SWISS First, Senator and Business Lounges in Zurich Terminal E
Feb 14, 2018, 9:44 am
#256
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: LH M&M, BA EC, DL SM
Posts: 5,731
Feb 14, 2018, 9:45 am
#257
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: LH M&M, BA EC, DL SM
Posts: 5,731
I guess I must have been lucky - or we have different understandings of a "proper whiskey glass". I always got a long-stem tulip glass, but open at the lip, something like this: https://cdnimg.webstaurantstore.com/...16/1385325.jpg
A lot of people think a "proper whiskey glass" is a tumbler, because they see that in american movies. But it doesn't have to be, there are so many varieties out there.
A lot of people think a "proper whiskey glass" is a tumbler, because they see that in american movies. But it doesn't have to be, there are so many varieties out there.
This is actually what I would consider an appropriate glass for whisky sampling and "nosing" today. The times they are a-changing...
Mar 7, 2018, 2:38 pm
#258
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: BA
Posts: 609
LOL, please. I was just in the LX SEN lounge and it was very decent. Please, please tell me even one SEN lounge (overseas) and five *Gold lounges (let alone the half you referenced) that are better than the ZRH SEN lounge around the world?
Mar 8, 2018, 1:19 am
#259
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: EDKA, STR, ZRH
Programs: LH SEN, A3*G, IHG plat, DB Comfort, SPG gold
Posts: 964
Question is what qualifies as „better“. In terms of the design, the SEN E is probably hard to beat. However, I have always primarily criticized the food and beverage options (particularly food). If you look at most *G lounges around then world (for example both the TG and SQ lounges in HKG, and also the SEN at JFK), they do better than ZRH, at least in my opinion - even though their design and location (which is not the airlines‘ fault) might not keep up with ZRH.
Mar 8, 2018, 4:00 am
#260
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,859
Question is what qualifies as „better“. In terms of the design, the SEN E is probably hard to beat. However, I have always primarily criticized the food and beverage options (particularly food). If you look at most *G lounges around then world (for example both the TG and SQ lounges in HKG, and also the SEN at JFK), they do better than ZRH, at least in my opinion - even though their design and location (which is not the airlines‘ fault) might not keep up with ZRH.
Africa?
Europe? Same lounge 'operators' so food will be of similar quality. SK lounges aren't better. LO lounge has better food, but is often crowded. Haven't been to the LHR UA/AC/SQ lounges to compare - but that's still pretty far from most.
Asia - not a fan of the TG lounges, SQ I have had limited exposure, but even so that hardly makes a 'most'.
NH? Not really.
Mar 8, 2018, 7:32 am
#261
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: LH M&M, BA EC, DL SM
Posts: 5,731
Mar 8, 2018, 11:23 am
#262
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,455
bruce80 already pretty much summed it up.
A few lounges I find - at least in some areas (mostly food, sometimes drinks, sometimes ambience), better than LX SEN:*
-SIN, Silverkris (especially food-wise, but also drinks, minus whisky, of course) * I know that this isn't a *G lounge, but technically, it would compete with the Business lounge from LX, which is worse..
-SIN, TG, good food choices, otherwise not that much.
-DXB, SEN: Some don't like it, I personally find it quite ok food-wise. We can probably argue about that all night long..
-HKG, food-wise all 3 *A lounges beat LX SEN food. Drink-wise, Silverkris beats LX hands down.
-PEK, the food at the Business CA lounge isn't actually that bad. The Sushi is decent, and the freshly made noodle soups are good. Drink-wise it's crap, though. I do like the "open feeling" of the lounge, but others might dislike it.
-Japan, overall, is a mixed bag, mostly I prefer the LX lounge over it.
-VIE: Food is limited but tasty, lounge itself isn't much. Not the best LH group does offer
-FRA/MUC: Especially for drinks, FRA B as well as MUC (one of them..non-Schengen main terminal?) with the bars are pretty good. Food is a mixed bag, and not better than the fake-front cooking overall (but overall not worse either)
-TAP: I really like their new lounge in LIS! Food could be more varied, but if you don't visit more often than once a quarter, it does offer a good mix. Plus nice wines, spirits, drinks at the bar. And I like the airy design.
-SAS: ARN is good, OSL I heard should be fantastic, CPH is beyond ugly. Overall, not worse than SEN.
Those are the lounges I visit at least reasonable frequently.
I really like the LX design, this is where the lounge is still great.
However, the "show cooking" is basically just ready-to-eat food, and often just a limited few options are available. I tried the pasta a few times, the sauces added to it are not good at all in my opinion, the other dishes can be hit or miss. The salad bar is good!
If you're lucky and hitting a "good food day", it's still not bad, but just - again, in my opinion - food-wise not as good as some other *A lounges, and even a few SEN's.
With the drinks, it's quite easy: If you like Whisky, you're (still) in heaven at the LX SEN. If you don't like Whisky.. well, you can still enjoy an Aperol Spritz Not really much choice. No cocktails, etc. - not that the old smoker's long bar in A was good drinks-wise, but the choices apart Whisky were a bit more
Again, I don't think the LX SEN is a bad lounge, just saying that ESPECIALLY the "front-cooking"/food section definitely got downgraded, and some Whisky's got enhanced. Overall, still a very solid lounge I enjoy visiting, and which is worth a visit.
