[Misc] Airport Lounges around the world

[petetherock]

Not everyone is on a skin tight budget, so this thread helps to evaluate the different lounges around the world, which allow bathing, the kinds of food served etc...

As a rule the ones in Asia, tend to be bigger, offer better food and services.

Europe will charge around S$40 or so for a day room and shower facilities, if it is even available.

For example Star Alliance Narita - full meals, Western & Japanese, super shower rooms and all free.

More later...

[nemesis32]

So far, the SIA Krisflyer lounge in Singapore Terminal 3 is the best i have visited. It has everything you needed and hot food as well. Most lounges serves things like sandwiches and fruits and some hot food that's served COLD! LOL

[petetherock]

The JKF and NWK ones are pretty pathetic too.
In fact many of the ones in USA are subject to the US model of operations. Cheap and sad... just like their domestic flights. Best to lower your expectations for these places.

[Deadpoet]

ANA's in Narita is amazing, so is BA's in London, and CX's in HK.

SQ's in T3 pales in comparison.

[Deadpoet]

Originally Posted by petetherock The JKF and NWK ones are pretty pathetic too. In fact many of the ones in USA are subject to the US model of operations. Cheap and sad... just like their domestic flights. Best to lower your expectations for these places.

Having to fly US domestic, depresses me big time.

[nemesis32]

Originally Posted by Deadpoet ANA's in Narita is amazing, so is BA's in London, and CX's in HK. SQ's in T3 pales in comparison.

Havent tried those but i guess the Home Carriers will have the best lounges in the respective airports anyway... like SQ in Singapore T3, BA in London and Lufthansa in Frankfurt.

if i am not wrong for those keen on accessing airport lounges but not traveling business class or don't have the card, you can actually pay for it by joining some club.. i think is premier lounge or something.. for like US$100/yr, prob need to google on that.

[2evans]

Originally Posted by Deadpoet Having to fly US domestic, depresses me big time.

hahaha, so sad but true.

[ShutterCentral]

Originally Posted by Deadpoet ANA's in Narita is amazing, so is BA's in London, and CX's in HK. SQ's in T3 pales in comparison.

Agreed with ANA lounge in Narita. A wide variety of food including hot soba or ramen etc.
Most importantly is the draft beer..

Simply love it. T3 lounge.. hmmmm

[Lomographer]

singapore airlines T3 lounge....

the bomb

went to the first class sides thrice

but the business class is always frequented when i travel...

the food is good but i usually prefer just to get some sushi and light snack,

get the papers and a bottle of water and then proceed to the flight

[Deadpoet]

For all those who thinks SQ can do no wrong, well, I am in the T3 business class lounge right now, it is nice, but then, nice is probably way below SQ expectation. CX's Marco Polo Lounge in HK has make to order noodles, and the ANA lounge at Narita has a ramen and soba bar. At the SQ business class lounge here in T3, the food is at best edible.

It is adequate, but it is not something that deserve the accolades.

[PrimePhotog]

My favs are Narita and Korea airports first class lounge(I get to go in for free when I travel with family as my father is a pps club solitaire member). T3 in Singapore is also very good. The worst one I have ever been to was in Cairo, Egypt. Loads of smoke and a musty smell even in the non-smoking lounge.Dun even bother with the shower or getting a light bite there.Just go to the airport shops

[petetherock]

I think Narita ANA - the far end one, get the most votes currently.

Anyone tried the Korean one? Or the Ones in India (going there in Jan).

[mfongym]

Krisflyer lounge at Changi is acceptable but not excellent. I have visited the Star Alliance lounge at Vietnam airport, that is much better. The variety of food and beverage they serve is much better than Changi. I am quite surprise to experience that in a more backward country like Vietnam.

[Lomographer]

Originally Posted by mfongym Krisflyer lounge at Changi is acceptable but not excellent. I have visited the Star Alliance lounge at Vietnam airport, that is much better. The variety of food and beverage they serve is much better than Changi. I am quite surprise to experience that in a more backward country like Vietnam.

krisflyer, you mean the elete gold SA lounge in singapore

or the PPS lounge me and primephotog was mentioning

have you been to the first class section?

there's really a huge selection and even a full bar ( with alot of diff drinks)

not those mini bars with pathetic selection ( i mean alcoholic drinks)

and even rooms to eat in... you decide

[petetherock]

Hi
Can anyone confirm that if you take a Silk Air flight, you can still use the SIA lounges?
I will be going to KMG. Is the lounge there any good?

