The World’s Most Luxurious Airport Lounges

Layovers can be a hassle, or they can be a slice of heaven. If you have the opportunity to visit one of these airport lounges, you may keep your fingers crossed for flight delays. Lounges have gone way beyond free cocktails and Wifi.

Now, you can savor your trip by indulging in spa treatments, taking a nap, or enjoying a gourmet meal, blogs

Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge, Singapore Changi International Airport

Known as one of the top airport lounges in the world, the SilverKris Lounge at Changi airport is huge and accommodating. Fish tanks, orchids, low lighting and great food help make this lounge a soothing oasis. Take a hot shower, get a massage at the spa, or take a nap in your own slumberette.

British Airways Concorde Room, London Heathrow Airport

Decadent Swarovski crystal chandeliers illuminate the gold leaf “Gold Bar” at the elegant British Airways Concorde Room in Heathrow. Fireplaces, gourmet dining, and luxurious furniture create a relaxing pre-flight retreat. You can enjoy a complimentary massage at Elenis Travel Spa, or chill out in your own private room that features a TV, chaise lounge, desk, and shower. For fun, sit in a chair pulled from a Concorde jet made into seating for the Boardroom.

Air France La Premiere Lounge, Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris

Have a massage, enjoy a fine French meal with wines from France’s premiere wineries, take a shower, lounge in a chaise, and then be escorted via Mercedes to your plane.

Swiss Lounge EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse, Freiburg

Relax in a leather recliner surrounded by palm trees under a giant glass dome while you enjoy the views. Hot and cold buffets and a bar offer plenty of sustenance in a bright uplifting atmosphere.

Star Alliance Lounge, Los Angeles, Tom Bradley International Terminal

Enjoy cocktails by the outdoor terrace fireplace and take in panoramic views of the Hollywood Hills while you wait for your international flight at the LAX Star Alliance lounge. Amenities include a library, shower suites, food and beverages, and iPads upon request.

Qantas First Lounge, Sydney

Luxe Italian marble, Swiss quartzite, glass, stainless steel and modern furniture juxtaposed against vertical foliage make a dramatic yet soothing atmosphere for pre-flight relaxation. Qantas First lounge in Sydney boasts complimentary spa treatments, concierge service, shower suites, gourmet dining, private business suites, and spectacular views of Sydney and Botany Bay.

Virgin Atlantic JFK Clubhouse, JFK International Airport, New York

Mood lighting, a brassiere dining area, and a spa with hair salon are all part of Virgin’s unique Clubhouse experience. Fun, vibrant furniture, like a ruby-red ball sofa and bubble chairs make this lounge seem a little futuristic, and is simultaneously soothing and invigorating.

Finnair Lounge, Helsinki Airport, Finland

Finnair Lounge is known for its fabulous midnight buffet, perfect for those on their way to Asia. Marimekko tableware and Nordic design fill surroundings with a relaxing modern aesthetic.

Etihad’s Diamond First Class Lounge, Abu Dhabi International Airport, United Arab Emirates

Drop the kids off with their own personal nanny and head for the spa. You can relax and get a massage while the children enjoy the colorful playroom.

Lufthansa First Class Lounge, Frankfurt

Located in its own terminal, Lufthansa’s First Class Lounge offers concierge service, fine dining, showers and bathtubs (sometimes with Lufthansa’s coveted rubber duckies). After an over-the-top lounge experience, you will be driven to your plane in a Porche or Mercedes. Very James Bond.

Check our AirGuideAirports – Top 50 World Airport Maps displayed with popups, including POI search capability for the busiest airports in North America, Latin America & Caribbean, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Asia Pacific.

Source: www.airguideonline.com 

Austrian Airlines Begins Nonstop Service From Miami To Vienna

  

·         Inaugural flight departs today from Miami

·         Five weekly flights from Miami to Vienna

·         Austrian Star Alliance Terminal in Vienna: Short transfer times to 81 European destinations     

·         Chefs and authentic Viennese coffee house service on board

Austrian Airlines begins its new, nonstop service from Miami, Florida to Vienna, Austria. The airline will operate five weekly, nonstop flights, with a Boeing 777 aircraft, from Miami to Vienna. Austrian Airlines Chief Commercial Officer, Andreas Otto, personally greeted the passengers today on the occasion of the initial flight from Vienna to Miami, thus formally inaugurating this route: “The addition of Miami shows that we are significantly expanding our service from North America, and now offer a total of 27 weekly flights from six destinations in the USA and Canada in our winter flight schedule,” said Andreas Otto.

