Continue reading this review to see what the lounge was like.

Location & Opening Hours

The Austrian Senator Lounge serving passengers traveling within the Schengen area is located airside in Vienna Airport’s Terminal 3.

To get there, once you are past security, instead of heading toward gates B, C, D, and F, follow the signs for gates G. Doing so will lead you to an escalator that will take you up a floor. From there, the lounge is down a long hallway and well signposted. The lounge is right next to Sky Lounge, which can be used by Priority Pass members.

Schengen area’s Senator Lounge opens every day at 5:30 a.m. It closes at 10:30 p.m., 30 minutes earlier than the non-Schengen Austrian Senator Lounge.

The lounge shares entrance, reception, and some facilities, such as restrooms, with Austrian’s business and HON Circle lounges.

Entry Requirements

Austrian Airlines’ Senator Lounges, like Lufthansa’s and Swiss’s, are available for use exclusively by Miles & More Senator and other Star Alliance Gold-equivalent status holders.

Star Alliance Gold members can use the lounge when departing Vienna on a Star Alliance airline flight on the same day. They can also bring in one guest traveling on the same flight. In the case of Miles & More Senators, those younger than 18 years, rather generously, do not count as guests.

If you do not have a Star Alliance Gold status but are traveling on a Star Alliance flight in business class or are willing to pay for access, you can use the Austrian Business Lounge.

Layout, Seating & Other Facilities

The Austrian Senator Lounge in the Schengen area was very similar to the Austrian Business Lounge next door. That said, it was considerably smaller.

Right after entrance and around the corner to the right side, there were a couple of counter-height tables with stools.

The right side of the more or less rectangular lounge was also home to a number of red benches lined with small tables, some sofas and lounge chairs, as well as a counter under some of the lounge’s windows. The lounge offered limited views of a part of the ramp and of aircraft landing on Vienna Airport’s runway 16.

Separated from the main lounging area was an area with a large TV showing CNN and a sofa across from it.

Most of the seats in this side of the lounge, as opposed to the left side, which I will talk about next, offered access to power.

There were both European-style power outlets, as well as both USB-A and USB-C charging ports.

The vast majority of the space on the (when looking from the reception) left side of the lounge was taken up by a dining area.

That consisted of a buffet spanning a couple of counters, a staffed hot food station, and seating in the form of dining tables (mainly for two), a communal table, and a counter along the wall.

Additionally, there was a walled-off sleeping room that was kept slightly darker than the rest of the lounge and consisted of three daybeds separated by wooden partitions.

Each of the daybeds had a small coffee table next to it.

In addition to the above, as mentioned earlier, there were also a few facilities shared among the Senator and Business lounges.

Those were located in the reception area and included a few phone booths that guests could use to do meetings and calls without disturbing other passengers (I am glad similar facilities are starting to appear in more and more lounges), showers, and restrooms.

Drinks

All drinks in the lounge were self-serve and could be found on the counters in the buffet area and in a large refrigerator next to it.

Cold soft drinks included, among others, still and sparkling water, Coke, flavored ice tea, and Almdudler (a carbonated Austrian herbal lemonade) in glass bottles. There were also a dispenser with infused water and large bottles of orange and apple juice.

Hot drinks included a variety of coffee-based drinks from an espresso machine and half a dozen or so different types of Julius Meinl tae bags.

The refrigerator with soft drinks was also home to a couple of different brands of bottled beer including Heineken. Separately, there was red, white, and sparkling wine.

Lastly, there were about half a dozen different types of liquor.

Food

With the exception of whole fruits, which could be found on a rack just past the lounge’s entrance and included apples, bananas, and pears, all of the food in the Austrian Senator Lounge could be found in the dining area.

At the staffed hot meals station, two mains and two sides were offered alongside risotto.

The mains included cevapcici and smoked neck of pork. The sides included potatoes and glazed carrots. I had some cevapcici for lunch and thoroughly enjoyed it.

The only warm item in the self-service area was pumpkin ginger cream soup.

Separately, there were a couple of different salads, a variety of half a dozen different types of bread and pastries, and cold cuts including ham, salami, and cheese.

Lastly, there were two desserts including strudel, as well as jars with snacks including nuts, pretzels, and candies.

Austrian Senator Lounge (Schengen) Vienna Summary

Overall, the Austrian Senator Lounge in the Schengen area of Vienna Airport is a perfectly fine place to visit before a flight to grab a bite to eat or a drink out of the, for a lounge mostly serving passengers flying on short one- or two-hour hops around Europe, selection.

That said, in terms of seating options or ambience, the lounge is nothing to write home about. As such, while the lounge is definitely worth stopping by if you have the time, it is not worth arriving at early to relax in or get some work done in.

The post Review: Austrian Senator Lounge (Schengen) at Vienna Airport appeared first on KN Aviation.

Continue reading to see what the lounge was like and whether it’s worth a visit on your next trip.

