Which Athens Airport Lounge?

[Gabriel]

I'm returning to Sydney next week flying from Athens and due to connecting flights I'll be in Athens airport for 4 or so hours midday. I am looking for recommendations on which lounge is best. I'm flying a business class QF ticket on an Emirates plane and as a QF Plat one FF and understand I can go into any oneworld lounge, but the only reviews that google has come up seem to be 4 or 5 years old and doesnt cover all lounges.
I know 'best' is very subjective to peoples own opinions but I'd love to hear your views. Fresh snacky food, good wine and comfortable seats are good starters for me.

Any views or links to recent reviews will be appreciated.

 

[amaroo]

It might be this one http://www.australianfrequentflyer....eeks-turks-last-post-67312-2.html#post1232636

 

[Gabriel]

Thank you amaroo, looks like you had a great trip!!!!

 

[tuapekastar]

I'm not convinced you will have access to any OW lounges (and I think the BA one is the only 'true' OW lounge there - there are a couple of 3rd party-operated lounges that some OW airlines use, but they would not count). Appears you need to be on a OW operated and marketed flight to access an OW lounge - EK operated flights would not appear to count.

Flying in J with EK should get you access to the OA lounge (actually OA and A3 seem to have hopped into bed together, may be the A3 lounge). Being a home port lounge I suspect this would be a better option anyway.

For the record, 5 years ago the BA lounge was just a typical small outstation lounge - I cannot recall food and bev details (was there for an 0900 flight) but it was located oddly, after security and before immigration. There was a smoking room inside the lounge, can't recall if there were toilets.

Note with the exception of my view on the BA lounge, all the above is what I have surmised rather than actually know.

 

[vetrade]

Used the BA Terraces Lounge at ATH at the end of 2013. We were there early afternoon. According to my notes it is quite small and didn't have any hot food - had Chivas at the bar, sandwiches, tea/ coffee so it only covered the bare basics.

 

[OATEK]

Used the BA Terraces Lounge at ATH at the end of 2013. We were there early afternoon. According to my notes it is quite small and didn't have any hot food - had Chivas at the bar, sandwiches, tea/ coffee so it only covered the bare basics.

You are spot on. Was in BA Galleries at ATH in April 2015, and small lounge, snacks and drinks, no hot food. But staff were good, not overcrowded, and it was conveniently opposite the gates where the BA flights usually leave from. As long as you have a QF flight number on your ticket, you should be able to access the BA Lounge, but as tuapekastar advises, not on an EK flight number. The lounge is through security and immigration, and we walked out straight into the departure lounge, so no issues there. Did see signs to the other lounges, but didn't peek so can't advise.

P.S. You have to leave the lounge to use a Toilet, but they were just across the corridor.

 

[Gabriel]

Thanks for the info, its very much appreciated.

 

[Kangol]

You are spot on. Was in BA Galleries at ATH in April 2015, and small lounge, snacks and drinks, no hot food. But staff were good, not overcrowded, and it was conveniently opposite the gates where the BA flights usually leave from. As long as you have a QF flight number on your ticket, you should be able to access the BA Lounge, but as tuapekastar advises, not on an EK flight number. The lounge is through security and immigration, and we walked out straight into the departure lounge, so no issues there. Did see signs to the other lounges, but didn't peek so can't advise.

P.S. You have to leave the lounge to use a Toilet, but they were just across the corridor.

Terraces or Galleries? The OW site says Terraces. AFAIK, there is a difference in the level of offerings between Terraces and Galleries...

 

[OATEK]

Terraces or Galleries? The OW site says Terraces. AFAIK, there is a difference in the level of offerings between Terraces and Galleries...

Sorry, yes it would have been Terraces.

 

[Gabriel]

Thought I'd follow this thread up following my flight.

My emirates ticket had both EK and QF flight numbers on it. Which meant that I had two lounges to chose from the Emirates designated one (Onassis lounge) or the BA Oneworld lounge. Not that I could see any staff in the BA lounge anyway.

I felt that the Onassis lounge was a lot more comfortable than the BA lounge and the food selection (snacks) was better. The BA alcohol selection was better though. The Onassis wine was in little glass size bottles though, so I guess you could just fill up your bag if you were flying economy somewhere and didn't want to bother the FA. I didn't have to pass through security again to board the plane.
[h=1][/h]

 

[amaroo]

Thought I'd follow this thread up following my flight.

My emirates ticket had both EK and QF flight numbers on it. Which meant that I had two lounges to chose from the Emirates designated one (Onassis lounge) or the BA Oneworld lounge. Not that I could see any staff in the BA lounge anyway.

I felt that the Onassis lounge was a lot more comfortable than the BA lounge and the food selection (snacks) was better. The BA alcohol selection was better though. The Onassis wine was in little glass size bottles though, so I guess you could just fill up your bag if you were flying economy somewhere and didn't want to bother the FA. I didn't have to pass through security again to board the plane.

Thanks for updating. Onassis lounge looks exactly like the one we were in (TR posted above) which had a Skyserv banner at the entrance.

 

[Gabriel]

yes it was a Skyserv lounge and was partnered with a list of airlines as long as my arm. Right next door to the BA and swiss one. The lounge was pretty empty and it had free wifi

 

[EUROPA]

I have used the Onassis lounge a few times and it is reasonably good. Flying J or velocity plat with EY gives you access to the Swiss lounge next door but I often use the Onassis lounge via Priority Pass anyway.

There is also an identical lounge to the Onassis lounge in the intra-schengen area .