Does The Airport Lounge Influence Your Choice of Airline/Destination?

[Foreigner]

My recent flight SYD-DXB was via SIN vv to break journey and to experience QF F lounge

 

[dajop]

It’s unsurprising Qantas cottoned on and these International tag flights have reduced significantly, let alone day time turn around affording ample time in both FCL’s.

Not exactly the same, but if in SIN, entirely possible to do a cheap return to KUL on Jetstar, albeit with a few more logistical challenges than when Jetstar flew out of T1. But still you can do early check in at Jewel, and get 3 hrs in the SIN F lounge after it opens at 3:15pm if taking the 7:30pm flight, and even another 1.5hrs in the J lounge which opens most days at 1:50pm.

 

[Seat0B]

And when I attain WP will probably break our cardinal rule and go via SYD

yep, that's a big factor for us too. Mainly because when we are heading to see Seat Son in the UAE, we are on QF code shares on EK metal, and the QF F Lounge in MEL is not open at that time of day. Not the the Emirates lounge in MEL is bad, I just think the QF F Lounge is better.

 

[DC3]

I guess most people would think I'm a bit odd …

Oh, no. I wouldn’t think so.

 

[Foreigner]

yep, that's a big factor for us too. Mainly because when we are heading to see Seat Son in the UAE, we are on QF code shares on EK metal, and the QF F Lounge in MEL is not open at that time of day. Not the the Emirates lounge in MEL is bad, I just think the QF F Lounge is better.

To me, MEL F lounge is like a bridesmaid to SYD F lounge

 

[Stealthflyer]

Yes, the airline lounge does influence my booking decisions to an extent, even though I try not to let it. I booked BA from LHR to VCE once to try out the lounge when I was OW emerald.

When I fly with SQ and have a choice about which port I’m going to choose, I tend to prefer those with SQ operated lounges because of the VA WP lounge access rules. However, ease of transit tends to win over attractiveness of lounge. For instance, I much prefer the SYD SQ lounge over the MEL SQ lounge, but transiting from domestic to international is much easier in MEL, so I will suffer the dingy MEL lounge for that reason alone. Ultimately, cost also has a greater influence. If I’m doing a UK trip then I’ll fly out of LHR and enjoy the SQ lounge, but if I’m also visiting mainland Europe, it’s much cheaper to fly out of Europe and not pay the UK departure tax. I’m quite happy to forego lounge access when the difference is $500 odd.

Qatar allows VA WP Y access to third party lounges, but I’m usually leaving from Milan and their third party lounge is pretty terrible. Not enough to influence my choice of carrier.