Article: The “Lounge Within a Lounge” Concept

[anat0l]

Where you have a clear two different lounges and one encapsulates the other, I believe that's just a design decision or building restriction. They could have properly configured the space or build so that each lounge existed with clear separated flows for each, but they didn't.

I'm not sure it has a huge effect on the marketing of the two lounges (including the more exclusive one, i.e. the "inner lounge"). I'm not sure how averse those are that could enter the "inner lounge" are against having to be checked, admitted to and then having to traipse through the "outer (inferior) lounge" to get to their space (cf. direct entry), and I don't believe anyone really markets the idea (or the other way).

As pointed out, separation of J and *A in Europe is very common (or at least it was when SK was still part of *A; now it's really just Lufthansa group, who can even take it further with separation for F/HON).

Apart from the AC Polaris lounges my only experience of the 'lounge within a lounge' is the SG private room within its First lounge in Singapore. Not much difference in food and drink apart from a bit better champagne, but where it really scores is in the peace and quiet. To me that is well worth it.

I don't regard The Private Room to be a lounge within a lounge. You enter the same lobby for sure, but beyond the lobby there's clear delineation of paths between TPR, First Class and Business Class Lounges.

(Unless you're thinking of the old TPR before the significant renovation, which, yes, indeed did have the TPR entrance located beyond that of the First Class lounge entrance, so that was a lounge in a lounge)

That's more a rope-line than a lounge, isn't it?

Surprisingly still apparent around the place, though mostly in Asia. And I think I'd be hesitant to call these examples of a lounge in a lounge.

I can't remember which lounges now (I thought it was in GVA), but there was one that had a small roped off area of seats - no more than six to be seated - for First Class and highest-tier passengers (this is a port which did not have any First Class flights of said airline). But it really wasn't anything special - they weren't different (e.g. more comfy) seats, those seats didn't have the best views... guess it's a bit like the lounge-equivalent of EuroBusiness vis-a-vis Economy. Of course, you had to leave the tiny roped sanctuary to access the other services of the lounge, e.g. food and drink.

I believe the Premier Lounge in DPS has a separate area labelled "First Class", which I think even has a door (plus a rope across it). Inside, though, is just a bunch of seats, with no other separate or special amenities.

I think I remember OMAAT (or another Boarding Area blogger) posting a TR on AI, where the latter did not have a dedicated First Class lounge but rather a First Class passenger seating area roped off from the rest of the lounge. Can't remember if there was any more than just exclusive seating area, e.g. waiter service, but I doubt it.

There must be something in the Asian psyche that believes that even "exclusive seating" (with nothing else except merely separating the J and F passengers) is still a good "perk".

Does anyone remember the old MEL DOM lounge. You had to walk though the Y lounge to get to the J longe?

LOL "Y lounge". And yes, I do remember that; I also remember that you'd get a rather friendly greeting by the reception to the QP, then a rather frosty one from that of the J Lounge. Come to think of it, some things may not have changed even when the lounge spaces were clearly separated.

How common is this in AmEx lounges? This was the AmEx lounge in DCA...
View attachment 442747

Not sure how common, but there is a similar setup in the Amex Centurion lounge in SYD. This is their area:

As can be seen, there are a handful of couch seats for Centurion members, their own set of snack jars (not exclusive snacks to Centurion members) and their own FIDS. Very much deserving of those handling the heavy metal card.

 

[Beano]

I remeber being in LHR lounge wating for a QF flight to SYD where the only distinction between F and the others was that you could sit in a restaurant area for a meal. All else was the same, drinks and menu. There was still waiter service in the general area.

 

[Flashback]

I remeber being in LHR lounge wating for a QF flight to SYD where the only distinction between F and the others was that you could sit in a restaurant area for a meal. All else was the same, drinks and menu. There was still waiter service in the general area.

I've never had issues sitting at the 'restaurant area' there, and have never flown F ex-LHR...

 

[Beano]

I've never had issues sitting at the 'restaurant area' there, and have never flown F ex-LHR...

You were lucky then.

 

[NoName]

I don't regard The Private Room to be a lounge within a lounge. You enter the same lobby for sure, but beyond the lobby there's clear delineation of paths between TPR, First Class and Business Class Lounges.

Agree. They are three seperate lounges in my mind as they each have their own specific entrance just beyond the common lobby/reception area.

 

[Netty]

For example, Qantas has a secret champagne and a la carte dining menu in some of its international lounges for Platinum One and First Class passengers.

