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Category: Lounge

LOUNGE REVIEW: Ryurin Lounge, Naha International Airport, Okinawa
On my way home to Singapore from Okinawa with Cathay Pacific today, I had the chance to check out the Ryurin Lounge at the airport. One good perk of having Marco Polo Club status – even just with Silver – is that you will get access to a lounge as long as you are flying with Cathay Pacific or Cathay Dragon.

Ryurin Lounge, Naha Internatonal Airport

Naha International Airport is largely a domestic airport with a small international terminal. The last time I was here, the international check-in area was a tiny two-row space, but it has since been moved to a larger hall on the third floor of the terminal to accommodate the growth in international air traffic.

Despite the number of international flights coming into Okinawa, there is still only one lounge: the Ryurin Lounge which effectively serves all airlines and their premium customers.

Ryurin Lounge is only accessible by airline customers

At the time of writing, the lounge serves customers of the following airlines:
- China Airlines
- Hong Kong Airlines
- Asiana Airlines
- Cathay Pacific / Cathay Dragon
- Air China
- Korean Air
- EVA Air
- China Eastern
The lounge, facilities and location

Ryurin Lounge at Okinawa international terminal is located on the 4th floor, after immigration and security screening. To access the lounge, there is a lift right across from gate 42 that will bring you to the doorstep of the lounge. Note that there’s no stairs to the lounge, this is the only way to get into the lounge.

When you first enter the lounge, the staff will check your boarding pass and your lounge invitation, before you head into the lounge itself. Also, there’s a coat rack at the front desk area, and the receptionist will ask if you need to check your coat.

Seating area

The lounge is a tiny space: a total of 37 seats are available, including two at the front door, as well 2 each at the telephone booth and workstations. The tiny size is because the lounge largely one flight at any one time, and this lounge is not available to any lounge programmes such as Priority Pass, and it’s also not available on a pay-per-use basis.

As with all places Japanese, customers are reminded not to use their mobile phones in the lounge. For those who need to chat, there are two dedicated booths for you to chat at.

There’s also two small desks for those who need to catch up with work on their own laptops or tablets.

Work desks if you need to catch up on work

Within the lounge there’s also a smoking room. Now, this is a very Japanese concept, as most other airports will require you to leave the lounge and head to the public smoking area if you wish to light up.

Smoking room within the lounge

Given that Okinawa has no long-haul destinations, this lounge has no shower facilities. There are however a pair of toilets for customers to use.

Food and beverage

Given that it’s a small lounge, there’s also very limited food and beverage offerings.

For a start, there are no hot food available: there are only pre-packed snacks and cold jelly available for you to munch on. If you need something hot, they do have cup noodles available. I thought it was pretty thoughtful to have them in the mini size, so that you can have a small bite if you are feeling peckish rather than needing something fuller.

Cold snacks and cup noodles if you need a bite

They are better equipped in the beverage department. For non-alcoholic drinks, there are two dispensers: one for soft drinks, and another one for hot drinks.

Complimentary hot beverages

There’s also a range of complimentary alcoholic beverages, including red and white wine, as well as Japanese spirits such as native Okinawan awamori, Japanese whiskey and plum wine or umeshu. My favourite of all has got to be the self-dispensing beer tap dishing out Orion draft beer.

Complimentary Japanese spirits and wines

Final thoughts

There is no doubt the Ryurin Lounge is a very small lounge, probably one of the smallest I’ve seen. In the quintessentially Japanese spirit, this small space is adequately equipped as a lounge space for an international airport serving short and mid-haul destinations, with its furthest international flight being Singapore, which is about 5 hours away.

One sore lack was the absence of hot food. While the flight length doesn’t warrant one, premium travellers may appreciate the offering. In the beverage department, however, they are fully equipped, offering some of the best that Japan and Okinawa can offer.

Automatic beer dispensing machine

What else is good is that the lounge is not open to pay-per-use customers, or even third-party lounge programmes such as Priority Pass and Dragon Pass, so at no time does the lounge feel overcrowded. Having said that, the international terminal has only this lounge, so if you do not have lounge access as part of your fare, it’s better that you spend time in the public area and clear immigration and security only at the last minute.

Location and operating details

Location: Okinawa Naha International Airport, after immigration and security, opposite Gate 42
Access: Only for passengers who has lounge access as part of their fare or frequent flyer entitlements, not available for Priority Pass or Dragon Pass
Hours: 0845H to 2120H (hours may vary)
Food and beverage: Yes, complimentary
Alcohol: Yes, complimentary
Toilets: Yes
Showers: No
Business Centre: No
10 May 19
LOUNGE REVIEW: SATS Premier Lounge, Changi Airport Terminal 2
On my trip to Kuala Lumpur today, I decided to check out the SATS Premier Lounge in Terminal 2 today as I was travelling with Malaysia Airlines. As a oneworld Sapphire member, I had the use of the lounge when I travel with oneworld airlines so I thought I’d drop in to see what the lounge offered.

