Airport lounge

File:Zrh lx swiss lounge bar area.jpg

The lounge at Zürich Airport, Switzerland.

An airport lounge is a lounge owned by a particular airline (or jointly operated in the case of an alliance). Many offer private meeting rooms, phone, fax, wireless and Internet access and other business services, along with provisions to enhance comfort such as free drinks and snacks. At lounges, passengers will also find more comfortable seating, quieter environments and better access to customer service representatives than in the airport terminal.

Access to lounges

The Lufthansa First Class lounge at Frankfurt International Airport, Germany.

Access to airport lounges may be obtained in several ways. A common method to gain access is by purchasing an annual or a lifetime membership. Membership fees are sometimes discounted for elite members of an airline's frequent flyer program, and may often be paid using miles. Travelers flying internationally in first class or business class are often offered free access on their days of travel.

Lounge access can also be attained with an airline status card. The top levels often offer access to any of an airline's lounges or partner airlines' lounges, when traveling in any class of travel on any of the partner airlines (usually it is required for the cardholder to be booked on one of the carrier's flights within the next 24 hours).

Generic lounges provided by an airport operator also exist. A fee is paid, which ranges from a daily fee to yearly fees or lifetime memberships. Independent lounge programs such as Priority Pass offer lounge access for an annual fee. Premium credit and charge cards such as Diners Club International, American Express Platinum and Centurion Card charge cards, and the Morgan Stanley i24 Card, offer lounge programs for members. As of 2008 the American Express Platinum (in some countries) and Centurion charge cards, Morgan Stanley i24 card and the RBS Black Card include Priority Pass membership. American Express also offers access to lounges belonging to partner airlines when flying with those airlines.

What lounges offer

A standard SAS business lounge at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, Finland.

Besides offering more comfortable seating, lounges usually provide beverages like coffee, water, soft drinks, juices, beer and other alcoholic beverages. Domestic US lounges such as the Alaska Board Room, Continental Presidents Club, Delta SkyClub (formerly Delta Crown Room and Northwest WorldClub) offer free alcoholic beverages; the American Airlines Admirals Club, US Airways Club and United Red Carpet Club offer alcoholic beverages for purchase. Lounges also provide snacks like fruit, pastries and cheese. They generally offer television, usually a sports or news channel, newspapers, and magazines. Phones are spread out through the lounge, allowing members to make calls or access a dial-up internet service. Free Wireless internet access is becoming more and more common, some airlines offer wi-fi operated by contract providers, either complimentary or for a nominal daily or monthly fee.

Some lounges, such as the Emirates Lounge can offer extensive luxuries such as full buffet meals, massage services and even swimming pools.

Lounges also provide a more comfortable, stress-free wait for the aircraft, and sometimes offer luxury services such as massages, gyms and spas.

Further information

File:BGN LY King David Lounge birdseyeview.jpg

El Al lounge at Ben Gurion International Airport, Israel.

Malaysia Airlines' Golden Lounge at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia.

Most major carriers have one or more lounges in their hubs and additionally in major airports they serve. Major US airlines such as American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, US Airways and United operate dozens of clubs, smaller airlines like Alaska tend to only operate clubs in their hub cities.

Certain ground handling companies also operate lounges and invite passengers from the airlines which they handle.

Some airlines may also offer a First-class lounge or a Business-class lounge in some airports that can be different from their regular lounges, more in line with the European/Asian concept of an airport lounge as outlined above. In most cases, airlines will offer first class passengers a free pass to their standard airport club. They may also offer Arrival lounges for passengers to shower and rest after coming out of a long-haul international flight.

Many airlines outside North America and Australia do not sell lounge membership, reserving lounge access for elite frequent flyers. Due to alliances between airlines, many of these airlines lounges can be accessed through the paid programs of their North American and Australian partners - for instance Qantas Club membership provides access to British Airways lounges.

The American Airlines' Admirals Club was the first airport lounge when it opened at New York's La Guardia airport in 1939. Then AA President C.R. Smith thought that it would be a great tool for VIP passengers.