Location & Opening Hours

There are three Plaza Premium Lounges at London Heathrow Airport, one each at terminals 2, 4, and 5.

Like the other two, the one at Terminal 2 is located airside, i.e., after security (there is no departure immigration check in the United Kingdom). The lounge is on the terminal’s fourth floor, near the terminal’s transfer area. It can be found easily by following signs pointing to “Lounge A3.”

It is open daily from 5 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. That covers essentially all departures from Terminal 2, which is used by all Star Alliance members and a number of other airlines.

Entry Requirements

While Plaza Premium lounges were removed from the Priority Pass network at one point, now they are back in. As such, if you have a membership, that is by far the easiest way to get in and it is also how I accessed the lounge free of charge.

Additionally, business class passengers traveling on select airlines including Icelandair are invited into the lounge.

If neither of the above applies to you, you can also pay to use the lounge (either at the reception if there is space or you can pre-book online). The fees are as follows:

• Shower-only (30 minutes): 25 GBP
• Lounge access (2 hours): 47.52 GBP
• Lounge access (6 hours): 75 GBP
• Private resting area (single, 3 hours): 66 GBP
• Private resting area (single, 6 hours): 109.92 GBP
• Private resting area (double, 6 hours): 165 GBP

It’s worth noting that officially, Priority Pass members are limited to a stay of up to two hours. I am not sure to what extent that is or is not enforced, though.

Children under the age of two can use the lounge for free.

Layout, Seating & Other Facilities

Entering the lounge past the reception, there was a staffed bar (with paid drinks but more about that later).

In addition to the bar counter, there were a square sofa in the middle and a couple of coffee tables around the edges of the room.

Passing through the bar area, there was one of the lounge’s lounging areas.

In addition to rows of sofa chairs (some enclosed with large privacy partitions), there was also a pair of counters.

There was plenty of power outlets throughout this area, as well as another lounging area on the other side of the lounge.

Next to the area above was the lounge’s dining area equipped with tables for two. At the time of my visit in the early afternoon, more or less all of the seats were taken (and the lounge was very crowded overall).

The buffet was spread across an island counter and a counter along the wall.

In the very back of the lounge was one more lounging area with sofa chairs. Some of the furniture in this area, as well as in other parts of the lounge, was quite worn.

There were also some relatively private workspaces.

In addition to the above, there were also some roped off seating areas. While it was not clear who it was for, presumably it was reserved for passengers accessing the lounge when flying in business class on an airline that uses the lounge as its designated lounge.

One last thing worth mentioning here is that while there were portable air conditioners in multiple places across the lounge, it was still extremely hot in there for most of my stay, only getting cooler later in the day when a part of the crowd left.

Drinks

Free cold drinks in the lounge included canned soda (Coke, Diet Pepsi, Fanta, and Sprite), dispensers with peach juice, infused water, and water.

Then, there was a pair of espresso machines and a selection of Twinings tea bags. There was also decaf coffee.

Selected alcoholic drinks could be had at the bar for free too. Those included a selection of two red, two white, and one rose wines; gin, vodka, whisky, rum, and Aperol; and draft beer.

Lastly, a wider selection of wines, liquor, and beers, as well as cocktails and premium soft drinks (Red Bull and kombucha) could be had at extra cost.

Food

The Plaza Premium Lounge in Heathrow’s Terminal 2 offered a good selection of dishes.

Starting with cold items, there were a salad bar, bread rolls, and whole fruits.

Hot dishes included pasta, chicken tikka masala, dal tadka, rice, and potatoes. There was also a “summer garden” soup.

While all of the dishes looked appetizing, I did not have a chance to try them as I was still full from eating tacos at the Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen.

Lastly, snacks and desserts included dried apricots, roasted almonds, caramel biscuits, breadsticks, crackers, and chocolate fudge brownies.

While, as mentioned above, I was full, I could not resist having the last of those.

Plaza Premium London Heathrow Terminal 2 Summary

Overall, the Plaza Premium Lounge in Heathrow’s Terminal 2 was an average contract lounge.

The biggest downsides were the insufficient air conditioning and the crowdedness. On the other hand, the buffet selection was respectable and the food quality looked good. …and the brownie was excellent too!

All in all, while the lounge is not worth paying for outright, if you can visit it free of charge, it can be worth a visit for a quick bite or drink. Depending on what you prefer to eat, however, you might want to head to the Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen instead, though.

The post Review: Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 2) at London Heathrow Airport appeared first on KN Aviation.

The first of those was Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen, a restaurant where Priority Pass members get a dining credit.

Location & Opening Hours

Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen is located after security check (there is no departure immigration check in the UK) in London Heathrow’s Terminal 2, which is primarily used by Star Alliance airlines and their affiliates like Eurowings. Once you pass the security check, you will need to take an escalator or an elevator one floor down. The restaurant is then on the right side of the central part of the terminal when looking toward the apron.

