Best/worst OW lounges
Jun 18, 2011 | 9:47 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: AA PLT MM, BA, UA, AC
Posts: 800
Best/worst OW lounges
Based on my experiences;
The best:-
BA, Galleries, LHR, T5
CX, The Wing and the Cabin, HKG (prefer both to the Pier).
IB, Velazquez Lounge, MAD, T4
IB, The Dali Lounge, MAD, T4S
JL, The Sakura Lounge, NRT, T2
QF, The Qantas Club, MEL
Not as good as the lounges above, but worth a mention:-
RJ, the Crowne Club, AMM - was pleasantly surprised with this lounge.
The worst:-
MA, The Sky Club, BUD both T2A and T2B locations.
Not surprisingly, most of the best lounges I've visited are at the airline's main hub.
FTers, what are the best/worst OW lounges you've been to? Please do not include third party lounges, only lounges operated by OW airlines.
The best:-
BA, Galleries, LHR, T5
CX, The Wing and the Cabin, HKG (prefer both to the Pier).
IB, Velazquez Lounge, MAD, T4
IB, The Dali Lounge, MAD, T4S
JL, The Sakura Lounge, NRT, T2
QF, The Qantas Club, MEL
Not as good as the lounges above, but worth a mention:-
RJ, the Crowne Club, AMM - was pleasantly surprised with this lounge.
The worst:-
MA, The Sky Club, BUD both T2A and T2B locations.
Not surprisingly, most of the best lounges I've visited are at the airline's main hub.
FTers, what are the best/worst OW lounges you've been to? Please do not include third party lounges, only lounges operated by OW airlines.
Jun 18, 2011 | 8:52 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Posts: 4,635
The BA lounges at T5 are fine but the BA staff that work there cause me to put them at the bottom. Words like uniformed, unhelpful, arrogant, even nasty come to mind. My sample size is high.
Last edited by millionmiler; Jun 18, 2011 at 8:58 pm
Jun 18, 2011 | 9:38 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: QF Gold LTG (ow Saph), HHon Silver, Marriot Gold
Posts: 3,011
Think you need to differentiate between F/Emerald lounges and J/Sapphire
eg. With QF at SYD and MEL the F lounges are exceptional, the J lounges pretty good
QF/BA at SIN I would rate the J lounge above the F lounge.
eg. With QF at SYD and MEL the F lounges are exceptional, the J lounges pretty good
QF/BA at SIN I would rate the J lounge above the F lounge.
Jun 19, 2011 | 3:55 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Asia/Europe
Programs: CX, OZ, MU (+AY, DL), Shangri-La, Hilton
Posts: 7,233
Overall best OW lounge - The Pier at HKG
Best OW service attitude - American Airlines Arrivals Lounge staff at LHR T3
Best OW atmosphere - BA lounge at TXL
Best OW revival experience - Finnair Spa & Saunas at HEL
Best OW service attitude - American Airlines Arrivals Lounge staff at LHR T3
Best OW atmosphere - BA lounge at TXL
Best OW revival experience - Finnair Spa & Saunas at HEL
Jun 19, 2011 | 5:17 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: SYD BXG
Programs: QF WP/LTG | UA P
Posts: 13,664
The best view award is shared between the WING (HKG) and SYD F lounge. However, the NZ SYD lounge & view is right up there with the best.
The worst view awards are shared between the AKL QF (international) lounge and SIN F QF/BA lounge.
The worst view awards are shared between the AKL QF (international) lounge and SIN F QF/BA lounge.
Jun 20, 2011 | 2:32 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: MIL, PAR
Programs: FB Gold (E+),TK Elite(*A Gold)
Posts: 689
The new Malev lounge is now located in the SkyCourt.
See here for more commments:
New malev lounge in Budapest
T2B is instead still working: of course is not one of the best lounges in the world but it is effective for small transfers.
The bad points may be: toilets are outside; 2 PCs available for visitors; very small selection of snacks (while it is better for drinks); short selection of magazines (only WSJ and Economist for English readers).
You have however a good view outside...
Good note: you may now use both lounges when you are flying through BUD as BUS SkyCourt may be entered by all passengers.
I will try to post more pics in the future...
Jun 20, 2011 | 9:03 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA LT PLT+2MM, BA Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 6,389
My favorites are:
JL F Lounge NRT
BA F Lounge T5
BA F Lounge T3
AC Lounge AUS (home town props!)
CX Wing Lounge (HNK)
IB Lounge T4 MAD
Not quite up to par..
CX Lounge KL (Although very handy before the 10:50 PM red eye to NRT)
AA FL ORD- they could do so much better!!
