What is the attraction of lounges?

[Mattg]

I've done a few flights recently where no lounge access was available. The price and (lack of) quality of terminal food, lack of tables (to sit down and work) and lack of showers has reminded me why I enjoy lounge access...

 

[drron]

Actually the attraction of lounges is wearing off.On a couple of occasions on this last trip we have been happy finding a quiet spot near the gate using the free airport wi fi.

 

[RooFlyer]

Actually the attraction of lounges is wearing off.On a couple of occasions on this last trip we have been happy finding a quiet spot near the gate using the free airport wi fi.

Agree, but try doing that in the (old) VA pier at MEL!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

International lounges have close-to-never been available on arrival due to security/immigration, haven’t they?
With the occasional arrival lounge that currently exists in the odd location around the world being a relatively new thing?

We don’t have arrivals lounges in australia, but they have been around since around the year 2000 or so... virgin atlantic had one at heathrow to provide shower, breakfast and clothes pressing before heading off to your meeting in london after a short trans-atlantic. BA’s lounge must have been around the same time?

Flight length is one factor for having an arrivals lounge... needing to maximise sleep on board and have breakfast after landing for example. Not such an issue for flights to Australia where time is not an issue (except from Singapore).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well... I ended up in economy the other day on TG after my original airline had a 10 hour delay. With no status on star alliance I checked-in on line, arrived at the airport and hour before departure (could have been later, check in closed 40 minutes prior), headed for security, down to the gate and boarding 10 minutes later. Pretty perfect and didn’t miss the lounge at all!

 

[agentgerko]

Once, each airline had it's own lounge and things were fine. Now, with each lounge covering maybe a dozen carriers their relevance is being reduced. I am seeing the noisy little kids and the chaps in stubbies and thongs, and all the other petty little annoyances that pushed me away from the regular terminals in the first place. But my biggest annoyance? People who grab the window seats that look out over the tarmac and then sit there reading the paper, whilst poor 'ol plane spotter muggins ahs to try to squint around them from a distance.

 

[Rjb63]

After recently travelling through Denpasar without lounge access, I can confirm that access to clean toilets in the lounge is a very valuable benefit.

 

[Silvia]

I recently did a few trips with airlines I hadn't flown or don't fly frequently, so no status.
Whilst it was definitely OK waiting around the gate and were lucky of not going through delays, I did appreciate to have a place to sit and share a meal with my husband. Particularly in Australia, I certainly enjoy the barista coffee. That's a perk itself that you don't find everywhere.

In saying that, some lounges can feel really crowded. For instance, QF lounge in HNL, saw many people leave, I did as well after having a few nibbles as the place far from peaceful. The admirals lounge and the gate did the work perfectly!

 

[leadman]

I feel that the halcyon days of lounges is disappearing for many airlines. They are either combining with other airlines or using the generic lounges. The other day in BKK going to the CX lounge which used to be the F lounge for QF, which is now merged with BA is a typical example. I sadly feel this trend will continue and challenges the word "loyalty"......

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I feel that the halcyon days of lounges is disappearing for many airlines. They are either combining with other airlines or using the generic lounges. The other day in BKK going to the CX lounge which used to be the F lounge for QF, which is now merged with BA is a typical example. I sadly feel this trend will continue and challenges the word "loyalty"......

The halcyon days are gone because business class lounges have essentially gone... they’re now economy class lounges for those with status, and business class have to make do with an economy class offering.

The true first class lounges left in the world still have some quality offerings... LH/LX FCLs, AF, etc etc (sadly not the japanese airlines), but even US carriers are upping the game for true F pax.

 

[JohnK]

Well... I ended up in economy the other day on TG after my original airline had a 10 hour delay. With no status on star alliance I checked-in on line, arrived at the airport and hour before departure (could have been later, check in closed 40 minutes prior), headed for security, down to the gate and boarding 10 minutes later. Pretty perfect and didn’t miss the lounge at all!

It's good when you can time it that way but not always the case especially with delays.

The TG boarding gate in SYD is a zoo. We came down early from the lounge and boarding delayed. People everywhere. Very little space for 3 people to sit.

 

[Steady]

Nuff said

 

[Forg]

It's good when you can time it that way but not always the case especially with delays.

I've been to Melbourne's "cheapskate domestic airline" terminals a couple of times now, I think it works quite nicely in terms of finding somewhere to sit and (if you don't mind spending too much) something to eat/drink. However, they don't do delays well at all; it's designed with almost no seats at the gate so you'll wait 'til the last minute to leave the shopping/food area, and they don't want dawdlers holding-up boarding, so they seem to always announce early & you end-up standing in line for half an hour at the gate ...

 

[Atleastonce]

VA WP’s get lounge access on arrivals.
I don’t use it too often but every now and then I’ll pop in and grab a coffee if I’m waiting for a ride

I use the arrival access on VA every time I fly, if it is only to use a clean bathroom, and grab a quick drink and an apple. If I have checked luggage i don’t need to wait at the carousel (because priority luggage tags are not recognized most of the time) and by the time I get there my bag is there and the crowds of pushing people at luggage collection are gone.

 

[OATEK]

Some airport gate areas are very short on seating, and have rapid turnaround flights. So if you have a transfer of a couple of hours it is uncomfortable, busy, noisy, and the food offerings can be dismal. I am thinking here of places like CDG in particular. But even smaller airports like HEL and VIE do not offer a lot of comfort at the gate. Others, like TXL offer only punishment at the gate. So lounge access makes a big difference in these cases.

 

[jase05]

Just over 4 hours to kill at HKG this morning. Just had a good shower, massage and feed in the CX Pier F lounge and might go for a wander down to the Wing F lounge once we find out which gate we are departing from.

 

[Forg]

Based on what I hear ... I’m jealous of your Hong Kong visit to CX’s premier F lounges!

 

[Quickstatus]

Apart from showers a drink and somewhere to sit not much. Food is variable in quality

 

[jase05]

Based on what I hear ... I’m jealous of your Hong Kong visit to CX’s premier F lounges!

I outsmarted myself and stayed at the Pier.
I needed a decent walk after our flight so decided to head straight to the Pier and our departure gate wasn’t announced until just over an hour before boarding and it was from Gate 64 so we just stayed there.
Was fairly quiet most of the day with probably only 15-20 people in the lounge areas at any given time. Dining area was pretty busy when we had lunch.
Shower and massage was good as usual and the meal was excellent

 

[downgraded]

Just over 4 hours to kill at HKG this morning. Just had a good shower, massage and feed in the CX Pier F lounge and might go for a wander down to the Wing F lounge once we find out which gate we are departing from.

Lounges are useful when they are a necessity, but why anyone goes out of their way to spend time in them my mind boggles at. Life is too short, and probably shortened further by the time spent in them.