If you have enough time, you might also be able to use the airport’s airside transfer busses to use the restaurant when departing from other terminals. That said, I have not tried it and am not certain whether or not you will be able to take the bus without a boarding pass from Terminal 2.

Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen is open every day from 6AM until the departure of the last flight of the day. That covers all but the earliest (like 6AM flights to Vienna and Zurich) departures out of Terminal 2.

Using Priority Pass at Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen

Eligible Priority Pass and LoungeKey members dining at Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen get an 18 GBP discount off their bill. For bills under 18 GBP that means dining (or drinking) for free while for bills over that amount, you will have to pay the difference. Those who got their Priority Pass membership through select credit cards are not eligible for the discount.

Guests of Priority Pass members get an 18 GBP credit too.

As such, for example, if you go with one guests, the two of you will be able to get a 36 GBP discount off your bill. Before doing so, make sure that you have free guesting privileges or that guesting costs you less than the discount.

Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen Menu

Depending on the time you visit Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen, you will either be able to choose from their breakfast menu or lunch/dinner menu.

In the case of the former, they offer a wide variety of options ranging from lighter items like granola through egg-based dishes all the way to a full English Breakfast. Essentially all breakfast options are within the 18 GBP credit and some even leave enough spare room for complimentary coffee, tea, or juice.

The main dining menu offers a variety of starters like tacos and chicken tenders, as well as mains ranging from fish and chips through burgers all the way to steaks. Most of the items are either within or just over the 18 GBP credit with, unsurprisingly, steaks being the main exception.

A variety of beers, wines, and other drinks is available as well.

Given that the menu changed slightly just a few days after my visit, rather than trying to list everything here, head to the restaurant’s website to see their latest menus.

My Experience at Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen

A good portion of both regular table and bar seats at Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen was occupied when I got there around 12:30PM. That said, I was still seated and ready to order in no time.

While the restaurant’s regular customers can order online by scanning a QR code available at each table, those using Priority Pass need to place their order with one of the staff members. Given that they were quite busy serving dishes and drinks to those that ordered online, getting the attention of one of the waiters or waitresses took a bit.

Nonetheless, once I managed to do so, I ordered tacos (14 GBP for three) and Fever-Tree elderflower tonic water, which added up to just under 18 GBP. I went with the chicken tacos, which were filling. Since then, the menu appears to have changed with tacos coming in pairs for 9.95 GBP and there only being a choice of beef brisket, pulled pork, and mushroom.

Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen Summary

There are two Priority Pass options in London Heathrow’s Terminal 2 – this restaurant and a Plaza Premium Lounge. In my case, I stopped by the restaurant for lunch before heading to the lounge.

While the food in the lounge looked good as well, if you have the time to do so, you might still want to stop by Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen if your Priority Pass membership allows you to do so. You will not only be able to choose from a good range of restaurant-quality food and drinks but also enjoy the meal in an arguably nicer environment than the lounge, which was quite crowded for a good part of my visit.

The post Review: Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen (Priority Pass Restaurant) at London Heathrow Airport appeared first on KN Aviation.

Continue reading this review to see what the lounge was like and whether it’s worth a visit on your next layover in Beijing.

Location & Opening Hours

Air China operates multiple lounges in Terminal 3, its home at Beijing Capital Airport. The one I visited was in Terminal 3E, which the airline uses for its international flights.

The lounge can be found in the central part of the terminal, on its right side when looking from the security check. Being located one floor above the main departures level, the lounge can be accessible using a set of well-marked escalators.

Air China’s website lists the lounge’s opening hours as “3:30-2:00+,” presumably meaning the lounge is open until the last departure of the day. I visited the lounge in the middle of the night, prior to my 2:30AM flight to London Gatwick. The last flight that day was a 3:15AM departure to Budapest, which was followed by 7:25AM departure to Hong Kong.

Entry Requirements

The Air China Business Class Lounge in Beijing Capital Airport’s Terminal 3 follows the standard Star Alliance lounge access rules.

It can be used by passengers departing on Air China and other Star Alliance airlines in business or first class. It can also be used by Star Alliance Gold members along with one guest departing on the same Star Alliance flight. In my case, I was traveling on Air China in economy class and could access the lounge using my Star Alliance Gold status.

Additionally, selected other airlines including Air Macau, Finnair, and China Airlines also invite their eligible passengers into the Air China lounge.

Lastly, both this lounge and the Air China First Class Lounge are part of the Priority Pass network.

Layout, Seating & Other Facilities

Upon entering the lounge, I was welcomed at the reception by a friendly agent.

In addition to scanning my boarding pass to let me in, he also showed me my departure gate on a map, mentioned how long it would take to get there, and noted down the time I needed to leave the lounge on my boarding pass.

Across from the reception desk were also some baggage storage lockers.

The lounge itself consisted of a variety of seating mostly spread across fairly narrow passages around the reception/staff area located in the middle of the lounge. Part of the lounge offered views of the terminal below, as well as of aircraft.

Seating mostly consisted of groups of sofa chairs arranged around coffee tables and of dining tables.

