RyanairGuru From Australia, joined Oct 2006, 2496 posts, RR: 2 Reply 2, posted (6 months 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 1621 times:
For me it is definitely the Qantas First Class lounge in Sydney.
I realise that that would sound surprising to some people, and it surprised me too! I'd heard good reviews of this lounge, but nothing could prepare me for actually going to it.
For a start it's about 20x larger than it needs to be, feeling very spacious and airy but at the same time still feels intimate since it is split into zones (couch areas, restaurant etc). It is generally very quiet so there is no difficulty finding a seat unlike other lounges (ahem, EK).
It is full restaurant service (not a buffet) with an extensive menu and the food is excuisite (and the fine wine list even more so). This is, of course, completely free.
fbgdavidson From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2004, 3687 posts, RR: 31 Reply 7, posted (6 months 3 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1546 times:
Quoting OA260 (Reply 1): 1: BA First Class lounge LHR
But not the Concorde Room? Interesting...I know some of my FF buddies prefer the self serve approach for food and drink in the Galleries First over the CCR but the latter usually feels much quieter IME.
Quoting RyanairGuru (Reply 2): For me it is definitely the Qantas First Class lounge in Sydney.
I realise that that would sound surprising to some people
Not to me, it's my favourite. Can't find fault to it from the showers, to the spa, to the restaurant to the facilities overall. Actually the one thing I would make better is the drink selection, the standard could be a little better in say the bubbles department, more akin to onboard F product.
"My first job was selling doors, door to door, that's a tough job innit" - Bill Bailey
Quokkas From Australia, joined Jan 2012, 1355 posts, RR: 9 Reply 8, posted (6 months 3 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1544 times:
It may not be the world's most luxurious or exclusive but I like the EK lounge in HAM. It is pleasantly furnished and does offer a range of hot and cold meals, as well as drinks, and has the usual "office", wi-fi and showers, etc. But the main reason, apart from the wonderful lounge staff, is the uninterrupted views over the apron from the dining area. That's important for an aviation enthusiast.
“Not to laugh, not to cry, not to hate, but understand.” Spinoza
AR385 From Mexico, joined Nov 2003, 4842 posts, RR: 28 Reply 10, posted (6 months 3 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 1479 times:
I have four.
1. The LH F lounge at FRA
2. The BA F lounge at LHR
3. The (pre merger) CO lounges at IAH, mainly due to the quality of the staff and the free booze
4. The AM lounge at MEX T2. Maybe not at the level of the others, but still, a welcome space to wait for a Friday evening flight back home after a whole week´s work.
flyTPA From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 129 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (6 months 3 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 1441 times:
1. The Concorde Room at JFK. I was only there once but it was amazing. I still remember the moment when they opened the curtain revealing the plane parked outside and said we could board the SST at our leisure. I've had better food in a lounge and better food on a plane, but that experience-along with the attention to every detail from check in to walking off the SST at LHR is an experience that I will never forget.
2&3. This was a tough call. I have been in the LH First Class lounge (not terminal) at FRA and MUC. I've arrived at both after a long transatlantic flight and I think that the shower facilities and attentiveness to detail were superior in MUC, solely because there were less people there at the time.
4. Istanbul-the CIP lounge here is better than any other lounge I've been in save the LH First Class lounges above. The variety of food-all freshly prepared-not to mention the service of the staff-were all exceptional in every way! It was much more crowded than 1-3 above, but it was worth the walk to the other end of the terminal to visit. I could stay there for a full day and enjoy the freshly prepared meals. They were actually preparing (and baking) fresh pastries before our eyes. If I didn't have to leave, I would have stayed to enjoy them when they came out of the oven.
5. The UA First Class Lounges in ORD and IAD. In comparison to 1-4 above, I can only say that they have a long way to go to come even remotely close to any of the above. Their intimacy and calibre of food (including self-serve liquor) are a step above my next favorite lounge- the United Club in terminal E at IAH-but after experiencing 1-4 above-and even enduring long hours in a basic LH club (non-senator) in MUC this past spring where I was stuck for 10 hours after a canceled flight, I still consider these lounges superior to what UA considers to be their "top of the line".
