What do you want from airport lounges?

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I've spent quite a lot of time in airport lounges recently, and I'm finding that there are a few things that I really appreciate the most:
  • Substantial, healthy food options
  • Barista coffee
  • Somewhere to work (e.g. a desk with a power outlet available)
  • Good internet
  • Showers
Runway views and champagne are nice too, but I don't find them essential.

What about you? What are the main things you would like to see more of in airport lounges?
 
For me:

- charging at seats

- a quiet zone ( no kids, shouty mobile policed)

- decent food and bev ( not extravagant, just not the lowest cost)

- showers

- less crowding

- lockers

- service desk

Hobart QP, I’m looking at you Re none of the above!
 
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- Decent and substantial food options
- Clean place to sit with laptop and work; most of those "lounge" chairs with tiny tables are too soft to do this comfortably
- good internet
- Quiet areas away from large groups and kids running around
- Clean toilets
 
What I really want
Clean toilets and showers and showers should be practical to use ie you don't end up with water all over your case
Quiet areas - everywhere you go now there is a TV on and I don't like the noise - also don't want shouty people near me
I don't need to work on the run anymore but access to a printer if needed
Food options - having allergies is a nightmare in places like lounges and most people have got no idea about what goes in their food and if you can't have some of their healthier options you end up with high carb stodge which I'm trying to avoid.
Charging close to seat

Nice to have
Runway views
lockers
Internet when I'm not in Australia

Great thread
 
In descending order...

Decent showers without a queue. This is the number one thing for me. Clean, good size and doesn't steam up.

Peace and quiet

Power sockets at seating would be next.

Fresh good options. Eg, CX noodle bar, options like the QF SIN J lounge etc.

Quality booze. QF is horrible at this for the most part. Even the F lounge options are generally average at best.

Edit: Peace and quiet added
 
Last edited:
In priority order:

Decent seating. It is called a lounge after all and many airports are now using minimal cleaning metal seating at the gates, so something comfortable in the lounge is an improvement.

Boarding calls. Monitors can’t be everywhere and I hate having to get up every few minutes to check my flight status as boarding time approaches, in lounges with no calls.

Wifi access. Preferably maintained by professionals or at least someone who knows more than just where the on/off switch is, so that not all of the traffic can be monitored by the Chinese and Russian governments.

A decent mix of healthy, comfort, savoury and sweet food options.

Staff to clear away used items and utensils, commensurate with the number of lounge users.

Clean bathrooms and showers.

Barista or brewed coffee, tea and hot chocolate.

Service desks. Staffed by knowledgeable personnel with sufficient authority to make necessary changes during irrops.

Natural lighting, preferably with runway/tarmac views.

Someone patrolling the lounge with a large rattan cane as usually seen being wielded by street police in India. To enforce peace and quiet on those having loud conversations on their phone, or watching tv shows/movies on devices and not using headphones! Or putting their shoes or feet up on the furniture. (this suggestion is TIC… a bit…)

Things I couldn’t care less about:
Alcohol
Objects d’art
Other peoples clothing

Basically, TK lounge Istanbul, everywhere.
Or Air NZ lounges; they seem to do everything right, even the little regional ones!
 
Getting in easily without a queue.
Food that doesn’t look like it’s been left out for several days/cost a few cents tops from the Costco surplus pile.
A range of seats available that don’t lend themselves to looking all occupied when one person sits at a couch for four.
Spaced out seating, privacy and quiet.
Showers and cleaner, nicer toilets than the terminal.
Airline service desk.
Good wifi.
Good views (if everything above is met).

Are there lounges (in/near Aust) with lockers?
 
Someone patrolling the lounge with a large rattan cane as usually seen being wielded by street police in India. To enforce peace and quiet on those having loud conversations on their phone, or watching tv shows/movies on devices and not using headphones! Or putting their shoes or feet up on the furniture. (this suggestion is TIC… a bit…)
🦯 ✅
 
Multiple food, beer & wine options.
More than 2 or 3 of each.

Barista coffee (with oat milk).

All else from what I've experienced is fine.
Power outlets, cleanliness, chair comfort, service desk, showers, flight announcements etc.

Can always want more, but more = $$$$.
 
A place to get away from the crowd and relax before a flight.

A decent variety of food. Doesn't have to be many choices but if it was just spicy food available or just noodle soup or dim sum then I wouldn't eat.

Some alcohol. I'm not picky but a half decent Vodka and gin, a few varieties of beer, soft drink and mixers and some champagne do me just fine.
 
Essential:

-Let’s me through the door
-Clean toilets. And many of them. The BA first lounge at LHR T5 was disgusting last week. Plus there was a queue for the loos.
-Space. I would have listed this before Covid but it’s even more important now.
-Power points at seating areas
-Dirty dishes and rubbish cleared regularly
-Staff to answer questions/ solve flight issues
-lots of flight status screens dotted around the room

Desirable:

-Good beer (none of that Heineken rubbish)
-Views of the tarmac
-Barista coffee
-Good food. I particularly like it when they have local cuisines at international lounges
-Comfortable seating and lots of it
-Close to departure gate
 

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