There were also a few bar chairs around a staffed bar counter located in the back of the lounge.

In addition to the bar, there were also a couple of drinks and snacks stations, as well as a full-fledged buffet.

During my stay, I also had a chance to use on of the lounge’s shower rooms. The shower lounges were on a floor below the lounge’s main floor and could be accessed by an elevator inside the lounge.

In addition to a walk-in shower, the room was also equipped with a toilet, a sink, an ottoman, and even a diaper changing table.

Towels, as well as amenities including a dental kit, a shaving kit, and a comb in addition to the standard shampoo and body soap were provided. There were also a perfume and a moisturizer.

Unfortunately, many of the seats in the lounge lacked access to power outlets and at the time of my visit, the lounge was fairly crowded. It would also have been nice if the lounge had a section for those wanting to get some work done in peace.

Drinks

With there being multiple drinks and snacks stations, a staffed bar, and a proper buffet area, there was no shortage of drinks in the Air China Business Class Lounge in Beijing’s Terminal 3E.

In the self-service areas, there were cans of soda and beer, small boxes of milk, and bottled water. There were also orange and apple juice dispensers.

Wine and other alcoholic drinks, coffee, hot chocolate, hot milk, and rose milk tea were available from the bar.

Lastly, both coffee and a selection of teas was available from the self-service areas.

Food

A variety of packaged snacks, as well as whole fruits, cut fruits, yogurts, and sandwiches could be found at the lounge’s drinks and snacks stations.

Additionally, in the buffet area, there were a selection of dim sum, porridge, and wonton soup.

Presumably (at least judging based on my daytime visit to the lounge a few years ago), the selection of hot food is greater during the day compared to when I visited the lounge after midnight.

There were also oats, a selection of bread, and a selection of instant cup noodles in the buffet area.

Air China Business Class Lounge Beijing Capital Terminal 3E Summary

Overall, the Air China Business Class Lounge was an OK place to visit for a quick bite to eat and to have something to drink. Both the selection of food (especially given the time) and drinks were decent.

That said, with the lounge being crowded to the point where basically no sofa chairs were available and only a couple of dining tables being available, it wasn’t the most comfortable place to wait for one’s flight. While the case might be different during the day, in the middle of the night, I would say the fairly deserted gate areas were much more pleasant to wait in than the crowded lounge.

The post Review: Air China Business Class Lounge (Terminal 3E) at Beijing Capital Airport appeared first on KN Aviation.

Continue reading this review to see what the lounge was like.

Location & Opening Hours

The most important change Asiana Airlines (and Korean Air) made when renewing its domestic lounge at Seoul Gimpo was moving the lounge from the public area to airside, i.e. to the area after security check. With that, one does not need to account for (and guess) the time it will take to clear security check when planning the time to leave the lounge.

Getting to the lounge is easy. Once you clear security, turn right and you will see an elevator, which will take you to the floor above the main departures level.

While there were no opening hours posted on the lounge’s door, according to the Star Alliance website, the lounge is open daily from 5AM to 8PM. If that is indeed the case, that would cover most but not all Asiana Airlines’ domestic departures out of the airport.

Entry Requirements

The domestic Asiana Lounge at Seoul Gimpo Airport follows the standard Star Alliance lounge access policy.

The following passengers departing on an Asiana Airlines (the only Star Alliance airline using the terminal) flight out of the airport’s domestic terminal can use the lounge free of charge:

• Business class passengers
• Star Alliance Gold members with one guest traveling on the same flight

While prior to the lounge’s move and renewal Priority Pass members could use the lounge too, that is not the case anymore.

Layout, Seating & Other Facilities

Next to the reception were eight baggage storage lockers that could fit any size carry-ons. To the left of those was a short hallway that led to the lounge, which consisted of one room.

Looking from the entrance into the lounge, there was a small buffet counter with a limited selection of drinks and snacks (more on that later) on the left side.

It was separated from the rest of the lounge by a wooden partition.

The main seating area in the middle of the lounge consisted mainly of rows of lounge chairs. While there was a large TV mounted on the wall bordering the area, the chairs were placed perpendicular to it.

Additionally, along the partition separating the area from the buffet was a bench lined with tables and chairs.

Lastly, along the windows, which overlooked part of the terminal’s exterior and parking lot, was a counter. While the views were not exciting, the windows at least let some natural light into the lounge.

At two of the seats along the counter, laptops were available for guests to use. That said, essentially everyone has their own connected device on them at all times these days, I wonder how much usage they see and whether the lounge would be better off without the laptops essentially blocking two seats.

As one would expect from a lounge that opened just a few years ago, there were plenty of power outlets and USB-A charging ports.

It was especially nice that the power outlets were universal, eliminating the need for plug converters for travelers from most countries.

One last thing worth noting is that while there were no showers, there were restrooms inside the lounge.

Drinks

The domestic Asiana Lounge at Seoul Gimpo offered a limited selection of soft drinks. There were no alcoholic drinks.

