Airport lounges are becoming more of a focus for travellers as airlines cram more luxury seats on planes and upping their pitch for frequent flyers through loyalty programmes. Today’s premium airport lounges include features like yoga studios, detox bars, wellness services, and eating areas with celebrity chef-designed menus. Of course, travelling business or first class usually comes with a price to pay for the luxury of enjoying these excellent way stops.
British Airways Concorde Room, London Heathrow
A spacious First Class-only lounge combines British history with a luxurious living room ambience, complete with exquisitely constructed armchairs and even fires. This spectacular retreat at one of the busiest airports in the world serves fine dining-caliber food and offers Elemis massage services.
Air France La Premiere Lounge – Paris
One of the world’s most glamorous first-class travel experiences is offered by Air France, and the company also has a very stylish ground operation. After a thorough renovation that includes renovating the modest cocktail bar brighter and more attractive, introducing semi-private relaxation rooms, and adding new artwork, the airline reopened its iconic first-class lounge at Charles de Gaulle. Alain Ducasse, a celebrity chef, continues to prepare meals for diners. Hopefully the spa services at Biologique Recherche will start up again soon as well.
Lufthansa First Class Terminal – Frankfurt, Germany
At its Frankfurt hub, Lufthansa has created a whole First Class Terminal, not simply a first-class lounge. Instead of travelling to the main airport, passengers may drive straight up to the First Class Terminal and go through security checks there before taking advantage of the many amenities the lounge has to offer. They will then proceed through a designated immigration and customs screening before being driven to their flight. Highlights of the lounge include a cigar lounge, a bar selling over 130 varieties of whiskey, a full-service dining area, and shower facilities, one of which has a complete bath. Before you wash up, ask for one of the airline’s distinctive rubber duckies.The trip begins with a private meet and greet and ends with a direct drive in your own private Porsche from the lounge to the aeroplane. There is even a cigar lounge in the lounge!
American Airlines Flagship First Dining
At its hubs in Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York JFK, American Airlines operates its most upscale lounges, known as Flagship First Dining locations. Once inside, visitors are given their own personal tables and are free to place orders from the gourmet menus, which may feature seasonal fare like roasted beet and burrata salad or free-range beef tenderloin with peppercorn crust and prosciutto-wrapped asparagus. The airline frequently offers customised drinks in addition to Krug Champagne and other fine vintages from France and the United States.
Emirates First Class Lounge, Dubai
Emirates has a number of First Class lounges at its hub in Dubai, but Concourse A is the largest First Class lounge in the world, offering seats for around 600 people and spanning an entire floor above the main concourse. There are business centres, conference rooms, wine cellars, duty-free shopping sections, kids’ clubs, quiet places, prayer rooms, showers, and cigar lounges among the amenities. Under the vast roof, the restaurant occupies the main space and provides gourmet dining with a variety of international specialties made with the finest ingredients. Additionally, First Class travellers are given free 15-minute spa treatments at the nearby spa. Direct access to the aircraft boarding gates is available from the lounge.
Tags: Airport lounges, London Heathrow, Lufthansa First Class Terminal – Frankfurt, Dubai, Paris