Changi Airport Terminal 2 has probably the weakest lounge offering out of all the terminals at Changi Airport. While the other terminals had several lounges, Terminal 2 only offers three: the SilverKris lounge is only available for Star Alliance and Singapore Airlines business and first class passengers; the DBS Asia Treasures lounge which is only accessible by DBS Treasures customers; as well as the SATS lounge which effectively served every other airline.

SATS Premier Lounge, Changi Airport Terminal 2

Access

Being the only other lounge apart from the Singapore Airlines-operated lounge, you will most likely receive access to this lounge if you were flying in business or first class with any of the airlines operating out of Terminal 2, including Malaysia Airlines, Air India and United Airlines. If you are flying with Scoot and purchased the lounge add-on, this will also be the lounge you’ll use.

Priority Pass members can also access the lounge.

The space & facility

The lounge is not huge, with a capacity of about 120 passengers at best. The space that it occupies is nominal as well. There is a main seating area that provides armchairs with side tables, complete with electrical sockets as well as USB charging ports.

Main seating area

Along one side of the lounge was a row of single-person cubicles or ‘productivity pods’, which serves as a workstation. Closer to the dining area there are two long tables, as well as some dining tables for two, available for use.

Dining area

When I stepped in at about 6pm in the evening, I was hard pressed for a seat. Almost all the armchairs were taken, and the only seating still available was at the long high tables. I took a seat at those, but it was neck-to-neck, I had complete strangers seated beside me on both sides.

In a small corner near the entrance, there was also a VIP seating area which was cordoned off. From the outside, it seemed like just a small lounge with armchair seating, with nothing special apart from its exclusivity.

Private VIP area

There was also two massage chairs in another corner, both of them which were taken up when I saw them. As I was leaving the lounge later, only one was occupied. Apparently they are pretty popular.

Massage chairs

The toilets were located within the lounge, and within each of the toilet were some shower cubicles. There was no towels available within the toilet cubicle itself, but if you needed one, they were available from the front desk.

Shower cubicles within the toilets; request for towels and toiletries at the front desk

Food & Beverage offerings

There was a buffet spread, offering a range of cold and hot items for the evening. The offering included:
- Tomato Soup
- Mee Goreng
- BBQ Chicken
- Mixed Vegetable
- A chef’s special, which looked like basmati rice with an indian dhal or curry
Chef’s Choice

There was also a corner offering make-your-own mee soto, consisting of prepared bowls of noodles with shredded chicken and fishcakes. There was an instruction sheet on how to blanche the ingredients, and then a separate pot of broth.

Make-your-own mee soto

On the cold end, there’s a very sad looking salad bar, along with some cold cuts. There’s also a basket of bread, with an equally sad looking tray of baked cakes. Right beside it was also a big pot of mixed nuts and crackers, which seemed to be pretty popular with guests.

Salad bar

The beverage offering was a mix of dispenser drinks, and some other local canned drinks in the fridge next to the dispenser. There was also an ice and water dispenser machine between the two. The drink dispenser served up your usual Coca Cola, Coke Zero and also Sprite, but what’s in the fridge was pretty questionable: there was pineapple juice available, along with 100 Plus and tomato juice.

Fridge with beer and local drinks, as well as dispenser drinks

If you are after something alcoholic, there was a choice of Asahi and Tiger beer, both in cans, as well as red and white wines. Spirits wise, there was Johnnie Walker Black Label, Gordon’s gin as well as Smirnoff vodka.

Spirits and wines

I went to try some of the food, including the mee goreng, BBQ chicken and the mee soto. The mee goreng and BBQ chicken was really sad, and in my honest opinion if you are after quality food, you are better off dining at the food court instead.

The mee soto was saved by the broth, which was pretty tasty.

While trying to get some dispenser drink, I realised that there was no ice. I went to ask a staff, who sheepishly apologised and said they were out of ice at the moment.

The wines, on the other hand, was pretty crappy. I tried one of the red wines on offer – the Ochagavia Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot blend – which I immediately poured away after taking a sip.

Final thoughts

The lounge is a functional space, but definitely lacking a lot in quality in terms of its offering, from ambience, layout to the food and beverage options. My view is that the lounge is so busy and seemingly popular currently because it has no real competitor in the terminal, so many of the airlines are taking up only because there is no alternative.