A variety of soda (Chilsung Cider, Pepsi, Pepsi Zero Lime, Mountain Dew, and two flavors of Tams Zero) were available from a dispenser. Additionally, there were orange juice, apple juice, and water in pitchers.

For those preferring a hot drink, there was an espresso machine.

Black, green, and peppermint (I appreciated that one) tea were available as well.

Food

Given that the lounge serves passengers departing on sub-one-hour domestic flights, there was, unsurprisingly, no proper food to speak of. That said, there was a selection of packaged snacks including mini muffins and crackers.

Domestic Asiana Lounge Seoul Gimpo Summary

Like the old domestic Asiana Lounge at Seoul Gimpo, the new one continues to be nothing to write home about. That said, that is to be expected from a domestic lounge in a country where flights are mostly an hour or so long. Still, the lounge, which was modestly occupied during my visit, provided a comfortable space to get some work done for a couple of hours before catching my flight.

What is more, the fact that it was moved airside made for a much less stressful stay as I did not need to think about what time to leave the lounge in order to clear security and reach my gate on time.

The post Review: Asiana Lounge (Domestic) at Seoul Gimpo appeared first on KN Aviation.

I finally got a chance to visit the lounge earlier this month since the first flight of my trip to Africa, NH861 to Seoul Gimpo is one of those that ANA moved from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2.

Continue reading this review to see what the lounge was like.

Location & Opening Hours

The international ANA Lounge in Terminal 2 is airside. To access it, you can take the escalator or elevator you will see on your right as soon as you get through the security check and immigration. The lounge is a few minutes walk away from the main area of the terminal with gates.

ANA’s international lounge in Haneda’s Terminal 2 is open daily from 5AM until the last international departure from the terminal. There are separate lounges for passengers departing on domestic flights from Terminal 2 and international flights from Terminal 3.

Entry Requirements

Haneda Airport Terminal 2’s international ANA Lounge can be accessed by ANA business and first class passengers departing on an international flight from the terminal. The latter can also bring in one guest traveling on a Star Alliance flight not necessarily the same as that of the first class passenger. Additionally, unlike with most other airlines, ANA’s premium economy class passengers can also use the lounge free of charge.

With the lounge following the standard Star Alliance lounge access policy, Star Alliance Gold members departing on the alliance members’ flights can also use the lounge and bring in one guest traveling on the same flight.

In theory, business and first class passengers traveling on Star Alliance airlines other than ANA can access the lounge too. However, currently, the terminal is only used by ANA. All non-Japanese airlines use Terminal 3 instead.

Lastly, the lounge can also be accessed together with one guest traveling on the same flight by those holding “Lounge Access Card” provided to select ANA Million Miler Program members and by those ANA passengers that would otherwise be ineligible but are willing to pay 8,000 yen (50 USD) in advance or 12,000 yen (76 USD) walk-in rate.

Infants under the age of two do not count as guests.

Layout, Seating & Other Facilities

Going past the reception, the hallway split in two directions.

Turning right, there was a baggage storage area with smaller lockers and larger open spaces with locks for suitcases. Turning left, the hallway led to the lounge itself, which mostly consisted of a large open space with a variety of seating and a couple of couple of smaller areas partitioned-off to one extent or another.

Entering the main part of the lounge, there were a customer service desk on the left side and a fairly open seating area (which could not be said about the rest of the lounge which had seats packed next to each other) with large sofas and some lounge chairs. Thanks to the spacious layout, I found this area to be nicer than any other seating area of this or other ANA Lounges I visited.

While the customer service desk was not staffed when I got to the lounge around 6:50AM, it opened later in the morning around the same time the lounge started to fill up.

Behind the area above was the lounge’s main seating area, which consisted of rows and rows of sofa chairs followed by rows and rows of lounge chairs followed by rows and rows of sofas. Each seat in this area came with a small side table with a power outlet and a USB-A charging port.

While the furniture itself was fine and in good condition given how new the lounge is, the lack of any significant partitions, the uniformity of seat types, and the seating density made the area feel anything like cozy. In fact, the area looked like a (nice and very large) train or bus station waiting room.

At the very back of the lounge was an area with 20 or so semi-private pods, each with a sofa that could sit two people, a sidetable, and charging options.

While the pods looked nice, the sidetable was quite small and only on one side of the pod.

The windows behind this area offered a limited view of the domestic side of Haneda’s Terminal 2, as well as of runway 16L/34R.

Along the windows to the left side of the main seating area was a raised area with seating in the form of counters and a few lounge chairs with small tables.

Toward the back of the raised area was also a staffed bar with about a dozen seats along the counter and a few sofa chairs arranged in pairs. The bar area was, however, closed and roped off at the time of my visit. It appears to be open daily between 6PM and 12:30AM.

The windows on this side of the lounge offered very limited views of some remote parking spots at the airport, runway 34R, and, in the distance, runway 05/23.