A few lounges I find - at least in some areas (mostly food, sometimes drinks, sometimes ambience), better than LX SEN:*
-SIN, Silverkris (especially food-wise, but also drinks, minus whisky, of course) * I know that this isn't a *G lounge, but technically, it would compete with the Business lounge from LX, which is worse..
-SIN, TG, good food choices, otherwise not that much.
-DXB, SEN: Some don't like it, I personally find it quite ok food-wise. We can probably argue about that all night long..
-HKG, food-wise all 3 *A lounges beat LX SEN food. Drink-wise, Silverkris beats LX hands down.
-PEK, the food at the Business CA lounge isn't actually that bad. The Sushi is decent, and the freshly made noodle soups are good. Drink-wise it's crap, though. I do like the "open feeling" of the lounge, but others might dislike it.
-Japan, overall, is a mixed bag, mostly I prefer the LX lounge over it.
-VIE: Food is limited but tasty, lounge itself isn't much. Not the best LH group does offer
-FRA/MUC: Especially for drinks, FRA B as well as MUC (one of them..non-Schengen main terminal?) with the bars are pretty good. Food is a mixed bag, and not better than the fake-front cooking overall (but overall not worse either)
-TAP: I really like their new lounge in LIS! Food could be more varied, but if you don't visit more often than once a quarter, it does offer a good mix. Plus nice wines, spirits, drinks at the bar. And I like the airy design.
-SAS: ARN is good, OSL I heard should be fantastic, CPH is beyond ugly. Overall, not worse than SEN.
Those are the lounges I visit at least reasonable frequently.
I really like the LX design, this is where the lounge is still great.
However, the "show cooking" is basically just ready-to-eat food, and often just a limited few options are available. I tried the pasta a few times, the sauces added to it are not good at all in my opinion, the other dishes can be hit or miss. The salad bar is good!
If you're lucky and hitting a "good food day", it's still not bad, but just - again, in my opinion - food-wise not as good as some other *A lounges, and even a few SEN's.
With the drinks, it's quite easy: If you like Whisky, you're (still) in heaven at the LX SEN. If you don't like Whisky.. well, you can still enjoy an Aperol Spritz
Not really much choice. No cocktails, etc. - not that the old smoker's long bar in A was good drinks-wise, but the choices apart Whisky were a bit more Again, I don't think the LX SEN is a bad lounge, just saying that ESPECIALLY the "front-cooking"/food section definitely got downgraded, and some Whisky's got enhanced. Overall, still a very solid lounge I enjoy visiting, and which is worth a visit.
Aug 5, 2018, 5:11 am
#263
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Stoke on Trent, UK (MAN ), BUE, BKK, DBV
Programs: LH HON***,UA,BA.EK Gold,AV.
Posts: 11,641
The LX F lounge in E is fabulous & the day rooms are super nice BUT yesterday it was 33 deg outside & the day rooms have floor to ceiling windows & no aircon, it was hotter than hell inside 
Aug 5, 2018, 10:43 am
#264
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Australia
Programs: LHSen UA1K VAGold QFSilv HHon Diamond ShangrilaJade Radisson Gold SPG Gold Marriott Gold Hertz Presi
Posts: 1,049
Senator lounges also at A+E were hot
I must say the new Amenities kits in the Dayrooms are fantastic and 2 in each dayroom!
Aug 5, 2018, 12:20 pm
#265
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: LX Senator; AF Platinum and Club 2000; AA Platinum for life (former EXP)
Posts: 494
Frankly I find the E Sen lounge to be the best in the world. Better than CX Hong Kong, better than JAL Haneda, which are the only two that come close. I love the terrace, the breakfast omelet cooked to order, and find the food in general to be good. Wifi works well. And I find the design appealing. So I say "good job SWISS".
Aug 5, 2018, 5:43 pm
#266
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: LH M&M, BA EC, DL SM
Posts: 5,731
Frankly I find the E Sen lounge to be the best in the world. Better than CX Hong Kong, better than JAL Haneda, which are the only two that come close. I love the terrace, the breakfast omelet cooked to order, and find the food in general to be good. Wifi works well. And I find the design appealing. So I say "good job SWISS".
But the food after breakfast time has gone downhill so much after 2016 and the WiFi on the terrace does not work well at all. So a good job for a *Gold lounge, but still a lot left to be desired.
Aug 6, 2018, 1:19 am
#267
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Stoke on Trent, UK (MAN ), BUE, BKK, DBV
Programs: LH HON***,UA,BA.EK Gold,AV.
Posts: 11,641
The amenities in the day rooms & showers have always been good & these certainly maintain the standard.
Aug 6, 2018, 1:26 am
#268
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Stoke on Trent, UK (MAN ), BUE, BKK, DBV
Programs: LH HON***,UA,BA.EK Gold,AV.
Posts: 11,641
on Saturday afternoon onwards it was mostly not working.
Using the airport system with no back up is poor for FCL’s
Aug 6, 2018, 10:45 am
#270
Moderator: SAS
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: BLL & CPH & ZRH
Programs: LX, SK EBD (*G)
Posts: 3,152
I personally like not catching a cold due to a crazy AC, I’d rather deal with high temperatures. (even if they are LX Lounges d level high)
I don’t like those hotel rooms where you can’t turn off the AC and I don’t like how, for example in the US, everything is cooled down to 20* while it’s 35* outside, I can’t stand this.