Lounge systems and locations

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Airline / Lounge Operator	Lounge Name	Locations
Aer Lingus	Gold Circle & Premier Lounge	Boston, Dublin, London-Heathrow
AeroMexico	Salon Premier	Cancún, Ciudad Juárez, Guadalajara, Hermosillo, León, Mérida, Mexico City (4), Monterrey, Tijuana
Air Algérie	Departure lounge	Algiers, Beijing (with Air China), Cairo, London-Heathrow, Montréal (with Air Canada), Oran, Paris-Charles de Gaulle
Air Canada	Maple Leaf Lounge (Salon feuille d'érable)	Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, London-Heathrow, Los Angeles, Montréal (3), Ottawa, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Quebec City, Regina, St. Johns, Toronto-Pearson (3), Vancouver (3), Winnipeg
	Arrivals Lounge (Salon d'arrivée)	London-Heathrow
Air France	Salon Air France	Bangkok, Barcelona, Berlin Tegel, Bordeaux, Cayenne, Chicago O'Hare, Duala, Dubai, Dusseldorf, Fort-de-France,Frankfort, Geneva, Honk Kong, Houston-Intercontinental, Johannesburg, Lagos, Lisbon, London-Heathrow, Lyon, Manchester, Milan-Malpensa, Montréal Trudeau, Munich, New-York-JFK, Nouméa, Paris Charles-de-Gaulle, Paris Orly, Pointe-à-Pitre, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Saint-Denis de la Réunion, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Stuttgart, Tokyo-Narita, Washington Dulles, Zurich,
Air India	Maharaja Lounge	Chennai, London-Heathrow, Mumbai, New Delhi, New York
Air New Zealand	Koru Lounge (domestic)	Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Invercargill, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Queenstown, Tauranga, Wellington
	International Lounge (international)	Auckland, Brisbane, Christchurch, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Nadi, Rarotonga, Sydney, Wellington
Alaska Airlines	Board Room	Anchorage, Los Angeles, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle/Tacoma, Vancouver
Alitalia	Sala Freccia Alata	Athens, Brussels, Catania, Chicago, London, Milano-Malpensa (2), Milano-Linate (3), New York–JFK, Rome-Fiumicino (5), Palermo, Turin, Venice
American Airlines	Admirals Club	Atlanta, Austin, Bogotá, Boston, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Chicago-O'Hare (2), Dallas/Fort Worth (4), Denver, Frankfurt, Honolulu, Kansas City, London-Heathrow, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami (2), Nashville, Newark, New York–JFK (2), New York–LaGuardia, Orange County, Panama City, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Philadelphia, Raleigh/Durham, Rio de Janeiro, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose CA, San Juan, Santiago, Santo Domingo, São Paulo-Guarulhos, St. Louis, Tokyo-Narita, Toronto-Pearson, Washington-Dulles, Washington-Reagan
	Flagship Lounge	Chicago-O'Hare, London-Heathrow, Los Angeles, Miami, New York–JFK
	Arrivals Lounge	London-Heathrow
American Express	Centurion Lounge	Buenos Aires, Mexico City Sao Paolo
Asiana	OZ Club Lounge	Seoul-Incheon, Seoul-Gimpo, Busan, Jeju, Gwangju, Daegu
Avianca	VIP Lounge	Bogotá, Cali, Caracas, Barranquilla, Buenos Aires, Guayaquil, New York–JFK, Madrid, Medellin, Quito
Blue Islands	Customer Lounge	Guernsey, Jersey, Southampton
British Airways	Concorde Room	London-Heathrow (T5A), New York–JFK
	Galleries First	London-Heathrow (T5A), London-Heathrow (T3), Philadelphia, Toronto-Pearson, Vancouver, Johannesburg
	First Lounge	Bermuda, Boston, Chicago-O'Hare, Houston-Intercontinental, London-Gatwick, New York–JFK, Newark, San Francisco, Seattle/Tacoma, Washington-Dulles
	Galleries Club	Brussels, London-Heathrow (T5A) (2), London-Heathrow (T3), Philadelphia, Munich, Toronto-Pearson, Vancouver, Milan-Linate, Johannesburg
	Galleries Lounge	Edinburgh, Glasgow, London-Heathrow (T5B), Mumbai
	Terraces Lounge	Abderdeen, Amsterdam, Athens, Atlanta, Berlin-Tegel, Boston, Budapest, Cape Town, Chicago-O'Hare, Cologne/Bonn, Copenhagen, Denver, Dubai, Durban, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hamburg, Harare, Istanbul-Atatürk, Jersey, London-Gatwick (2), Los Angeles, Manchester, Miami, Milan-Malpensa, Newcastle, New York–JFK, Newark, San Francisco, Seattle/Tacoma, Tokyo-Narita, Washington-Dulles
