Ten best lounges

[Skyring]

Here is a listing of the world's ten best airport lounges. All impressive, but having visited three of them, I'm not that impressed with the reviewer's standards.

#1 is The Wing. Yes, it is big and impressive, and it has some really good features and I love it, but I wouldn't put it ahead of the the QF SYD Flounge, which is listed at #9 with "a 180 degree view of Sydney’s beautiful Botany Bay."

The reviewers seem to think that basic facilities, such as showers and free wifi, are worth going into rhapsodies over. If you are picking the world's ten best lounges, then they are ALL going to have this stuff.

What sets one lounge apart from another, in my eyes, is the harder to define sense of style. Virgin has style in bucketloads, or perhaps that should be "attitude", whereas British Air is rather stodgy and predictable. Comfortable, but unlikely to surprise. Cathay Pacific rates high with me because of their elegant simplicity, making flying almost an exercise in Eastern philosophy.

The Sydney Flounge is tops with me. The view, the service, the style. You are embraced into the experience of flying, and no, it's not the magnificent view of Botany Bay that enchants me here, it's sipping on an exquisite latte over a perfect breakfast with mighty airliners landing just beyond the huge glass windows and the skyline of Sydney in the distance.

Why couldn't Cathay Pacific capitalise on their dramatic location and even more varied and exotic birds?

And surely British Airways' Concorde lounges would rate a mention in this list?

 

[Homer]

I agree with your comments. While I haven't sampled most of the lounges on this list, I have been to the BA First lounges at both terminal 4 and terminal 5, and The Wing and the QF F lounge at SYD a few times and I would certainly rate the QF F lounge above the BA First lounges and even the beloved Wing because of its style, food/beverage offering and the service levels. The BA First lounges don't have the "wow" factor. Sure on paper (or, rather, online) the champagne bar and the view of terminal 5 sounds great but in practice it's a little bit of a yawn. The Wing is great but showing its age and the welcome, service and way they make you feel isn't up to the SYD QF F lounge experience IMHO.

 

[samh004]

Seems as though the reviewer hasn't been to all the lounges and tried them out. From the photos provided, it certainly seems that way, seeing as the SYD Flounge is just the entrance way photo, while the Thai lounge is an amateurish shot of someone having a drink.

I think a better list would be 10 best business lounges, then the 10 best first lounges. Although sometimes you can get into first lounges with status, other times you need a ticket (ala concorde room). Still, this mixture of lounges, ordered very strangely, makes no sense.

 

[farstar]

I can't remember seeing much of Botany Bay in The QF F lounge. The City yes but not the Bay.
Did he go to the F Lounge?

 

[cjg]

I can't remember any views of the Bay either. The city skyline in the distance, yes, but I don't recall any water views.

 

[munitalP]

From the far right of the Flounge there are slight views of the bay - however, the capturing views are by far the city views and would lead me to agree with other posters - I don't think the author has been into the SYD Flounge.

In my opinion, Galleries at LHR T5 is a great lounge

The best lounge in my opinion is just on the otherside of my kitchen - I don't spend enough time in either of them as I seem to either be stuck in a hotel or an airline lounge somewhere!

Mr!

:mrgreen:

 

[cosi]

Any lounge beats the Hong Kong QF/BA First class lounge!

 

[simongr]

Any lounge beats the Hong Kong QF/BA First class lounge!

I dont think you have been to the Dragon Air lounge in PEK then...

I am confused by the priority of the Admirals Club given that food and booze isnt free... I also have never seen that blue Bar in the F lounge at JFK...

 

[Mal]

I also have never seen that blue Bar in the F lounge at JFK...

Don't worry, I don't recognise it either... Then again, I don't recognise the seating in the supposed BA JFK lounge. I've been to the 4 oneWorld lounges, but havn't been to the rest of the 10.

 

[Ewok]

I've been to #'s 1, 3, 6, 7 and 9. All in the last few months. I agree with # 1 - I reckon The Wing is sensational, but would have the Sydney Flounge a close second, and ahead of the Air France Term 2 Lounge and Malaysian Golden Lounge.