Signore e signori-benvenuti a bordo questo volo per l'Italia!
Coal From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 1625 posts, RR: 6 Reply 12, posted (6 months 3 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 1419 times:
In no particular order:
NZ J Lounge in SYD
I used this lounge twice while waiting for a CA flight to PVG. I liked that it had great views of the tarmac and it had a huge fridge stocked with bubbly. Travelers were encouraged to take a bottle per person, as according to one of the lounge attendants, "we have too much bubbly!".
QF J Lounge in MEL
I used this lounge once while waiting for a QF flight to SYD. I liked the breakfast area. It reminded me a bit of a Melbournian cafe. Nothing special perhaps, but it felt much more homely than your typical airline lounge.
CX J Lounges in HKG
The tarmac views, especially those of a 747 right in front of you, cannot be beat!
NH Star Gold Lounge in NRT
I've used this lounge many times and for a Star Gold (e.g. most pax in Y but with status) it is quite good. I like the sake bar and the noodle bar the most, as there isn't much other food to be had.
OZ J Lounge in ICN
I've used this lounge a couple of times in transit. Food is very poor, but it has the best showers. They provide ALL the amenities you need, inc. deodorant, which most lounge showers don't have (they assume you have toiletries with you).
I've only ever been in a First Class lounge at SIN, at the First Class section of the SQ lounge (invite courtesy of a Solitaire PPS Club member). Nothing special, other than the restaurant, where you could order breakfast, but this is standard in most FCL lounges.
Cheers Coal
Nxt Flts: QR SIN-DPS | SQ DPS-SIN | 3K SIN-SGN-SIN | SQ SIN-PEK | CA PEK-FNJ-PEK | CX PEK-HKG-CGK
rsrik From India, joined Oct 2008, 143 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (6 months 2 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 1373 times:
I have been to the following Skyteam/Delta lounges:
SFO, JFK, ATL, CDG, LGW, NRT, TLV
Also been to the Emirates lounge in SFO, DXB
Of all, NRT lounge was the best. It had very nice, unhindered views of a runway and gates. The departures from NRT to US were in the late afternoon, so, it was perfect time to arrive at the lounge around 2 PM, enjoy some nice wine with snacks, and spot heavies.
It seemed to offer the right mixture of snacks, comfort and airport view.
The Emirates DXB J lounge was nicer in some ways (food choice, comfort, etc.). However, I was always there between the hours of 11 PM and 4 AM !! Couldn't care lesser about being there, and couldn't wait for my next flight.
LHRBFSTrident From UK - Northern Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 628 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (6 months 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 1321 times:
I generally love the NZ lounges (the LAX lounge being one of the best at that airport overall) but the lounge that knocked my socks off (unusually for a die-hard *G flyer) was the VS Upper Class lounge at LHR T3
The entire service concept was just beyond any other lounge I'd ever visited - mostly due to the waitstaff service: brilliant!
Next up: LAX-LHR NZ002 Y SkyCouch! LHR-LAX NZ001 Y
aklrno From United States of America, joined Dec 2010, 683 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (6 months 2 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 1212 times:
Quoting LHRBFSTrident (Reply 15): I generally love the NZ lounges (the LAX lounge being one of the best at that airport overall) but the lounge that knocked my socks off (unusually for a die-hard *G flyer) was the VS Upper Class lounge at LHR T3
I've never been real impressed with the NZ lounge at LAX. Nice, but nothing to get excited about, and usually too crowded. In any case, it will be going out of business soon. The airport board was scheduled to approve a contract with NZ last month to operate the new * Alliance lounge in the expanded TBIT building. That building is scheduled to be mostly open by April or May. I don't know the schedule for when NZ moves from T2. I'll miss T2, not pretty but small and easy to get through.
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