	Executive Club Lounge	Abuja, Bermuda, Dallas/Fort Worth, Dhaka, Houston-Intercontinental, Kingston, Lagos, Lusaka, Nairobi, Phoenix, Rome-Fiumicino, São Paulo-Guarulhos, Stuttgart, Vienna, Warsaw
	BA Chesapeake Club Lounge	Baltimore
	Galleries Arrivals	London-Heathrow (T5A)
Cathay Pacific and Dragonair	Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge	Bahrain, Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Frankfurt, Kuala Lumpur, London-Heathrow, Los Angeles, Manila, Melbourne, Osaka Kansai, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Penang, Seoul-Incheon, Singapore, Taipei-Taiwan Taoyuan, Tokyo-Narita, Vancouver
	Dragonair and Cathay Pacific Lounge	Beijing-Capital, Shanghai-Pudong
	G16 Lounge	Hong Kong
	The Pier	Hong Kong
	The Wing	Hong Kong
China Airlines	Dynasty Lounge	Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Fukuoka, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Kaoshiung, Kuala Lumpur, Okinawa, San Francisco, Singapore, Taipei-Taiwan Taoyuan, Tokyo-Narita
Continental Airlines	Presidents Club	Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago-O'Hare, Cleveland, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Guam, Honolulu, Houston-Intercontinental (5), Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York–LaGuardia, Newark (3), Panama City, San Antonio, San Francisco, Seattle/Tacoma, Washington-Reagan
Copa Airlines	Presidents Club	Panama City
Delta Air Lines	Delta Sky Club	Atlanta (8), Boston, Chicago-O'Hare1, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (2), Dallas/Fort Worth, Frankfurt, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, London-Gatwick, Los Angeles, Miami, Munich, Nashville, New Orleans, Newark, New York–JFK (4), New York–LaGuardia, Orlando, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Santiago, São Paulo-Guarulhos Brazil, Tampa, Washington-Reagan, West Palm Beach
	Arrivals Lounge	London-Gatwick
El Al	King David Lounge	London-Heathrow, Los Angeles, New York–JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Tel Aviv
Emirates	Emirates Lounge	Auckland, Bangkok-Suvarnbahumi, Brisbane, Dubai (2), Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, London-Gatwick, London-Heathrow, Melbourne, Munich, New York–JFK, Perth, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Singapore, Sydney
	Arrivals Lounge	London-Gatwick
EVA Air	Evergreen Lounge	Bangkok, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Taipei
Finnair	Finnair Lounge	Helsinki, Stockholm-Arlanda
Hawaiian Airlines	Premier Club	Hilo, Honolulu, Kahului, Kona, Lihue, Los Angeles, Pago
Korean Air	Korean Air Lounge	Busan, Chicago, Daegu, Gwangju, Hong Kong, Jeju, Los Angeles, Nagoya, New York, Osaka Kansai, Seoul Gimpo, Seoul Incheon, Tokyo Narita, Fukuoka
Jet Airways	Jet Lounge	Delhi, Bangalore, Brussels, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Newark
Lufthansa	Senator Lounge	Athens, Atlanta, Berlin-Tegel, Boston, Bremen, Cologne-Bonn, Detroit, Dresden, Dubai, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hamburg, Houston, Leipzig, London-Heathrow, Milan-Malpensa, Mumbai, Munich, New York–JFK, Newark, Nürnberg, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Stuttgart, Zurich
	Business Lounge	Athens, Bangkok, Berlin-Tegel, Boston, Bremen, Cologne-Bonn, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Dubai, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hannover, Houston, Leipzig, London-Heathrow, Milan-Malpensa, Munich, New York–JFK, Nürnberg, Stuttgart
	First Class Lounge	Frankfurt (First Class Terminal and First Class Lounge), Munich
	Welcome Lounge	Frankfurt
Malaysia Airlines	Golden Lounge	Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, London, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Narita, New York, Penang, Singapore, Sydney
Mexicana Airlines	Salón Ejecutivo	Buenos Aires, Cancún, Chicago-O'Hare, Guadalajara, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Monterrey, Portland, San Antonio, Tijuana, Toronto, Vancouver
Middle East Airlines	The Cedar Lounge	Beirut
Midwest Airlines	Best Care Club	Milwaukee
Northwest Airlines	Delta Sky Club (formerly Northwest WorldClub)	Chicago-O'Hare, Detroit (4), Honolulu, Los Angeles, Manila, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul (2), Newark, New York–LaGuardia, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle/Tacoma, Seoul-Incheon, Tokyo-Narita, Washington-Dulles, Washington-Reagan