 

[NM]

My thoughts:

#1 - HKG The Wing. An excellent lounge and certainly deserves to the one of the top 10. but the photo only shows Business Class side (the long bar). I love this lounge, but don't think I would have it at the number 1 spot.

#2 - Qatar. Looks fantastic in the photo.

#3 - KUL Golden Lounge. Another excellent lounge. While the dining is not quite to the same standard as The Wing at HKG, it is still very good. I would also include this in my top 10 list, but maybe not at the #3 position.

#4 FRA LH. I have heard wonderful stories about the LH First Class Terminal at FRA (I assume this is the one being positioned at #4). In particular their range of good whiskeys and food is supposed to be fantastic. I would include this in my top 10 just on the information I have been told even though I have not visited this lounge myself.

#5 LHR VS. I have not been to this lounge but its reputation is well defined and I believe its worthy of a top-10 position.

#6 CDG AF. This one would not make my top 10 list. In my view there is nothing special that puts it ahead of many other similar lounges around the world.

#7 JFK BA Terraces. This one would not make my top 10 list either. The redeeming feature is the pre-flight dining, but the rest of the lounge is so-so. The First Class lounge adjacent has better whiskey available, but you need to cross to the Terraces side for decent food at the pre-flight dining room.

#8 JFK AA. I have not been to the new Admirals Club at JFK. But I cannot expect any AC to be better than the few remaining FLs in the AA network.

#9 SYD QF. Well this definitely deserves to be higher than #9 and I would add MEL FLounge as I consider them pretty much equal.

#10 BKK TG. I have not been to this lounge but expect it to be very nice and on a par with the MH Golden Lounge at KUL.

I would include the following in my top 10 list:

LHR BA Concorde Room (new one at T5) and First Lounge (T5)
NRT JL First Class Lounge
LGW BA First Class Lounge

 

[dajop]

I've never been there, but wonder if the "Private Room" at SIN would make the list? Also, I was impressed by the EK J lounge at MEL (particularly the dining options and view), so I also wonder what their T3 DXB lounge is like.

I think it would be interesting to hear ideas on the best J lounges. It is almost a given that any decent airline will have a fantastic F lounge at their main hub. Not necessarily so for J lounges.

 

[murielc]

It seems to me as though this person hasn't visited the Singapore Airlines first class lounge at Terminal 3 in Changi. I also enjoy the SAS lounge at LHR, the Asiana lounge at Seoul Incheon and the Air Canada lounges at Vancouver and Toronto. The Admirals Lounge looks pretty, but, as someone has pointed out, they charge for alcohol.

 

[serfty]

...The Admirals Lounge looks pretty, but, as someone has pointed out, they charge for alcohol.

Not if you have access by dint of QP or non AAdvantage oneworld Sapphire/Emerald Status. They give you complimentary drink vouchers.

 

[djfuzz]

Not if you have access by dint of QP or non AAdvantage oneworld Sapphire/Emerald Status. They give you complimentary drink vouchers.

Still have to pay for non-nibbly food / WiFi though, right?

I have to agree with the comments about the Terraces at JFK - the photo looks far more like the BA lounge in DXB.

 

[DTM1]

Still have to pay for non-nibbly food / WiFi though, right?

I have to agree with the comments about the Terraces at JFK - the photo looks far more like the BA lounge in DXB.

Not sure about the new FL at JFK, but my experience in the old FL at JFK and the other FL lounges that I have been to (LAX and ORD) is that all food and drinks are free. It's only in the ACs that they charge for food and drinks - FL is different, but they are rapidly disappearing.

I also agree with an earlier poster - I think the SQ F lounge at T3 Changi would also be included.

I have not been to many of the listed lounges, but would have thought that these lounges (all of which I have been to), would be on a top 10 list:

QF F lounge SYD
QF F lounge MEL
SQ F lounge Changi (T3)
CX F lounge Wing
BA F lounge (T5)

 

[harvyk]

Not if you have access by dint of QP or non AAdvantage oneworld Sapphire/Emerald Status. They give you complimentary drink vouchers.

