A brilliant airport lounge enhances the entire travel experience; an average one makes you think you'd have been better off paying for your own glass of champagne. Here's how we assess and rate airport lounges in Australia and around the world.
THE FINDER LOUNGE REVIEW PROMISE: Our lounge reviews are based on a visit to the actual lounge during normal operation. We won't write reviews based on access during a media preview or other event, since that doesn't reflect the experience for regular visitors.
We offer an honest and open critique from one of our frequent flyer experts. Being in a lounge should always be more pleasant than being stuck waiting at the gate, but we won't shy away from highlighting issues.
Key factors we'll consider include:
- Location. Is the lounge easy to get to, and does it offer good access to flight gates?
- Space. Is there enough room for everyone visiting?
- Access rules. Who's allowed in, and are there any restrictions?
- Food and drink. What's on offer and how appealing is it?
- Seating. Is there enough space for everyone to relax during busy periods?
- Power outlets. How easy is it to charge your phone or your laptop?
- Atmosphere. Is the decor appealing? How's the lighting? What's the view of?
- Bathrooms. Are there enough in the lounge? Are showers available?
- Special features. We'll assess other inclusions like kids' areas, spas, restaurants and the like if they're available.
We'll compare each lounge to others from the same operation when relevant.
After visiting, we rate each lounge on a scale of 1 to 6 stars. Here's what the ratings mean:
6 stars: A truly exceptional lounge with so many luxury touches you'll definitely be getting to the airport early to enjoy it.
5 stars: A well-designed lounge with extra offerings that make it stand out.
4 stars: A comfortable lounge with a decent amount of space and an acceptable range of food and drink offerings.
3 stars: A lounge that's adequate but only has basic facilities.
2 stars: A disappointing lounge that doesn't hit the mark in terms of facilities, access or price.
1 star: A lounge so ordinary you're definitely better off staying away and paying for food and drinks elsewhere.
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