the food like locust. I have asked the staff if all those passengers were flying 1st Class. Apparently, they let everyone into that lounge, so the exclusivity of flying First Class was completely erased. I have seen many of that First Class Lounge visitors boarding my flight. They were sitting in Business and even Economy class. Many of them went to a First Class sleeve entrance boarding the plane just for show, and then followed to their seats in Business and Economy. Business and Economy had their own sleeve.
Last year, I have had similar experience when I flew with Japan Airlines via Narita - Overcrowded First Class Lounge. The staff member apologized and put me in the Business Class lounge that was less crowded.
It is a shame that Japanese Airline companies got it all wrong. In the future, if I fly First Class, I will avoid Japan.
Thai Airways in Bangkok - The best I have ever visited. They provided electric car to take me to that large lounge. You get your own rather large room with a desk, sitting area with a couch and side chairs, huge TV. You can dine there or go to a stunning restaurant at the end of the lounge. Lounge was mostly empty.
ANA First Class lounge at the gate 110 at Haneda airport - Huge lounge, at the entrance, left side had sitting booths and a restaurant (all booths were occupied, restaurant wait time was over 30 minutes - I did not like that). I went to the right at the entrance. It was difficult to find a seat, since it was completely occupied, food selection was mediocre. People were swarming over the food like locust. I have asked the staff if all those passengers were flying 1st Class. Apparently, they let everyone into that lounge, so the exclusivity of flying First Class was completely erased. I have seen many of that First Class Lounge visitors boarding my flight. They were sitting in Business and even Economy class. Many of them went to a First Class sleeve entrance boarding the plane just for show, and then followed to their seats in Business and Economy. Business and Economy had their own sleeve.
Last year, I have had similar experience when I flew with Japan Airlines via Narita - Overcrowded First Class Lounge. The staff member apologized and put me in the Business Class lounge that was less crowded.
It is a shame that Japanese Airline companies got it all wrong. In the future, if I fly First Class, I will avoid Japan.
That being said, the ANA Suite Lounge in Haneda does not have enough capacity to serve all of the Diamond members that ANA has, leading to a very mediocre experience. The base product is not great to to begin with and add the crowds and you have a very poor experience. For the the outstanding F products that ANA and JAL offer in the air, their lounge experiences are not up to scratch.
Mar 15, 2019, 12:07 pm
#82
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 386
Worst has to be CPT at the moment. Heaving with people, aircon is struggling, dirty crockery everywhere. And then they call the LGW flight, seats become available, and there’s now some rice to go with the curry.... all is well with the world again.
Mar 15, 2019, 1:21 pm
#84
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Maryland, USA
Programs: AA Platinum/2m miler, Marriott A and LTT, Delta Diamond, Hertz Presidents, Avis Presidents. +more
Posts: 127
Best is the London Virgin Clubhouse because it offers kosher meals. Worst - most Delta Skyclubs that don't offer this.
Mar 15, 2019, 1:46 pm
#86
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold and various hotel programs (wishing they were all linked)
Posts: 100
I really like the AA flagship lounges. The food is a good choice between comfort food and very healthy offerings. The showers are also normally first class. So my vote goes to LAX and ORD with ORD having first class dining with Krug. Perfect.
my least favourite is the BA lounge at LAS - the shower is in the men’s toilet. Just grim. Oddly I used to like the F lounge in the old LGW terminal because the staff were so ‘old school’ BA.
my least favourite is the BA lounge at LAS - the shower is in the men’s toilet. Just grim. Oddly I used to like the F lounge in the old LGW terminal because the staff were so ‘old school’ BA.
Mar 15, 2019, 2:13 pm
#87
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: London
Programs: Sir Ratechaser Seigneur de la Patience d'un Saint (Mucci), BA Silver, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 2,553
All well and good, but until CWS posts, none of us here will ever REALLY know which the best and worst lounges are!
(also explains why NCL is well regarded, I'm sure it gets plenty of constructive feedback...)
(also explains why NCL is well regarded, I'm sure it gets plenty of constructive feedback...)
Mar 15, 2019, 3:27 pm
#88
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Lon
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 151
Although I haven't been in many:
Worst: The 'temporary BA lounge' in Terminal D at DFW. Even the lady controlling entry apologised for it before I had even set foot inside (She was right!). It was dark, dingey and horrible with inedible snacks and no hot food. I hope the new one whenever it opens is a lot better (to be honest I quite liked the old one).
Best: Boston BA lounge - Everything the temporary DFW lounge wasn't.
BM
Worst: The 'temporary BA lounge' in Terminal D at DFW. Even the lady controlling entry apologised for it before I had even set foot inside (She was right!). It was dark, dingey and horrible with inedible snacks and no hot food. I hope the new one whenever it opens is a lot better (to be honest I quite liked the old one).
Best: Boston BA lounge - Everything the temporary DFW lounge wasn't.
BM
I think some of the comments on BGS and CX at PEK are a bit strong. Ok they’re not the Pier but not too bad compared to some of the lounges BA uses in Europe. My favourites are the two Pier lounges in HKG.
Surprised no one has mentioned the BA lounges at LGW - prefer them to anything BA has at LHR other than Concorde with great staff and views and loads of space.
Mar 15, 2019, 3:29 pm
#89
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Australia
Programs: QF
Posts: 50
Worst for me is easily Air Asia KUL lounge.
Best would be QF SIN but over the next 2 months I'm going to visit lots of lounges so this will probably change.
Most surprising was LA at SCL because of how few people were in it given that it's the head city for LA. Food was very basic but wine selection was good.
Best would be QF SIN but over the next 2 months I'm going to visit lots of lounges so this will probably change.
Most surprising was LA at SCL because of how few people were in it given that it's the head city for LA. Food was very basic but wine selection was good.
Mar 15, 2019, 3:37 pm
#90
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA - Gold for Life, CCR & GGL; IC Spire Elite Ambassador; Diamond Hilton Honors; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 6,720
Not sure whether third party lounges can be included but my boss has just sent me a message moaning about the IST lounge.
i did warn him!
i did warn him!