Compliments of the season, FT

I've been thinking about airline lounges lately, and how more and more they don't seem to have a point. I'll admit that I'm from the US, so I'm rather familiar with the sad state of affairs of *A lounges at various hub airports, but I also have frequently visited ones in East/Southeast Asia, not to mention plenty of lounges, *A, ST or contracted, throughout the world. 1st world issues, to be sure.

Alas, I'm no expert (though having that as a job title might be dandy). In fact, many that I pass through these days (well, not so much from now on) now are simply microcosms for the rest of the terminal in which they are generally a part- you check your manners at the door, and focus on that all-important (read: audible to everyone) phone call. Free wi-fi might be faster in the terminal than in the lounge (and even if it's not, there's a higher chance of finding free signal{s} somewhere in the terminal; yes, NYC-airports lag behind everything, and this is no exception). Food options range from pre-packaged disappointments (ie, UA and CA mainstays) to pretty dang good (TK's IST offerings; the Premium Terminal at DOH). Magazines produced solely for lounges (the tongue-in-cheek offering of "SIN T3 Tatler," or "TWOV Golf") as well...so why beeline to a lounge?

The concierge might help, food can be edible, and even if it's not, it's there for the taking. Some have showers, which I do appreciate, but beyond that, what's your reason for going? Which have been your best and worst experiences?

BmB

Well, I agree with you that most US lounges are crap, filled with prepackaged junk or even junk for a fee, but that doesn't mean that the rest of them are.

I'll gladly spend time in the SEN lounge at MUC, having German boiled eggs, Obatzda, Laugengeb�ck, sparkling water, and the other things which say 'home' to me.

Landing at FRA in the morning, going to the welcome lounge and being recognised and welcomed back, taking a shower, having a decent breakfast, and being able to relax before going to work or start my day makes so much difference than landing tired and sweaty with no chance to freshen up.

Having a quick connection at CDG to the train with no chance to go home to change, using the UA arrivals lounge at the Sheraton is heavenly before getting on the train.

And I'll even give credit to the ORD RCC at the B gates for having German papers fresh of the LH flights.

Lounges (meaning decent, not American) lounges make a huge difference in my travel comfort and my ability to fly every week, mostly longhaul, and still function.

Airline lounges are going to the dogs.

Most every airport has quieter places outside in the terminals (an empty gate for instance) and food is usually better outside the lounges. I've even found myself enjoying sitting at an empty gate more than using the CX F class wing in HK. I guess I'm strange.

I agree with you in the general sense, but CX's lounges are the exception to the rule, for me. I haven't been to the Wing F yet, but I love the Cabin. I can chow down there for a solid hour during every visit.

SQ's TPR at SIN T3 is pretty special, including the service.

It's all relative. Sure, anything is better than prepackaged junk food ala US lounges.

But I crave real food, and don't care to sit in yet another restaurant. The food in the LH lounges is to me almost perfection and what I would make myself or eat at home if I were ever at home.

Interesting - our experience is very different! Last time I was in HKG I found the CX business lounge (can't remember which one I was in now) to be hot, crowded, claustrophobic and noisy and I hate those pod chairs. The F lounge, on the other hand...

The Emirates lounges in the A380 terminal at Dubai are a great concept. The first lounge doesn't feel crowded (the key to lounge enjoyment for me) and the direct gate access is fantastic.

Recently I've felt that lounges are "so so" everywhere (including Asia) unless you're in a "true" first class lounge in the home base of an airline like Cathay, Emirates, Qantas etc (showing my bias here!). IMO everything else is too crowded, wifi is too slow, food is too ordinary, showers are too few....

Definitely a first world problem set!

I haven't departed from HKG since the Wing was refurbished (sadly, I usually fly into HK and out of SZ). Even though I qualify for the F section of the Pier, I simply love the food in the Cabin (biz lounge).

I like lounges because they are generally quieter and have readily available power outlets. Mrs Sparkchaser likes lounges because the lighting is generally not as harsh.

It depends on the time of day, too. HKG doesn't make it easy to find peace anywhere, but at night you can certainly find empty gates. It, like many other airports in the neighborhood, hasn't gotten quieter. But that's part of my point- it would be nice to have a designated quiet zone in a lounge, no?

As for food options, as we all have different taste buds, I'm just going to say that airports in China/HKG/Taiwan make it difficult to not go hungry. Now, having a Lanzhou lamian place would make a huge difference- I get that the majority of passengers going through these airports have palettes agreeable with what's on the menu, but those lamian places are quite popular...

In PEK, there is a Kenny Rogers Roasters, which is great (I pass on the CA lounge there every time. Meanwhile, SHA has some passable restaurants... PVG is kind of weak though. But, HKG is top notch. You have Popeye's, Krispy Kreme, BK, and a handful of upscale places. That having been said, I will continue lounging there instead of doing the food court until my BA Gold status expires.

I think I disagree with every point in OP for the lounges I use in Europe, SE Asia and Australia/NZ.
The noise from people on phones is less than outside.
The food is better and being free, doesn't just save money but saves time and saves changing money.
Wi-fi definitely better.
Showers essential after a long haul with more to go.
Printers available.

Worst lounge experiences probably BOM and LAX. Better outside them than in.

Is that For Hungry Children?
Chopsticks supplied only if You Know When To Hold 'Em?

I haven't flown out of TBIT since it got its refurb, but the old OW world lounge had food that was far better than once experiences in CX J even though it was not a very nice place to hang out in the general sense.

Me too. The pod chairs are horrid. Remember when the pod chairs were first introduced in the Cabin, now they are a staple in the Wing too. Haven't been to the Pier recently.

I'll bet the pod chairs are dilberately put in the lounge. Uncomfortable [pod chairs] + nowhere to sit (if the non pod chair places are full) = leave the lounge.

On a positive note, the horrid CX seats onboard (J herringbone and Y shell seats) are mostly a thing of the past.

Back to airline lounges............I'd started a thread some years ago on the One World forum about the best/worst lounges within the network. Not surprisingly most of the best lounges were in the hubs. Many lounges leave plenty to be desired.