The last part of the main large and open part of the lounge was a dining area located to the left of the main seating area.

In addition to plenty of dining tables, the area also offered seating space in the form of counters and communal tables. While there was a live cooking station, the food prepared there was then placed on one of the buffet counters rather than offered directly.

A feature that I found interesting was a counter displaying some of the Japanese sake offering from the lounge, the first class ANA Suite lounge, as well as from business, first, and Premium class onboard service.

Separately from the main seating area and in a small room along its left-side wall, a business center with two counters and over a dozen office chairs could be found, as well as a printer/copier. Each of the seating spaces was partitioned off from each other and had a power outlet and a USB-A charging port.

I spent all of my time in the lounge here since the area was empty and offered the nicest conditions for getting some work done.

For those preferring to relax in silence rather than work or lounge in the main area, there was a relaxation area with a couple of semi-private rooms, each with a lounge chair, an ottoman, and a small coffee table, as well as a pair of power outlets.

Lastly, there was a kids room. To equip it, ANA partnered with Mattel, meaning there was plenty of toys for children of all ages.

When I visited the lounge, it was occupied by one family of four most of the time, which was about as many people as could fit in comfortably.

Like essentially all other airport lounges in Japan, the international ANA Lounge in Haneda Airport’s Terminal 2 also had a number of phone booths that guests could use to take phone calls without disturbing other guests.

The lounge’s restrooms and showers were located in the near-left corner of the lounge.

The restrooms were clean and, in addition to soap, also offered additional Sekkisei amenities.

Drinks

Most of the drinks in the lounge could be found in the main buffet area. There was also a separate counter with a coffee machine, however, that was out of operation when I visited. Lastly, there was a staffed bar but, as mentioned above, it was only open between 6PM and 12:30AM.

Starting with soft drinks, there was a dispenser with a variety of options ranging from Pepsi through ginger ale all the way to orange juice and cold green tea. There were also pitchers with tomato juice and milk, as well as a water dispenser.

There were also a regular coffee machine and an espresso machine.

Hot drinks also included regular green tea, roasted green tea (hojicha), a selection of George Steuart teas, and Nescafe decaffeinated coffee.

Beer was available from automated dispensers that Japanese lounges are well-known for. All four of the country’s main brands – Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo, and Suntory – were available.

Other alcoholic drinks included a selection of wine (one red, one white, and one sparkling), Choya umeshu (plum wine), two kinds of sake, four kinds of shochu, and a variety of other liquor.

Food

Most of the food in the lounge could be found spread across a couple of counters in the buffet area.

That said, like other international ANA Lounges, the lounge also had a staffed noodle bar, where a variety of soba and udon noodles, pork broth ramen noodles, as well as vegetable curry rice were offered.

Lighter bites to eat available from the buffet included salad, sandwiches, bread and croissants, and rice balls. While the croissants were only available until 11AM, the variety of rice balls available changed each month. The selection in June included bonito flakes and pearl barley and wakame seaweed riceballs. Kombu kelp and festive red rice rice balls will be offered in July.

Additionally, there were also whole fruits (apples and oranges), cornflakes, almond jelly, and strawberry, custard, and chocolate puffs.

Hot dishes available during breakfast time (I visited the lounge for about an hour starting just before 7AM) included steamed vegetables (corn, carrots, and sweet potatoes), scrambled eggs, stir-fried noodles, and pork sausage and bacon teppanyaki with roasted potatoes. The last dish was prepared in the live kitchen while the rest was brought from the main kitchen.

ANA’s obligatory chicken curry rice was available too.

Lastly, packaged rice crackers were available for those looking to have some salty snack with their drink.

Summary

The (relatively) new international ANA Lounge found in Tokyo Haneda Airport’s Terminal 2 is, without a doubt, the nicest ANA business class lounge. The lounge offers a good variety of seating and a nice selection of food and drinks including ANA’s signature noodle bar. Given the fact that a relatively limited number of international flights use Terminal 2, there are also more than enough seats for everyone.

That said, the one thing that I think ANA could have done better when planning the lounge is its layout. While the spacious area next to the entrance, the business center, the semi-private areas, and the dining areas are fine, the main lounging area could use a bit of partitioning. In the current setup, the space is simply too large and too filled with rows of seats to look more inviting and cozier than a bus station waiting room.

The post Review: ANA Lounge (Terminal 2 – International) at Tokyo Haneda Airport appeared first on KN Aviation.

Continue reading this review to see what the lounge was like and whether it is worth a visit.

Location & Opening Hours

Lounge L can be found airside (i.e. after security check and immigration) in Seoul Incheon Airport’s Terminal 2.

The terminal is used by Korean Air and most of its SkyTeam partners including KLM, Garuda Indonesia, Delta Air Lines, Xiamen Air, Air France, and China Airlines. The low-cost Jin Air also uses Terminal 2.

