Which lounge was nice surprise to you?

[tdimdad]

Which lounge has been a nice surprise to you?
I don't mean that it's been good when you should expect it (e.g. First lounge of a high-quality airline, etc) but you may have gone in with lower expectations and the lounge clearly exceeded them in some way. To me, the most recent was Vienna Lounge in VIE. When I walked in, I had to stop and take in the interior with a mental comment "Holy smokes, I like this!". The food serving was at the centre and the sitting areas around it felt spacious and inviting.

The food and drink options were pretty nice, too. The photos does not really do justice to the place but I'd happily spend another couple of hours in this lounge.

 

[Pushka]

Koh Samui. It was very tropical and airy. Pleasant enough drinks and food but just a really nice open air space.

 

[Denali]

Abu Dhabi first class lounge - massages and amazing food. Im just sad we didnt get to spend longer there

 

[MEL_Traveller]

A while ago now, but the revamped AA flagship lounges, literally two cases of bollinger out in the ice buckets, tequila station, huge buffet.

Most recently, the rex sydney lounge! I was expecting it to be as bad as melbourne, and… it wasn’t!

 

[Mattg]

A few come to mind...

The Primeclass Lounge in Muscat was one. Surprisingly large with great food and lots of amenities, even a pool table.

The Strata Lounge in Auckland was a pleasant surprise for me. I would probably choose this over the Qantas lounges, including the F lounge, even if flying QF out of AKL.

I was also pleasantly surprised by the Nartubas Business Lounge at VNO a few weeks ago. My expectations were low but it was very pleasant.

 

[RooFlyer]

The Hong Kong Airlines VIP lounge at HKG was very pleasant surprise, waiting to catch S7 up to Irkutsk, pre Covid.

 

[andye]

LGW BA F was better than I expected. Though smaller, service, ambience and spirits seemed better than LHR

Plaza Premium in HKG. I had access to CX F Wing but spent longer than I expected to when trying it out beforehand. Nice dimsum and good phone charging facilities

 

[dajop]

The two that spring to mind are:
i) the Swiss Senator/Gold lounge at ZRH in the non-Schengen area in Terminal E. Nice outdoor terrace overlooking the airport, light, airy lounge, reasonable food offering and a whiskey bar that has an impressive design and an impressive selection of whiskeys.
ii) the new Encalm Prive lounge at DEL - Delhi lounges have always been a lacklustre affair, but we flew threw there in August, just after this new lounge was opened. We were there for breakfast, but it had extensive offering, including live Dosa station. Not sure what it would be like in the evenings, or after a few months of wear and tear but it was a pleasant surprise. Such a contrast to the Air India lounge at DEL, which is like a much dirtier, larger version of the Qantas Club in Hobart, with perhaps less attractive food and beverage offerings.

 

[Mattg]

The one that springs to mind is the Swiss Senator/Gold lounge at ZRH in the non-Schengen area in Terminal E. Nice outdoor terrace overlooking the airport, light, airy lounge, reasonable food offering and a whiskey bar that has an impressive design and an impressive selection of whiskeys.

I also love the Lufthansa Senator Lounge in Hamburg. Fairly small and unassuming, but it has an epic outdoor terrace where you can sit and watch the planes coming and going in the summer while sipping on some self-poured German tap beer.

 

[dajop]

I also love the Lufthansa Senator Lounge in Hamburg. Fairly small and unassuming, but it has an epic outdoor terrace where you can sit and watch the planes coming and going in the summer while sipping on some self-poured German tap beer.

Not been there, but sounds good. Not a fan of the LH Senator Lounges at FRA though, something missing from them, but can't quite pinpoint exactly what.

 

[SYD]

The previous SFO United First lounge (did that become the Polaris lounge?). It was a huge cavernous space down on ground level, so no views from memory but high ceilings, plenty of seating, showers and decent food. The one time I went there (UA F reward back to SYD) there was myself, SYD+1 and one other guy that popped in, ate something and left. We had the place to ourselves for 2 hrs or so. On board the F Cabin was full. Apart from maybe some upgrades at the gate, where did the rest of the F PAX go pre flight? The UA Club lounge at SFO was usually a zoo prior to the evening departures…

 

[RooFlyer]

The previous SFO United First lounge

Agree with this - excellent tucker and was quiet.

 

[jase05]

The Strata Lounge in Auckland was a pleasant surprise for me. I would probably choose this over the Qantas lounges, including the F lounge, even if flying QF out of AKL.

Fully concur. The Strata lounge is streets ahead of the QF lounge.
More than happy that QR send you there

 

[Duffa]

I am enjoying the delights of the newly opened Travel Club Lounge at KLIA satellite, courtesy of PP.
Situated opposite the currently "closed for renovation" Plaza Premium lounge, it was a last resort option for us travelling Oman J.
Plaza Premium has moved to main terminal so it was either a bus ride or use this lounge.
Luckily I had my Priority Pass in my pocket.
The main entrance is not that impressive, hence my hesitation, but Mrs D quickly made my decision much easier. A 2 metre walk (we were outside) or half a "day" on a bus and a long hike back to Gate 1 was a no-brainer!

Inside, the place is SPOTLESS.
There is a cafe area with a mix of Asian and western foods. 8 hot dishes to choose from
Salad bar. Dessert bar.

Multiple seating areas with armchairs wing-backs and long sofas.

There is a large walk up bar with EXCELLENT barista coffee.

Only issue is no showers.

It is fairly quiet at 08.00 local time.

 

[Duffa]

This is truly one of those hidden gem lounges.
I might skip the MH Golden lounge and come here on the way back!.

 

[Duffa]

Turns out we could have accessed the MH Golden lounge after all. Met a fellow traveller who was informed in Melbourne to use the MH lounge for Oman air departure from KUL.
We were denied entry 12m ago, on exactly the same flights, so didn't bother asking this time.
So glad we didn't.

 

[Peanutbladder]

For me it was the RJ lounge in Amman. So many different elements, stand up arcade machines, pizza and pasta section, ice cream maker, chocolate and sweets counter, large buffet and of course a bar.

The only downside and it was not a major issue is the lounge is open to the departure lounge below so has some noise.

 

[Daver6]

In general, the SLOW lounges in South Africa have impressed me.

For me it was the RJ lounge in Amman. So many different elements, stand up arcade machines, pizza and pasta section, ice cream maker, chocolate and sweets counter, large buffet and of course a bar.

The only downside and it was not a major issue is the lounge is open to the departure lounge below so has some noise.

It's been a good few years since I've been to the RJ Lounge in AMM. Sounds like they've lifted their game as it used to be a bit average.

 

[Beano]

Not been there, but sounds good. Not a fan of the LH Senator Lounges at FRA though, something missing from them, but can't quite pinpoint exactly what.

It's the food, but they have a whisky bar.

 

[drross]

Which lounge has been a nice surprise to you?
I don't mean that it's been good when you should expect it (e.g. First lounge of a high-quality airline, etc) but you may have gone in with lower expectations and the lounge clearly exceeded them in some way. To me, the most recent was Vienna Lounge in VIE. When I walked in, I had to stop and take in the interior with a mental comment "Holy smokes, I like this!". The food serving was at the centre and the sitting areas around it felt spacious and inviting.

The food and drink options were pretty nice, too. The photos does not really do justice to the place but I'd happily spend another couple of hours in this lounge.

View attachment 354916

There at after Easter this year. Open and uncrowded. Food and wine selection good