What is the greatest airline lounge in the world?

[Quickstatus]

What is the greatest airline lounge in the world and why?
Describe your criteria for "greatness"

 

[Townsend]

Finnair Business lounge in HELwhere the coughtails great and the food very good. But the best part is the sauna which was most enjoyable.

 

[henrus]

Finnair Business lounge in HELwhere the coughtails great and the food very good. But the best part is the sauna which was most enjoyable.

The Sauna is in the platinum wing (only open to oneworld emerald).

 

[Townsend]

The Sauna is in the platinum wing (only open to oneworld emerald).

Sorry, I couldn’t remember which one it was in.

 

[HirafuHeartAttack]

Finnair Business lounge in HELwhere the coughtails great and the food very good. But the best part is the sauna which was most enjoyable.

I'd put this down as the best status business class lounge as well. Beautiful layout and furnishing, very quiet and relaxing, fantastic food and beverages and great amenities! Certainly a yard stick for OW Sapphire lounges at the very least.

 

[tdimdad]

So far I've had the pleasure to visit only the OWS and VA Gold level lounges but there are few that appeal to come back to.
I'm after quiet / calm environment which is also visually pleasing and thoughtful, good food (including diets), and privacy if I want to.

> CX Pier J in HKG is perhaps my favourite for the ambiance and showers. CX J in LHR is pretty similar in style.
> AY J (non-Schengen) in HEL. I like especially the armchair pods in the rear part. Private and quiet. The bar is nice, too.
> JL F in HND (an exception last year when their J was closed). The Red Room is awesome, my fave spot. The food is very good, too and there are some interesting drinks available, as well.

> VAd in BNE is my favourite of the domestic lounges. It's more relaxed and calmer than other QF/VA "pubs" I've been to and feels spacious. If there's a big black armchair by the back windows available, I'll beeline to there.

> QF in LHR is nice but somehow I don't feel like it's my place. And what's with the freezing bathrooms and taps with awfully high water pressure?
> QF in SIN is very solid as a lounge though the food options can be rather limited if you have diets.

The one that brought a wide grin was the BRA Lounge at BMA (Bromma = Stockholm old airport). A small room upstairs with some snacks and drinks in the corner. As basic as a lounge ever can be, yet in its own way sympathetic.

 

[RooFlyer]

TK IST. Has everything.

.. except, I suggest (if you are a drinker ), the booze is virtually hidden on little carts in corners and quite limited selection.

For me, best lounge is where you can just relax and do what you want to do at that particular time in peace and comfort - including (at different times) ... working at laptop; making calls; having a nice meal, good quality booze, sitting idly and looking out the windows, having a snooze, sitting at a bar chit-chatting to barperson.

For me, the one that satisfies most criteria is the Pier First at HKG, at least before covid. A nice comfy environment to be in.

Closely followed by The Wing First at HKG again, before covid. Cabanas and Champagne Lounge were highlights.

Of ones I've been in recently, Al Safwa First at DOH is the best. Its a bit cavernous at first, but once you understand the nooks and crannies, its a great space to spend hours in, if necessary. 6 hour sleeper rooms, each with shower etc; great restaurant with very premium wines etc etc. Lots of different spaces to do different things. Direct access to planes via lift.

Honourable mentions:

* IST J lounge - booze selection and availability is the negative. Great food selections and various spaces. Lockable bag lockers ares great if you want to go for a walk in the terminal.

* SIN The Private Room. Great food and bev selection, great attentive waiter service. A bit small (understandably); sleeper rooms only for 2 hrs and bed-only; people can look through the tinted glass panel in the door (as they did!!)

* Qantas SYD F Lounge - often crowded and noisy, limited different spaces. Great food service, great views, spa

* DOH Al Morjain J - can get very crowded, and wait for showers, but hopefully alleviated by the opening of their additional (huge) lounge. Two different eating areas.

* DXB F lounge A long time ago, but I recall one of the best steaks I've had in a lounge, but overall a bit sterile

Haven't been in - Concord Room, AUH F, FRA FCT
_______________

My best Aussie domestic lounge - Perth QP.

Did someone mention HBA QP? Absolutely the best lounge for demonstrating everything that's bad in a lounge - perennially crowded, lack of amenity, grubby (male) toilets ..... Ugh.