The lounge can be found by following signs toward gates 229-247 after going through immigration and then taking an escalator up a floor, following a “Transfer Lounge” sign.

Lounge L is open every day from 6AM until 10PM with guests being admitted until 9:30PM.

Entry Requirements

I accessed Lounge L using my Priority Pass membership. In addition to Priority Pass, the lounge also belongs to a variety of other networks including DragonPass, Plaza Premium, Lounge Key, and Diners Club.

The lounge is not available for use by business class passengers or SkyTeam Elite Plus members.

That said, if you cannot access the lounge for free, you can pay to access it. You can pre-book access through Plaza Premium’s website. You can also pay $39 at the reception ($17 for children over 36 months old).

Alternatively, you can relax in one of the public spaces on the way to the lounge, including a dark napping area.

Lounge Tour

While essentially one (not so large) room, Lounge L was partitioned in a way that created several smaller seating areas. At the time of my visit in the evening, the lounge was relatively full. That said, there were still some seats open in some of the seating areas.

Starting on the left side of the lounge (looking from the entrance into the lounge), there was a communal table with a dozen or so seats.

It was partitioned off from the rest of the lounge by three first class suite-like sofa seats.

Seating in the middle of the lounge consisted of tables for two. Those came with a couple of different types of chairs and, in some places, benches along one side.

Along the lounge’s windows (which overlooked the terminal rather than the airport’s apron or runways) were lounge seats with ottomans and side tables, as well as some more tables for two.

Lastly, there was a buffet area along one of the lounge’s walls.

Power outlets in the lounge were in short supply and the lounge did not have showers.

Food and Drinks

Lounge L offered a decent selection of average-quality food. The choice of drinks, especially alcohol, was a bit more limited.

Starting with the latter, there was a refrigerator with canned soft drinks (Pepsi, Chilsung Cider, pear juice, etc.) and bottled water. There were also dispensers with grape and orange juices, though those were almost empty.

Hot drinks available in the lounge included coffee from an espresso machine and three different types of teas (Solomon’s Seal Tea, green tea, and Earl Grey).

Alcohol was limited to Kloud beer on tap and cheap wine, a bottle of red, and a bottle of white. There was no liquor.

Lighter things to eat included a salad bar with cut fruits, a variety of vegetables, yogurts, and several dressings.

There were also cereals, sandwiches, a variety of bread and pastries, and snacks like nachos, nuts, and cookies.

As for more substantial stations, there was an obligatory DIY bibimbap station.

Additionally, there was a selection of several hot dishes including vegetable fried rice, fried vegetables, fried chicken, curry, pasta, and hot dogs.

Lastly, there were two soups – mushroom and beef bone, as well as a selection of instant noodles.

Lounge L Seoul Incheon Summary

While originally I planned to visit all three Priority Pass lounges in Seoul Incheon’s Terminal 2, I ended up only visiting this one as I got to the airport quite late and Lounge L was the closest one to my departure gate.

The lounge was relatively small and offered limited seating options. Drink selection was fairly limited, most notably missing any liquor, but food selection was decent.

All in all, the lounge was your typical contract lounge – nothing to write home about but an OK place to stop by if you have some extra time and want to drink something or have a bite to eat.

The post Review: Lounge L at Seoul Incheon Airport appeared first on KN Aviation.

Continue reading this review to see what the KAL Lounge was like in detail.

Location & Opening Hours

Jeju’s KAL Lounge is located landside – i.e. before security check – in the airport’s domestic terminal. It is behind a hard to miss door near Korean Air’s check-in counters.

The lounge is open from 6AM until 9PM every day which essentially covers all domestic Korean Air departures from the airport.

Entry Requirements

The KAL Lounge at Jeju Airport can be accessed by business class passengers traveling on Korean Air, as well as by the airline’s select frequent flyer status holders traveling in economy class.

It can also be used by SkyTeam Elite Plus status holders traveling on a Korean Air domestic flight (regardless of class) and connecting to or from an international Korean Air or other SkyTeam flight on the same day.

Lastly, the KAL Lounge at Jeju Airport – like the Asiana Lounge – is a part of the Priority Pass network. Unlike the Asiana Lounge which restricts Priority Pass access to those departing on Asiana Airlines flights, the KAL Lounge has no such restrictions.

As such, you can enter the lounge using Priority Pass regardless of whether you are flying on Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, or one of the many other airlines serving Jeju Airport.

Lounge Tour

Entering the lounge, there was the reception desk, as well as a fairly large baggage storage area.

The friendly staff at the desk processed my Priority Pass card and boarding pass within seconds and I was good to enter the lounge.

Leading from the reception desk to the KAL Lounge’s main (and only) seating area was a hallway with a buffet counter on its left side. Being L-shaped, it extended into one of the main seating area’s walls.

I will talk more about the modest contents of the buffet in the next section.

In the middle of the seating area were rows of sofa chairs. About half of the rows faced one way and the other half the other way. Both of the walls the chairs faced were sporting a TV showing Korean programs. There was also a counter along the lounge’s inner wall on one side.