Austrian Star Alliance Terminal in Vienna: Short transfer times

Thanks to its central geographical location at the heart of Europe, the Austrian hub at Vienna International Airport is the ideal gateway between East and West. The airport’s minimum transfer time of 25 minutes is unique among the world’s hubs and is of special value to the passengers transferring with Austrian to 81 European destinations.

Chefs and original Viennese coffee house service on board

Business Class passengers on Austrian long-haul flights can indulge in gourmet menus created by Austrian and international chefs, and subsequently refined à la minute by a professional chef on board. Austrian also offers the first ‘Viennese coffee house’ above the clouds by serving a selection of Vienna’s ten most popular, specialty coffees, ranging from the Großer Brauner and ever-popular Wiener Melange, to specialties such as the Wiener Fiaker. Austrian Airlines is the only airline in the world to provide this unique service.

In addition to Miami, Austrian Airlines offers eight flights per week from the New York Metropolitan Area, non-stop to Vienna, in the current winter flight schedule. This includes four weekly flights each, from New York JFK and Newark, with a Boeing 767 aircraft. Moreover, Austrian Airlines offers five flights each week from Washington, DC with a Boeing 767, up to five weekly flights from Chicago and four from Toronto to the Austrian capital.

Flight service from Miami is offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Austrian Airlines will fly to Miami throughout the entire year. The flight duration from Miami to Vienna, a distance of 8,400 kilometers, is approximately 9 hrs 45 minutes. Flights can be booked at www.austrian.com, by telephone at +1-800-843-0002 or in a travel agency.     

route	flight number	flight days	departure – arrival (local time)
Miami – Vienna	OS098	Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays	17:00 – 08:45 (+1)
Vienna – Miami	OS097	Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays	09:55 – 15:20

The Best New Way to Fly Around The World

Star Alliance recently launched its newest booking tool, which allows passengers to travel around the world in premium economy on its 28 partner airlines.

An around-the-world trip by air is the kind of travel splurge many people reserve for their bucketlist, but often time and money restrictions cause to remain there.

But the Star Alliance, with its membership of 28 airlines, is aiming to make it easier and more affordable to circle the globe in style. Travelers can now build an itinerary crossing both the Atlantic and Pacific, flying every leg in Premium Economy rather than cramped in coach. (Of course, you can opt to fly in business or first class, but that may bring this kind of trip back to fantasy-only.)

A booking tool to enable this premium economy version is now live on Star Alliance's website. It was inspired, in part, by the growth in premium economy offerings throughout the industry, with more carriers opting to carve out cabins space for the roomier seats. A cross between coach and business class, it’s got more legroom, improved amenities, and more comfort overall. Lufthansa and Singapore, both members of the Star Alliance, have added premium economy classes within the past year. Other Star airlines that offer this class include Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, EVA, LOT, SAS, Thai, and Turkish.

If you want to avoid coach at all costs, it’s possible—you’ll just have to do some careful planning. A Star Alliance spokesperson came up with the following itinerary: Chicago – Frankfurt – Copenhagen – Istanbul – Tokyo – San Francisco – Chicago, at a fare of around $7,000.

The rules for these fares are as follows: There are three levels of pricing, depending on how many miles you're logging, with the lowest fares for jaunts of 29,000 and the highest at 39,000 miles. (The above example is for the 29,000 mile zone.) In general, you must travel in one direction—east or west—although you may take some detours on a single continent. Both major oceans must be crossed, and stops lasting at least 24 hours have to be made in at least three cities—up to a maximum of 15. While you can’t change your itinerary once you’ve departed, you can change your dates without penalty. Regardless of the rules, the best part is the duration of the trip; it can be as few as seven days or as long as up to a full year.

Written by Barbara Peterson, www.cntraveler.com