10 Best Lounges list
To differentiate themselves from the rest, many airlines are creating exquisite airport oases. Exclusive international airport lounges offer first-class and business class passengers tranquility and white-glove service. To help passengers enjoy the very best that airport lounges have to offer, the travel experts at I Fly First Class (IFFC) offered their list of the 10 best airport lounges.
“In their own individual ways, all of these lounges offer first-class passengers a chance to relax and retreat from the hustle and bustle of busy, noisy airports,” said IFFC’s officials. “The airport lounges, however, are not ranked in a particular order because they each bring something unique and special to the industry and are an important part of creating a luxurious international travel experience.”
The awe-inspiring 98-foot vertical garden at Qantas’ First Lounge at the Sydney Airport earns a spot on the list. The lounge is surrounded with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the runway and Sydney’s skyline. Passengers can enjoy complimentary spa treatments, dine on culinary delights, refresh in a shower or relax in the library. An on-site business center offers fully-equipped private work suites.
The sheer size of Lufthansa’s First Class Terminal in the Frankfurt airport makes it one of IFFC’s favorites. The entire terminal is reserved for its first class passengers and houses its own security checkpoints, a cigar lounge, soaking baths and a chauffeur escort to the tarmac. “Having a chauffeur drive you directly to your airplane in a Porsche or Mercedes-Benz is certainly an effective way to cater to first-class passengers who already expect top-notch service,” said IFFC PR Manager Julia Graft.
The retro vibes of Virgin Atlantic’s Clubhouse at JFK International Airport in New York and British Airways’ Concorde Room at London’s Heathrow Airport also earned spots on the IFFC list. Virgin’s Clubhouse is an homage to all things sleek and glamorous, with a cocktail lounge in mod purple lighting, complimentary spa services, a salon and a pool table. Across the pond, luxurious crystal chandeliers grace British Airways’ Concorde Room, awash with velvet and leather, champagne, cabanas with daybeds, spa service, private dining booths and a giant horse lamp.
The glass-domed Swiss Air lounge at the Basel-Mulhouse EuroAirport makes the list for its expansive size, exclusive amenities, relaxing atmosphere, hot and cold buffet and private VIP entrance. It earned the Priority Pass Global Lounge of the Year Award in 2012.
Also on the 10 Best Lounges list are Cathay Pacific’s The Pier and The Wing at Hong Kong International, Qatar Airways Premium Terminal at Doha International Airport, Finnair’s lounge at the Helsinki airport, Singapore Airlines’ SilverKris Lounges and Thai Airways’ lounge in Bangkok.
10 Best Lounges list:
- Qantas’ First Lounge at the Sydney Airport,
- Lufthansa’s First Class Terminal in the Frankfurt airport,
- Virgin Atlantic’s Clubhouse at JFK International Airport in New York,
- British Airways’ Concorde Room at London’s Heathrow Airport,
- Swiss Air lounge at the Basel-Mulhouse EuroAirport,
- Cathay Pacific’s The Pier and The Wing at Hong Kong International,
- Qatar Airways Premium Terminal at Doha International Airport,
- Finnair’s lounge at the Helsinki airport,
- Singapore Airlines’ SilverKris Lounges,
- Thai Airways’ lounge in Bangkok.
