Mobile Phone Lounges

[browski]

Hi all,

I have recently been made aware of some fairly well equipped "mobile phone"passenger lounges in China airports. Possibly better than the Airline lounges.

Has anyone tried these? What are they like?
Is it possible for these mobile phone sim cards to be available to foreigners?
Are there similar lounges in other countries?

 

[262sammy]

Sorry browski I'm not sure I understand what is meant by "mobile phone" lounge. Do you mean if you are a customer of a certain network you are able to use the lounge?

I know a lot of airline lounges are not flash but how are these phone lounges better?

 

[browski]

Sammy, that is exactly what I am saying. Theyapparently have these lounges whereby if you are a subscriber of that phone network you can get entry into their lounges - superior to the airline lounges.
However this is all 2nd hand info - I have not seen them myself - just curious.

 

[oz_mark]

Sammy, that is exactly what I am saying. Theyapparently have these lounges whereby if you are a subscriber of that phone network you can get entry into their lounges - superior to the airline lounges.
However this is all 2nd hand info - I have not seen them myself - just curious.

Imagine how full a Telstra or Optus lounge would be!

 

[one9]

yes, when i was last in china, we were looking at the lounges (from outside) and my friend was explaining it to me.

I can't remember exactly, but you need to have certain services with the phone carrier. i.e. not just a subscriber. Maybe it was something like you could join the club if you had a plan with a minimum monthly spend over $X or something.

Most mobile phone users in China are prepaid. So I am not exactly sure what the requirements are. But I doubt a short term tourist would be spending enough to meet their requirements.

 

[262sammy]

Sammy, that is exactly what I am saying. Theyapparently have these lounges whereby if you are a subscriber of that phone network you can get entry into their lounges - superior to the airline lounges.
However this is all 2nd hand info - I have not seen them myself - just curious.

Imagine how full a Telstra or Optus lounge would be!

If service is anything to go by it could be a very long time between drinks :wink:

 

[oz_mark]

yes, when i was last in china, we were looking at the lounges (from outside) and my friend was explaining it to me.

I can't remember exactly, but you need to have certain services with the phone carrier. i.e. not just a subscriber. Maybe it was something like you could join the club if you had a plan with a minimum monthly spend over $X or something.

Most mobile phone users in China are prepaid. So I am not exactly sure what the requirements are. But I doubt a short term tourist would be spending enough to meet their requirements.

So a $20 prepaid plan may not cut it?

 

[Yada Yada]

So a $20 prepaid plan may not cut it?

That would probably only get you frogmarched back out the door.

 

[serfty]

So a $20 prepaid plan may not cut it?

That would probably only get you frogmarched back out the door.

And a $10 prepaid would get you frogmarched out the back door.....

 

[oz_mark]

I wonder how they determine eligibilty. Like do you have to SMS some number and get a reply that says:

1) Let him/her in
2) Frogmarch him/her out the front door
3) Frogmarch him/her out the back door.