A only one or two vouchers, if you remember to ask for them.

Also djfuzz, I think WiFi was limited to AC members only (and even then I think there is a charge for it).

Whilst I've only been in the AC at SFO and MIA (didn't have time for it at LAX T4, and flying back the other way I used the QP in TBIT) I didn't rate them very highly at all.

 

[harvyk]

Just out of interest, what lounges would be in peoples top 10 lists?

I know this is a little subjective as it depends on what airports you have visited and if they have been normal QP's, J Lounges or F Lounges.

For me personally (who has yet to visit an F Lounge, but if someone could guest me in on my next int trip that would be great) it is the following

1. LAX QP TBIT - In no other airport has the value of the lounge shown through, TBIT is a wasteland after security, except for the lounges. Good food, free booze, and a 14 hour flight to sober up again in

2. PER QP T2 - Excellent for plane spotting, especially when they flew the B747's there as they would pull up right out front, with the coughpits being just under eyelevel to the QP. Free Booze couple with flights back to the east coast (and I usually go via MEL or SYD, as I'm not a fan of the B737, so flying in one if there is a choice of another type is no choice at all), thus heaps of time to take real advantage of the free booze.

3. SYD T1 J Lounge - Good food, views across the airport and the CBD. Only problem is the supports for the F Lounge get in the way of the view

4. AKL QP INT - Ample seating, and quite welcoming considering I've only ever used it for OMG O'clock flights. (My 4 flights out of AKL which haven't been OMG O'clock flights have been with AirNZ, so no lounge access)

5. MEL T2 J Lounge - Since they opened up the larger area this is pretty good. J lounge food \ booze, ample seating and power points.

6. MEL T1 J Lounge - Good for plane spotting (although limited to B737, B767, A330 and Dashes, if you look into the distance you can see the larger planes), J Lounge Food

7. SYD T3 QP - Not bad for plane spotting, although not as good as the food court in T2 . OK Food, good coffee (if there early enough)

8. MEL T1 QP - Not bad for plane spotting, ample seating even on Friday afternoons, coupled with free booze. Although typically my flights from MEL T1 aren't long enough to take advantage of this fact.

9. ADL QP - Given this is the first lounge I visited (and it was from this lounge I did my first J flight) this lounge holds a special place for me.

10. CBR QP - Has to be in there, as every decent trip has started with a visit here first, again thanks to the wasteland which is CBR airport outside the lounge is good value.




As for the worst lounge I've been to, that's pretty easy,

SFO JAL Lounge - Not enough booze, no where near enough food (a plate of sandwiches was supplied which needed to go around 50+ people), thus half a sandwich is no where near good enough for a dinner. It was crowded (even with only around 50 people in there) and certainly no where near enough seats. OK for plane spotting, but limited to B737's and A320's. All the big birds where down the other end of the terminal and out of view. I spent more time down stairs in one of the resturants rather than sit up in the lounge, at least there you got fed, and could easily see the planes.

 

[simongr]

Still have to pay for non-nibbly food / WiFi though, right?

Not sure about the new FL at JFK, but my experience in the old FL at JFK and the other FL lounges that I have been to (LAX and ORD) is that all food and drinks are free. It's only in the ACs that they charge for food and drinks - FL is different, but they are rapidly disappearing.

The original reference was to the AC not the FL. Payment for food and drink only relates to Domestic ACs not international. The AC at NRT is actually very nice - much nicer than the QP in fact in my opinion.

I would also disagree that the FLs are rapidly disappearing - there are still FLs in LAX, ORD and JFK. The only one closed "recently" was DFW I think and that was a few years ago. That would imply as many domestic FLs for AA as QF has.

A only one or two vouchers, if you remember to ask for them.

Also djfuzz, I think WiFi was limited to AC members only (and even then I think there is a charge for it).

You can actually go back for more vouchers - as often as you like - they just give you two at a time.

Re the WiFi - this is free to AC members but you can pay to use as a non-member.

 

[harvyk]

You can actually go back for more vouchers - as often as you like - they just give you two at a time.

They certainly kept that bit secret at the MIA AC...