JL F Lounge NRT
BA F Lounge T5
BA F Lounge T3
AC Lounge AUS (home town props!)
CX Wing Lounge (HNK)
IB Lounge T4 MAD
Not quite up to par..
CX Lounge KL (Although very handy before the 10:50 PM red eye to NRT)
AA FL ORD- they could do so much better!!
Jun 20, 2011 | 10:30 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattDisc.►HiltonGold►ALL Plat.
Posts: 22,337
Of the First Class lounges I have experienced in recent times:
Better (always look forward to visiting them):
Worse (Better than the gate lounge):
Better (always look forward to visiting them):
- QF MEL T2 First Class Lounge (more Intimate than SYD)
- QF SYD T1 First Class Lounge
- CX HKG Wing First Class (better view than Pier)
- CX HKG Pier First Class
- BA LHR T5 Galleries First
- JL NRT First Class lounge Satellite (when open)
- JL NRT First Class lounge (when open)
- ...
Worse (Better than the gate lounge):
...
997. QF AKL First Class
998. QF BNE First Class
999. OW LAX TBIT First Class (Nothing wrong with the lounge itself, it's just always too crowded in the evenings)
997. QF AKL First Class
998. QF BNE First Class
999. OW LAX TBIT First Class (Nothing wrong with the lounge itself, it's just always too crowded in the evenings)
Last edited by serfty; Jun 21, 2011 at 6:06 pm
Jun 21, 2011 | 5:03 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PLAT,PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Gld,Hyatt Disc,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 11,031
Agree with many of the best lounges.
As for worst, at least for major international gateways, I'd nominate the SFO BA lounge, which CX shares. Nice staff, but the J lounge is on the cramped side for the traffic it generates when in use. And the F lounge falls even further below F standards, constituting just a modest-sized room. Neither has much in terms of food offerings.
Having said that, it's somewhat understandable that it's no great shakes, given both airlines' limited use of it for a total of only a few (four?) flights per day. And the one upside is that sometimes you can board directly from the lounge.
As for worst, at least for major international gateways, I'd nominate the SFO BA lounge, which CX shares. Nice staff, but the J lounge is on the cramped side for the traffic it generates when in use. And the F lounge falls even further below F standards, constituting just a modest-sized room. Neither has much in terms of food offerings.
Having said that, it's somewhat understandable that it's no great shakes, given both airlines' limited use of it for a total of only a few (four?) flights per day. And the one upside is that sometimes you can board directly from the lounge.
Jun 22, 2011 | 10:47 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: AA Lifetime PLT , BA Silver , BD RIP , HH Gold, SPG / Marriott PLT , EF Subscriber
Posts: 6,733
Agree with many of the best lounges.
As for worst, at least for major international gateways, I'd nominate the SFO BA lounge, which CX shares. Nice staff, but the J lounge is on the cramped side for the traffic it generates when in use. And the F lounge falls even further below F standards, constituting just a modest-sized room. Neither has much in terms of food offerings.
Having said that, it's somewhat understandable that it's no great shakes, given both airlines' limited use of it for a total of only a few (four?) flights per day. And the one upside is that sometimes you can board directly from the lounge.
As for worst, at least for major international gateways, I'd nominate the SFO BA lounge, which CX shares. Nice staff, but the J lounge is on the cramped side for the traffic it generates when in use. And the F lounge falls even further below F standards, constituting just a modest-sized room. Neither has much in terms of food offerings.
Having said that, it's somewhat understandable that it's no great shakes, given both airlines' limited use of it for a total of only a few (four?) flights per day. And the one upside is that sometimes you can board directly from the lounge.
Jun 23, 2011 | 7:44 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Little dot in Asia
Programs: AA-PP, HL-DM, MR-LTP, HY-LTG
Posts: 26,017
I nominate any of the so-called AAdmirals lounges within the USA as one of the worst anywhere.
Wait till MH joins OW, then their KUL lounge will rival CX's in HKG !
Wait till MH joins OW, then their KUL lounge will rival CX's in HKG !
Jun 23, 2011 | 1:16 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA LT PLT+2MM, BA Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 6,389
Jun 25, 2011 | 9:19 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Miami 7-Million Miler EXP
Posts: 829
Worst Lounge
Of the First Class lounges I have experienced in recent times:
Better (always look forward to visiting them):
Better (always look forward to visiting them):
- QF MEL T2 First Class Lounge (more Intimate than SYD)
- QF SYD T1 First Class Lounge
- CX HKG Wing First Class (better view than Pier)
- CX HKG Pier First Class
- BA LHR T5 Galleries First
- JL NRT First Class lounge Satellite (when open)
- JL NRT First Class lounge (when open)
- ...