Olympic Air	CIP Lounge	Athens (2), Thessaloniki
Pakistan International Airlines	CIP Lounge	Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad
Philippine Airlines	Mabuhay Lounge	Bacolod, Cebu (2), Davao (2), General Santos, Honolulu, Iloilo, Los Angeles, Manila (2), San Francisco
Qantas	Qantas Club	Adelaide, Alice Springs, Auckland, Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Broome, Cairns, Canberra, Christchurch, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hobart, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Launceston, London-Heathrow, Los Angeles, Mackay, Melbourne (Tullamarine), Perth, Rockhampton, Singapore, Sydney, Townsville, Wellington
Royal Brunei Airlines	Sky Lounge	Bandar Seri Begawan
Royal Jordanian	Crown Lounge	Amman, Aqaba,Dubai
Scandinavian Airlines System	Business Lounge	Brussels, Chicago-O'hare, Copenhagen (2), Gothenburg, Helsinki, London-Heathrow, Newark, Oslo (2), Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Seattle, Stockholm (3)
	Scandinavian Lounge (First/Star Alliance Gold)	Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm,
Singapore Airlines	Silver Kris Lounge	Adelaide, Amsterdam, Bangkok, Brisbane, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, London, Los Angeles, Manila, Melbourne, Osaka Kansai, Penang, Perth, San Francisco, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo-Narita
South African Airways	Baobab Lounge	Cape Town, Johannesburg, London
	Cycad Premium Lounge	Cape Town, Johannesburg, London
TAP Portugal	Top Executive	Funchal, Lisbon, Oporto
Thai Airways International	Royal Orchid Lounge	Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi), Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Dhaka, Hat Yai, Hong Kong, Kathmandu, Khon Kaen, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Osaka Kansai, Phittsanulok, Phuket, Singapore, Surat Thani, Taipei, Ubon Ratchathani, Yangon
United Airlines	Red Carpet Club	Boston, Buenos Aires, Chicago-O’Hare (4), Denver (2), Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Mexico City, Newark, New York–JFK, New York–LaGuardia, Orange County, Orlando, Osaka, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland OR, San Diego, San Francisco (2), São Paulo, Seattle/Tacoma, Tokyo-Narita, Washington-Dulles (3), Washington-Reagan
US Airways	US Airways Club	Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte (2), Greensboro, Hartford/Springfield, Las Vegas2, London-Gatwick, Los Angeles, New York–LaGuardia, Philadelphia (3), Phoenix (3), Pittsburgh, Raleigh/Durham, Tampa, Washington-Reagan
Virgin Atlantic Airways	Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse	Hong Kong, Johannesburg, London-Gatwick, London-Heathrow, Newark, New York–JFK, San Francisco, Tokyo, Washington-Dulles
Vietnam Airlines	Vietnam Airlines Lounge	Hanoi, Hochiminh, Danang, Haiphong, Hue, Kansai-Osaka, Tokyo, Fukuoka,Nagoya, Frankfurt Am Main, Paris, Moscow, Singapore, Seoul, Busan,Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, Melbourne, Beijing, Guangzhou, Kunming, Hongkong
Virgin Blue	The Lounge	Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney

1. This lounge will close on November 16, 2009. It will be replaced with the Terminal 2 Delta SkyClub (formerly the Northwest Airlines WorldClub).
2. This lounge will closed on September 13, 2009.

First Class Lounges

The lounges listed above are mostly considered Business Class Lounges. For most airlines, a First Class Lounge will also be offered to International First Class and top tier passengers. First Class Lounges are usually more exclusive and will feature extra amenities over Business Class Lounges. In the few cases where an amenity is offered only in the Business Class Lounge, First Class passengers will be permitted to use the Business Lounge if they wish. In any case, anyone with First Class Lounge access almost automatically has access to the Business Class Lounge, though lounge agents may get confused when passengers choose to use a lesser amenity than they are entitled.

External links

• LoungeGuide.net - airport lounge review wiki