Cheers

[ed9119]

since most of you talking about the 'good' places..... I'll start the ball rollin with the 'bad'...

The worst of the worst among BUSY INTERNATIONAL airports must be Chattrapathi Shivaji International Airport Mumbai which I use about 2 times a year for the last few years already. It has seen major renovations over the years that moved it from 'depths of hell' category to 'just bear with it' category. The whole environment is sterile and quite bare while outside its like a constant mob trying to jam into the airport.

Getting to the airport itself from downtown is a bumpy crawl that takes 1.5 to 2hrs sometimes .... meaning allowance of 4hrs at least to just make the flight

Dont really care about the luxury of ANY airport lounge.....they cannot compare to a 4-5 star hotel's services in the first place......just free food and drinks and maybe a place to shower/rest.

I just enjoy airports that get me transferred or checked in and on the plane with the least amount of hassle and gets rid of me in the shortest time.

The best no-frills airports I have enjoyed are

- Changi Airport's Budget Terminal (swee swee gets you on and off the plane and out of the place quickly) not because I'm singaporean but it really is simple and chop chop fast.

- Shanghai's Hongqiao Domestic airport (almost like getting on and off a coach at a bus interchange)

- Pulkovo Airport in St Petersburg , Russia .... nothing much to look at but very efficient and I swear I have never seen an airport staffed with so many hot babes (that were quick in what they do too) ... so different from Moscow

- Vladivostok International Airport , Russia.... smiling is like a crime at this airport but its clinically efficient as well given that most of us going there is for business, work in the shipping, freight , heavy and natural resource industries .... few tourists ...

- Surprised that noone mentioned Korea's Incheon Inernational Airport.... quick and efficient (as long as passport in order) and very nice warm feel about the place and its staff each and every time

- Jakarta Soekarno Hatta International - ONLY because the (air-con) cafes allow you to smoke without getting into trouble as long as you buy a coffee

- KLIA not bad too..... but hate the long walks and electric train transfer to immigration

- Got to love HKIA's immigration officers...... they constantly staff the immigration counters with many officers so that even a long queue is cleared very quickly ...... and so many land connections into china too (just wish they have some late night coach transfers into china in future... otherwise have to lug it to Kowloon to catch the all-night bus services)

Sorry I'm not a world traveller........ thats all I got to share

[Lomographer]

i still think the pps lounge in singapore changi airport, T2 or T3,

is still world class.

world-class cuisine, a full-range DIY bar, and rest-rooms, proper showers and even private rooms to eat.

still the best in the world, can't be beaten by any other airlines...

skytrax should reconsider their award for malaysian airlines (lounge and cabins and staff services)

[ed9119]

My vote goes to The Wing at HKIA ..... no doubt...... makes SQ in Changi look ordinary....

But ANY time spent in an airport lounge no matter how posh is a TOTAL waste of time because of delayed flights, long transit hours, bad weather, arrived too early , technical problems with plane etc etc etc ...... its just an airline's way of making you less pissed off at whatever you're laying the blame on while you're freaking out why the hell you're not on the damned flight already.

Checking in early to 'enjoy' the hospitality lounge ....... hmmmmmmmmm .... NOT

out of this thread

[pilotsnoopy]

KF lounge in London LHR was good 2 months back.

Had to spend about 6hrs there as I took a connecting on BA from Rome...

Showers, good curry chicken, ee fu noodles? power points, free internet terminals...well beats the really crowded public areas...shot right in after doing some duty free shopping at Chanel...a wallet there is 500bucks cheaper than Chanel Singapore.

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Thai Orchid lounge in Hong Kong is good as well, beats UA RCC.(I'm a United Mileage Plus elite card holder)

Just 2hours there since its a United connecting flight back to Singapore from ORD, enough for a quick shower, reasonable dim sum and away from the sometimes abrasive chinese crowd. The last time though, everyone look at each other in amusement annoyance hearing 2 chinese aunties down below screaming at each other :\

HKIA has free wifi but powerpoints are taped up...so access to the lounge is good for a quick charge up of the laptop/ipod/phone.

[Lomographer]

the SQ PPS first class section is always a fave,

esp incheon b4 the T3 one was built.

the other lounges are simply not up to mark, but maybe i prefer SQ more over other lounges.

Emirates first class lounge in the dubai int. airport is simply fabulous, another great lounge.