While most media coverage of the air travel experience focuses on what economy passengers aren’t getting for their money, a story from eGlobal Travel News shows what higher-paying flyers are getting for theirs.
The story looks at two premium airport lounges, one selected by U.K. business travellers as the best of the international lounge acts, and a new entrant that might contend for next year’s award.
Virgin Atlantic is the prize winner. Its Atlantic Clubhouse at Heathrow International Airport lets passengers relax at a spa, enjoy a complimentary hair cut or styling, watch a game and peruse a food and drink menu that wouldn’t be out of place at a fine restaurant.
Not to be outdone, Cathay Pacific stepped up the heat recently when it unveiled its sleek new lounge, The Cabin, at Hong Kong International Airport.
Promising a “new level of comfort and convenience” and fanning across 1,339 square meters, “The Cabin” features five ‘zones’ catering to the key interests of travellers; The Reception, The IT Zone, The Deli, The Health Bar and The Relaxing Zone.
Highlights include playing with iPads and iMacs in The IT Zone, enjoying made-to-order sandwiches in The Deli, sipping freshly squeezed juices and Chinese herbal teas in The Health Bar or reclining in Norman Foster-designed chairs in The Relaxing Zone.
The eGlobal story offered up Lufthansa’s First Class Lounge at Frankfurt Airport as another example of how the other half flies. It features a Cigar Lounge where “passengers can smoke like stoves” and choose from 75 blends of whisky.
Here are the top five favourite airport lounges, as chosen by U.K. business travellers:
- Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, London Heathrow
- British Airways, London Heathrow T5
- Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong
- Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge, Singapore
