I'm over (most) lounges

[RooFlyer]

/rant

I'm sitting in the La Valette lounge at Malta International and I'm about to decamp into the terminal. I'm doing that more and more often domestically and around the world.

Right now, the lounge is very crowded (hard to find seats). I got one, but the guy beside me is making gross noises while eating and also talking loudly on his phone and the person on the other side is talking goo-goo noises to someone, of course on the speaker. The Italians over there are having a very loud discussion and some where an infant is grizzling. The wait-people come by with their trolly and make incredible clattering noise. If I could move to another seat most of these would still be in play. There is a nice outside terrace, but its a hot day and too warm out there.

Many lounges I go to these days are crowded - Virgin lounges in MEL and BNE are usually zoos. QF MEL international; ANZ MEL. SQ lounges in SIN except for First and TPR. It was about midnight last time and although nearly empty, the cleaners made constant revolutions with their clattering trolly.

HBA QP. I don't think I need say anything? SYD QF First gets crowded and I've commented before how tatty some of the armchairs are.

The QR Al Morjan lounge was frequently a zoo and very difficult to get a shower, but at least they have remedied that with the monster North lounge. I'm know Im a bit of a QRfan boi but I really like how they do their lounges. The business lounge are for business class passengers. First class lounge is for first class. Other loungers are provided for those of other ranks.

General lack of charging points, almost everywhere.

Buffets subject to unhygienic practices, almost everywhere.

Trying to get the damn wifi to work - or having to give your life story to get connected.

Noisy and crowded in many/most cases.

Wines are usually cheap +/- nasty and coffee questionable.

LH Senator lounges are really pretty basic, as are even the upgraded AC lounges.

I travel business internationally, so will get fed and watered much better than what most lounges can offer (esp on QR), so that's another reason why I can abandon a lounge.

There are still lounges I can use with pleasure (and I don't mean be able to plonk down and have a cheap wine) - QR in LHR, DOH, SIN that I've been to; ADL dom expansion sounds nice; VA ADL is good too. AA's Flagship lounges are usually OK, if you go in with low expectations; I haven't been to the Chelsea etc types of their lounges. QF's SYD and MEL F lounges until they get crowded. And others.

But in general, I'm quite prepared not to use a lounge and sit or wander around the terminal - you can usually find a quiet spot and make a coffee or juice last a while.

/rant - but I'm serious about many lounges not worth attending.

 

[anat0l]

I think I get where you're coming (ranting) from.

Lounges have proliferated so much around the world, but it's all not necessarily been for the best. And with so many more ways that people can afford to get into a lounge (including, for example, premium fares being somewhat more accessible) and a diversifying demographic (including a whole range of behaviours), whatever objectives there were for lounges to offer those privileged (yes, it is a privilege, not a right) enough to access them are being diluted or lost.

It's then a bit of a vicious circle as operators see heavy foot traffic and don't recognise a need to keep improvements and upkeep ahead of the curve.

I think a lot of operators of lounges (including airlines) are still mostly mired in the idea that the average lounge user deserves a space that is merely separate from other passengers and minimal refreshments, and then have the nerve to call that as a chance to relax and be productive. They don't have the mindset that it is an experience and should be measured by the very puffery they use to market the space. They also probably underestimate the true patronage of a space, especially at peak travel times (including when irregular operations occur).

I know that it isn't necessarily practical for an airline to operate an outstation lounge at every single destination they fly to, but I think their thoughts of selecting a lounge at a destination are mostly a check-off exercise with little consideration to the experience. Even if a destination only has one CIP/VIP lounge and it is not great, airlines will just set up a contract with them and call it a day without thinking of their customers' experience. Sure, there may be some hamstringing here, e.g. airline forced by airport operator to use that lounge and not have any freedom to tailor the experience for their customers for a better overall experience (e.g. an airline can't make a makeshift VIP area at a gate or area in the terminal that includes waited services and food).

At the same time, in general, most of the world's airports have improved their terminals. They're largely more comfortable than decades ago, though they are replete with restaurants charging extortionate prices and retail that is very much in your face. I'm not sure about finding a quiet spot in all terminals, largely because some schlub has likely beaten you to those spots; ditto for the limited charging ports in good places.

Put all that together, and yeah, I could easily see why you would prefer to forgo the lounge and opt for the terminal instead.

 

[Atleastonce]

My wife and I (both WP and Plat AMEX card holders) were commenting on this the other day after spending an hour in the “lounge” for VA in BNE international. I know we get the privilege of a few drinks and cheese and crackers but the terminal was nearly empty. Lots of comfortable seats available and food/drinks that looked reasonable and priced OK for an airport. There is no status associated with lounges because if everyone has status no one has status and they are all overcrowded and food choices are questionable. I agree with the OP, and that’s my rant too.

 

[aikman]

Sounds like a case of travelling too much so the experience is getting repetitive and boring. Maybe trying new airlines and new lounges might make the experience fresh and new again?

 

[kamchatsky]

Lounges have been overrated for a while now. Most of the terminals have much better food and beverage offerings these days.

My missus prefers to go to walk around terminals shops instead. She dreads when I told her that we are eligible for lounge access and we make a beeline to them. This is especially true for QF/VA domestic lounges, and average international lounges (QF J lounge, Marhaba, Amex, Plaza Premium, Skyteam).

The one she looks forward to are the SilverKris lounges. She likes the Asian food cooked by them. Even then, she still wants to go to some shops at the Terminal first.

 

[Justinf]

I thought I was the only one who preferred the terminal to a lounge.
I’ve even paid for my own beer in a bustling pub inside the terminal in preference to a ‘free’ one inside a lounge where the people watching is like chalk and cheese.

 

[Daver6]

I've been thinking the same thing. Especially squished into an AA lounge in the US. However poor it is though, it's generally better than sitting around the terminal.

My problem is I'm cheap. So there is no way I can justify spending money on a meal in the terminal when I have access to something that's free. Although I have been known to grab a burger or something from a fast food joint and take that into a lounge.

 

[lovestotravel]

Lounge have gone downhill since covid. The Accountant's have seen the savings they can make.

planes are full, premium cabins are full and profits are high, so no need to invest in lounges and F&B.

Prior to covid, we used to enjoy a hour or two in the lounge, now we aim for less than 30 minutes where possible (LHR/CDG) excluded as security can be a nightmare. Although the last few times leaving CDG, it was so so fast