While there were side tables between the individual chairs, there appeared to be a lack of power outlets or USB charging ports. The seats at the counter had access to power.

Next to the counter with seats was a counter with Korean Air’s duty free shopping catalogs and in-flight magazines.

Along the windows was more seating in the form of tables for two and four, as well as some sofas. This area appeared to lack access to power outlets as well – a major downside of the lounge.

What the lounge did not lack, though, were great views of the airport’s apron and one of its two runways.

Food and Drinks

With the KAL Lounge in Jeju generally serving passengers flying on short domestic flights, it should come as no surprise that the selection of drinks and food was minimal.

Starting with cold soft drinks, there were canned Coke (no other soda was available) and cupped water. There were also dispensers with tomato and mandarin orange juices and green tea.

Hot drinks included a selection of espresso-based drinks and three different types of teas (green, black, and ginseng).

Lastly, the only things to eat were packaged snacks, which included muffins and candies among other things.

KAL Lounge Jeju Summary

Like the KAL Lounge at Seoul Gimpo Airport, its Jeju Airport equivalent is very simple. While it offered plenty of seating when I visited (it might be more crowded depending on the time of the day) and is accessible with Priority Pass, there is not much else that makes visiting the lounge worthwhile.

The selection of drinks and snacks is limited and there were not many power outlets in the lounge either.

With that said, if you happen to arrive at the airport early and just want a place to pass some time then it’s an OK place to stop by. If nothing else, it is definitely better than the smaller Asiana Lounge.

The post Review: KAL Lounge at Jeju Airport appeared first on KN Aviation.

Continue reading to see what the Asiana Lounge, which has not changed much since I last reviewed it in 2017, was like.

Location & Opening Hours

Asiana Airlines’ lounge at Jeju Airport is located landside. In other words, you will need to clear security between visiting the lounge and boarding your flight, which can make it a bit challenging to plan the best time to leave the lounge since the length of the line at security check can vary.

The lounge is on the airport’s domestic terminal’s third floor, on the right side of Asiana’s check-in desks. It is tucked in an aisle behind an area with several different shops.

Asiana Lounge in Jeju is open every day from 5:30AM to 9PM, which covers all Asiana Airlines domestic departures out of the airport.

Entry Requirements

The Asiana Lounge in Jeju follows Star Alliance’s standard lounge access policy. In other words, it can be accessed by passengers departing on Asiana Airlines in business class, as well as by Star Alliance Gold members regardless of their travel class. The latter can bring in one guest.

Additionally, the lounge is also part of the Priority Pass network. Members can only use their Priority Pass membership to enter the lounge if traveling on Asiana Airlines, though. If you are traveling on a different airline (or even Asiana) and have Priority Pass, you can use Korean Air’s KAL Lounge instead.

Lounge Tour

The Asiana Lounge in Jeju was about as simple as it gets. It was essentially a fairly small room with a small buffet area (more about that later) and a couple of different types of seating.

There were no restrooms or showers in the lounge. Access to power outlets was sparse.

Also, unlike when I visited previously, there were no workstations with computers. While I did not mind there being no computers (does anyone still use those anyways?), it would have been nice if the workstations/desks themselves were left intact as they would have provided a good option for those who needed to get some work done.

As for the seating, there were rows of lounge chairs facing a wall-mounted TV which was, unsurprisingly, showing some Korean program. There were also some more lounge chairs in the middle of the lounge.

Then, along the windows, which offered some views of aircraft, was a counter with a few seats.

Lastly, next to the buffet were a couple of tables for two with a bench on one side and a chair on the other.

Food and Drinks

Like the lounge itself, the food and drinks selection in the Asiana Lounge at Jeju Airport was nothing to write home about. Then again, the lounge serves passengers departing on short, one-hour domestic flights within South Korea.

There was a very limited selection of packaged snacks including biscuits and Mentos.

Then, there were canned soft drinks including Coke, Gatorade (that’s one I don’t think I’ve seen in a lounge before), and milk tea. Orange and tomato juice boxes and a water dispenser were available too.

Lastly, hot drinks included a selection of coffee drinks from an espresso machine and a couple of different types of tea.

There was no alcohol.

Asiana Lounge Jeju Summary

Overall, the Asiana Lounge at Jeju Airport is not a place where you want to arrive early. Instead, with the fairly limited amount of seating and a limited selection of refreshments, it is a place to stop by if you have access and are thirsty or want to have a quick snack.

As mentioned earlier, however, given the type of flights the lounge serves, one could say the lounge is adequate. Most passengers likely arrive as close to their departure time as possible anyway.

If you do, however, need a place to spend some time in and have a Priority Pass membership, I recommend visiting the KAL Lounge which is larger and nicer instead. You can do so if you have the membership even if you are traveling on Asiana Airlines.

The post Review: Asiana Lounge at Jeju Airport appeared first on KN Aviation.