Airport Lounges: Ten Of The Best

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Jeffrey Mills was charged with the enviable task of
finding the 10 best airport lounges in the world.

British Airways First Class Concorde Room lounge, Heathrow Airport

A very exclusive lounge available only to passengers with fully paid-for first class tickets. Facilities of the main first class lounge, on the floor below, may also be used.

	BA's first class customers can enjoy a massage before they fly at the exclusive first class lounge spa.

Location
Airside, Terminal 4

Staff
Professional, well presented and charming.

Food and drink
Very good selection, ranging from snacks and sandwiches to full, three-course meals.

Good for business?
Limited facilities in the lounge itself, with only a couple of computers, but there is a fully-equipped business centre right next door, which BA first class passengers can use.

Added extras
Superb showers offering Molton Brown products, although they can become crowded at busy times. You can have a massage in the free spa while you wait for your flight.

Virgin's Clubhouse, Heathrow Airport

Virgin typically takes a slightly unconventional approach to its lounges and this one is no exception. Along with more usual facilities there's a pool table, or you can have a haircut should the mood take you.

Location
Airside in Terminal Three's departure lounge, just beyond the Fast Track immigration lane.

Staff
Charming and rather more casual and friendly in their approach than is often the case with other airline lounges.

Food and drink
Excellent choice, with a fully-manned bar and table service for a good selection of hot and cold food.

Good for business?
Virtually everything you could possibly want, including big screen TVs broadcasting business news.

Added extras
In the Cowshed spa, free for Upper Class passengers, you can have a complimentary massage, get a free St Tropez tan or take a dip in the hydro pool. There's also a roof garden with excellent views of the runway.

British Airways Terraces, Gatwick Airport

Lounge for Club World, Club Europe and Gold and Silver Executive Card holders.

Location
Airside in the North Terminal, close to gates 47 to 56.

Staff
Professional and polished.

Food and drink
A full bar offering juice, wine and spirits plus machines providing excellent coffee and a good choice of sweet and savoury snacks. The fresh croissants and pastries at breakfast are particularly good.

Good for business?
All the business facilities you would expect, including internet access, faxes and phones.

Added extras
Spacious washrooms with decent showers.

Lufthansa First Class Terminal,
Frankfurt Airport

One of the best airport lounges to be found anywhere, with plenty of space and private concierges assigned to every passenger.

Location
Within Lufthansa's own dedicated First Class terminal.

Staff
Every passenger is assigned a personal concierge who takes responsibility for all your wants.

Food and drink
Fabulous choices, whether you want a drink from the bar or a full meal from the restaurant.

Good for business?
As good as it gets. If you don't immediately find the facilities you need your concierge will take care of it for you.

Added extras
Choose which limo you would like to transfer you from the lounge to the plane.

Emirates Lounges, Dubai International Airport

The national airline, Emirates, continues to show the way with what many consider to be the best airport lounges in the world, although they could be more conveniently sited.

Location
Both first and business class lounges are airside in the main part of the terminal building, a long walk from the gates.

Staff
Bright, helpful and welcoming, but there have been recent reports of off-hand behaviour, especially late at night.

Food and drink
Generally very good, particularly at breakfast when the choice includes fresh-cooked eggs and bacon.

Business facilities
All the business facilities you would expect, such as internet access and phones, but you may have to wait your turn at busy times.

Added extras
Private cabins where you can have a nap.

South African Airways' Cycad Premium Lounge, Johannesburg International Airport

A spacious and tidy lounge, perfect for relaxing away from the often crowded main concourse. Available only to SAA first class passengers.

Location
Past security, just a short distance up the escalator on the mezzanine level in the departure lounge.

Staff
Friendly and welcoming.

Food and drink
An impressive self-service bar and buffet area, with plenty of staff on hand if you prefer to have your food delivered to your seat.

Good for business?
All the usual business facilities including computers and wireless internet connection.

Added extras
Good showers with free amenity packs.

Thai Airways International First Class Lounge, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

Everything you would expect from a lounge in such an important international hub.

Location
In the main terminal building, quite a way from some of the gates but with the option of taking a buggy.

Staff
Very attentive.

Food and drink
A good selection of drinks and food which changes throughout the day, and served to you at your seat.

Good for business?
Very good, with small, individual sitting rooms offered for some peace and quite while you are working, although a lack of doors means they are not as private as they could be.

Added extras
There is no need to listen out for announcements: staff will call you personally when your flight is ready for boarding.

Cathay Pacific's The Wing First and Business Class Lounge, Hong Kong International Airport.

One of the finest lounges in the world, with everything from peaceful reading rooms to state-of-the-art spas and restaurants.

Location
On levels 6 and 7, The Wing sprawls across no less than 4,500 square metres.

Staff
Very welcoming, professional and efficient.

Food and drink
An excellent choice in a number of outlets including the Noodle Bar, where noodle dishes are cooked to order.

Good for business?
Excellent, including wireless internet and private work areas with phones and other gizmos.

Added extras
Private baths are on offer in The Cabanas, or you can relax with a book in the library. The lounge has a GameZone, which includes PlayStations.

American Airlines' Admirals Club,
New York JFK

A convenient lounge and not bad by US standards, but it doesn't stand in real comparison with airline lounges in Europe and Asia.

Location
Terminal 9, concourse C, opposite gate 42.

Staff
In line with many US airports, some employees could do with working on their people skills, while others can be extremely polite and helpful.

Food and drink
Good by US airport standards, with complimentary tea, coffee and water, but you do have to pay for all your other drinks at the bar. Some free snacks are usually available but don't expect anything gourmet.

Good for business?
Facilities include 12 private work cubicles equipped with PCs and free high-speed internet access. Other amenities include modem port phones, photocopiers, printers, message services and a FedEx pick up and drop off service.

Added extras
There are two television lounges, as well as a lounge with a quiet relaxation area. Showers are available in the spa-style washrooms.

Air Canada's Maple Leaf Business Class Lounge, Toronto Pearson International Airport

Given the sorry state of many North American airport lounges, this one stands out from the crowd.

Location
In the departures area of the new Terminal 1.

Staff
Friendly, professional and welcoming.

Food and drink
A good selection of food by North American standards and an excellent bar service.

Good for business?
Not a particularly extensive working area, though you should find all the business facilities you may need, wireless internet access included.

Added extras
Nothing dramatic. Just a decent and quiet area to wait for your flight.