Hmm, interested to see this "secret" stuff in the lounge, is it done by stealth because no one seemed to be treated any different on my visits to F lounge.
My experience of P1 so far is rather underwhelming but admitted I have only done domestic flight since attaining it.
I think you all need to educate me on this secret squirrel stuff.

 

[Flyingwombat]

I remeber being in LHR lounge wating for a QF flight to SYD where the only distinction between F and the others was that you could sit in a restaurant area for a meal. All else was the same, drinks and menu. There was still waiter service in the general area.

I just flew home from LHR on QF2 in premium economy - I am but a humble lifetime silver with QC membership. I happily sat in the restaurant area and had waiter served meal and gin brought to me. I didn't see any other dining area?

 

[Beano]

I just flew home from LHR on QF2 in premium economy - I am but a humble lifetime silver with QC membership. I happily sat in the restaurant area and had waiter served meal and gin brought to me. I didn't see any other dining area?

Is there another lounge. I am sure it was a first class lounge. That was several years ago so there may have been changes. it was when QF parted company from BA. Three months earlier I would have been able to enter the Concorde lounge.

 

[MooTime]

How common is this in AmEx lounges? This was the AmEx lounge in DCA...
View attachment 442747

I saw very similar reserved sign in syd Amex lounge 10months ago.

Bunch of suits turned up occupied the space. Was still plenty room in lounge for others though.

 

[Flyingwombat]

Is there another lounge. I am sure it was a first class lounge. That was several years ago so there may have been changes. it was when QF parted company from BA. Three months earlier I would have been able to enter the Concorde lounge.

There isn't a First lounge for QF at LHR. That has been in the planning for a while but stalled. At present, all premium passengers go to the one lounge which has dining downstairs and more casual seating upstairs. The BA Concorde lounge is in a different terminal (T5) - this is T3 where you also have CX, AA and EK lounge options if eligible.

 

[Aeryn]

The same is true for all Flagship lounges.

Not at JFK Terminal 8 as there is:

• American Airlines Chelsea Lounge - proper First class only on select AA/BA flights with P1 equivalents status.
• American Airlines Soho Lounge - First Class and Emerald (WP) only on OneWorld flight
• American Airlines Greenwich Lounge - Sapphire and above on OneWorld flight
• AA Admirals Lounge - Sapphire and above on OneWorld flight

 

[Beano]

There isn't a First lounge for QF at LHR. That has been in the planning for a while but stalled. At present, all premium passengers go to the one lounge which has dining downstairs and more casual seating upstairs. The BA Concorde lounge is in a different terminal (T5) - this is T3 where you also have CX, AA and EK lounge options if eligible.

Thanks. I don't recall an upstairs/downstairs.

Post automatically merged: Today at 3:09 PM

Been in the T5 F lounge. All treated equal once in!

 

[Balad2005]

Hype.

LH has the same at LHR T2. Food and drink is exactly the same.
SK has the same at OSL. Food and drink is ........... exactly the same. Actually there are maybe 1 or 2 extra dishes.

Does anyone remember the old MEL DOM lounge. You had to walk though the Y lounge to get to the J longe?

The lounge within a lounge, what's different to a lounge beside a lounge. just marketing .Most likely lifted from a real estate advertisement .It sounds like that old joke about the wall in heaven.
I do recall the old QANTAS J lounge in Melbourne , one had to go through the QANTAS Club to get checked again and enter the J lounge.

 

[Flashback]

There isn't a First lounge for QF at LHR. That has been in the planning for a while but stalled. At present, all premium passengers go to the one lounge which has dining downstairs and more casual seating upstairs. The BA Concorde lounge is in a different terminal (T5) - this is T3 where you also have CX, AA and EK lounge options if eligible.

..... and BA, AMEX and No. 1!

Not at JFK Terminal 8 as there is:

• American Airlines Chelsea Lounge - proper First class only on select AA/BA flights with P1 equivalents status.
• American Airlines Soho Lounge - First Class and Emerald (WP) only on OneWorld flight
• American Airlines Greenwich Lounge - Sapphire and above on OneWorld flight
• AA Admirals Lounge - Sapphire and above on OneWorld flight

Those lounges are not called Flagship lounges, though. They're called Admirals Club, Chelsea, Soho and Greenwich.

 

[Aeryn]

Chelsea, Soho and Greenwich are the replacements for the old flagship lounge; with Chelsea and soho being considerably better than the best of the Flagship lounges ie DFW and ORD.

 

[Flashback]

Chelsea, Soho and Greenwich are the replacements for the old flagship lounge; with Chelsea and soho being considerably better than the best of the Flagship lounges ie DFW and ORD.

Yes, but to my point, they're not a Flagship lounge. All Flagship lounges require only OWS to access.