What makes a great lounge -pick the best attribute from your lounge experiences
Jul 14, 2022, 7:28 pm
#32
formerly rt23456p
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 1,210
1) Mutilple lounges in different locations of the airport
2) Proper hot food served, in the Domestic 3U lounge in CTU, they have a contract with a nearby restaurant which they will offer passenger free hot meal prepared by that restaurant
3) Large space of different seatings
2) Proper hot food served, in the Domestic 3U lounge in CTU, they have a contract with a nearby restaurant which they will offer passenger free hot meal prepared by that restaurant
3) Large space of different seatings
Jul 14, 2022, 7:39 pm
#33
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: San Diego
Programs: Plat Pro AAdvantage, but defected to BAEC
Posts: 1,222
United lounge at LAX. Grab a glass of shampoo (I did not say chambers, or bubbles 😝, though it’s probably Prosecco, rather than Champagne) and sit out on the open air terrace and watch the aircraft pass by.
Jul 14, 2022, 7:52 pm
#34
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Piggly Wiggly "Shop the Pig!" Preferred Shopper
Posts: 57,047
i was actually thinking the Escape lounge in RNO too when I read the thread title. The only lounge in RNO; although small (ok, very small) is usually not crowded and staff are very nice. No toilet or showers either but def. have felt safe enough leaving my bag etc there when I went across the hall to the toilet.
Jul 14, 2022, 8:56 pm
#36
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Singapore
Programs: BA Gold. KrisFlyer Gold
Posts: 732
Good question. For me, it's the following in this order:
1) top shelf alcohol, especially premium still wines. Failing that, the 3 ingredients needed to make a negroni
2) copious shower facilities
3) a smoking room
4) nap room / rudimentary sleeping facilities
5) desks to work on
1) top shelf alcohol, especially premium still wines. Failing that, the 3 ingredients needed to make a negroni
2) copious shower facilities
3) a smoking room
4) nap room / rudimentary sleeping facilities
5) desks to work on
Jul 14, 2022, 9:50 pm
#38
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Auckland NZ
Programs: NZ Gold Elite, AS, AC, QF
Posts: 748
The Star Alliance Lounge in LAX is well designed, decent consumables, great staff, excellent showers. The old Turkish IST lounge was...amazing: architecture, facilities, catering, coffee, showers. Staff struggled with English more than one might expect, but overall it was magical. New IST lounge doesn't have the same patina of the culture.
This is not meant to be a which is the best lounge or argument over lounges in general but more what made a particular lounge good in personal opinion, what is the one aspect that makes you smile or still remember a particular lounge.
I have travelled extensively for work and to be honest most lounges blend, even if I have frequented regularly but for some reason some have stood out for silly reasons
obviously I’ll start (not in order of preference)
1. AA LHR T3: I loved the sweet (candy) bar, my inner child was brought straight back to childhood cinema trips with pick and mix sweet bags, when travelling through T3 I still (did) make a point to call in and make a sweet bag (or 2/3) to watch movies on the plane, my guilty pleasure
2. Helsinki airport (not sure of lounge name but on BA/AA stock) had saunas and it was an experience and made me love Finnair even more (service was above the best of IAG by far), the sauna experience was another level of relaxation and made the 5 flight sector relaxing and enjoyable, it was a personal best of 12 flight in 11 days but I did not suffer the fatigue I would normally do, that transit via the sauna both energised and relaxed.
I have travelled extensively for work and to be honest most lounges blend, even if I have frequented regularly but for some reason some have stood out for silly reasons
obviously I’ll start (not in order of preference)
1. AA LHR T3: I loved the sweet (candy) bar, my inner child was brought straight back to childhood cinema trips with pick and mix sweet bags, when travelling through T3 I still (did) make a point to call in and make a sweet bag (or 2/3) to watch movies on the plane, my guilty pleasure
2. Helsinki airport (not sure of lounge name but on BA/AA stock) had saunas and it was an experience and made me love Finnair even more (service was above the best of IAG by far), the sauna experience was another level of relaxation and made the 5 flight sector relaxing and enjoyable, it was a personal best of 12 flight in 11 days but I did not suffer the fatigue I would normally do, that transit via the sauna both energised and relaxed.
Jul 14, 2022, 11:39 pm
#39
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: somewhere north of stateside...
Posts: 4,146
Excellent showers: well-ventilated, clean, spacious and aesthetically pleasing. The Cathay Wing in Hong Kong does this extremely well.
A quiet atmosphere: achieved at Qatar’s Al-Safwa First lounge in Doha, helped by few passengers, but also extensive use of sound deadening materials… if those walls were all stone, it’d be awful.
Healthy meal options: Qantas does this well throughout their network.
Perhaps a bit less healthy, but most impressive food goes to the AF La Premiere Lounge at CDG. The sedan transfers to the aircraft don’t hurt either :-).
A quiet atmosphere: achieved at Qatar’s Al-Safwa First lounge in Doha, helped by few passengers, but also extensive use of sound deadening materials… if those walls were all stone, it’d be awful.
Healthy meal options: Qantas does this well throughout their network.
Perhaps a bit less healthy, but most impressive food goes to the AF La Premiere Lounge at CDG. The sedan transfers to the aircraft don’t hurt either :-).
Jul 14, 2022, 11:52 pm
#40
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,343
I want a proper meal so I don't have to rely on the plane food or lack of it (especially on short-haul economy), lots of tables with charging points and space to repack /organise my hand baggage if I need to.
One of the things I dislike about BA in T5 is that often the only place to sit is the armchairs and you have to contort yourself to eat from those tables in between.
One of the things I dislike about BA in T5 is that often the only place to sit is the armchairs and you have to contort yourself to eat from those tables in between.
Jul 15, 2022, 12:24 am
#41
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: UK. West Sussex
Programs: BAEC. Gold
Posts: 786
A little space and relative peace
Somewhere to charge my phone etc
A nice coffee and a snack
But most importantly the interaction with staff
Recently in early May, was travelling back from Bari in Italy.
Popped in to the small lounge by the departure gates
Was greated by a pleasant girl, who recommended some food and snacks.
Then made my coffee and brought it over to my table, along with a glass of wine.
Something she didn't have to do, but just went that extra mile
Then took an interest in where I was going and turns out she used to live in Brighton, southern UK.
She then checked on the other lounge guests in the same manner.
Very pleasant employee and lounge experience
Somewhere to charge my phone etc
A nice coffee and a snack
But most importantly the interaction with staff
Recently in early May, was travelling back from Bari in Italy.
Popped in to the small lounge by the departure gates
Was greated by a pleasant girl, who recommended some food and snacks.
Then made my coffee and brought it over to my table, along with a glass of wine.
Something she didn't have to do, but just went that extra mile
Then took an interest in where I was going and turns out she used to live in Brighton, southern UK.
She then checked on the other lounge guests in the same manner.
Very pleasant employee and lounge experience
Jul 15, 2022, 5:26 am
#42
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Programs: JAL Global Club & oneworld Sapphire, ANA SFC & Star Alliance Gold
Posts: 3,740
Peace and quiet. That is what I want most from a lounge. My fondest lounge memories are of lounges that were a quiet oasis from the noise and stress of the terminal.
Jul 15, 2022, 5:49 am
#43
Join Date: May 2022
Location: Arlington, Virginia
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Aeroplan 25k, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 194
I'm easy to please. Reasonably quiet, plenty of chargers, natural light/runway views, and a cup of coffee or a glass of wine is all I need.