What’s baffling is the fact that this particular lounge was awarded the Best Priority Pass Lounge in Asia Pacific in 2017. The actual experience is so far from its description, it’s really not worth mentioning.

If you are flying out of Terminal 2 and has access to this lounge, I’ll recommend that you use it only because you need a space to rest or to get some work done. For those flying with Star Alliance airlines, including Lufthansa, Swiss, United, Air India, you should head to the Krisflyer lounges instead.

For those after some decent food before your flights, you are honestly better off eating within the terminal before heading off to your flight. And if you are flying with Scoot and contemplating buying the lounge add-on, DON’T.

If you hold a Priority Pass membership, do check out TGM instead, which offers higher quality food and beverage options as compared to the SATS lounge.

Location and operating details

Location: Changi Airport Terminal 2, Transit Area (after immigration), Level 2 (closer to E pier)
Hours: 24 hours
Food and beverage: Yes
Alcohol: Yes
Showers: Yes
Business Centre: No
20 April 19
Qantas reveals more details of its Singapore First Lounge

The Qantas First Lounge in Singapore will use a neutral colour palette, luxurious materials and leafy green highlights as it offers the airline’s top customers with a restaurant-style a la carte dining experience, a cocktail bar and showers.

Qantas Singapore First Lounge – artist’s impression

Following the announcement of a new Qantas First Lounge in Singapore last year, Qantas has released more details and images on what travellers can expect from the luxe lounge when it opens later this year at Changi Airport Terminal 1.

Qantas Singapore First Lounge – artist’s impression of dining area

Qantas is working with David Caon in collaboration with Akin Atelier, to build a First Lounge for 240 customers, offering a luxurious design and premium dining inspired by Singapore’s vibrant culture. David Caon has also worked with Qantas most recently in the redesign of the crockery and cutlery used on its flights.

Qantas Singapore First Lounge – artist’s impression of bar area

The Qantas First Lounge in Singapore is expected to open in ‘late 2019’, with no definitive date set at the moment.

14 February 19
LOUNGE REVIEW: Cathay Pacific Singapore Lounge, Changi Airport Terminal 4

The Hong Kong Singapore Lounge is one of the latest in the Cathay Pacific’s network, opened less than 18 months ago when Singapore Changi Airport opened its newest terminal, Terminal 4.

Being one of the major airlines operating out of Terminal 4 since the terminal opened back in 2017, the Cathay Pacific Singapore lounge is the only airline lounge at Terminal 4. It is a fairly cosy one, with 849 square metres of space and offering seats for over 200 customers at any point in time.

Who can access this lounge?

Apart from Cathay Pacific’s own business and first class passengers, Marco Polo Silver, Gold and Diamond members can also access the lounge when travelling on a Cathay Pacific flight out of Singapore. Oneworld sapphire and emerald members may also use the lounge as long as they are travelling on a oneworld-member operated flight on the same day, although I’m not sure if you should make the trek to Terminal 4 just for this lounge when the Qantas lounge at Terminal 1 is probably a better choice.

The lounge

The Cathay Pacific Singapore lounge features two main seating areas. The first is at the noodle bar, with plenty of two and four-seater booths, along with bar seats at the noodle bar and a long communal table adorned with stools.

On the terrace overlooking the transit area of the terminal features several armchairs and coffee tables, perfect for a late night pre-departure drink. This is also where the self-service buffet area is placed.

Cathay Pacific brought its famous noodle bar to the Singapore lounge as well, which has become a perennial favourite for customers around the world.

The noodle bar serves up small bowls of the signature Hong Kong Wanton Noodles, along with other type of cooked-to-order items that reflects the local culture. For instance, the Singapore lounge serves a version of laksa as well, similar to the Qantas Singapore lounge.

Another thing on offer was the steamed chicken dumplings (siew mai). While this is traditionally made with pork, I guess chicken may be a little more palatable to the diverse range of customers passing through.

On the buffet table was also the standard western breakfast offering, including scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages and also a Chinese favourite, rice porridge.

The lounge also offer a range of reading materials such as newspapers and magazines, although I didn’t really see anything picking something up to read while I was there.

The only difference between the Singapore lounge and the Hong Kong lounges is the absence of shower rooms, given that Cathay Pacific only flies to Hong Kong and Bangkok from Singapore. Also, no other oneworld airlines are operating from Terminal 4, so that lessens the need for shower rooms.

Final words

The Cathay Pacific Singapore lounge is probably one of the newest ones on its network. While fairly small when you compare it to the labyrinth in many of the Hong Kong lounges, this lounge contain many wins – such as the noodle bar – which sufficient catered to the needs of the customers.

I am a fan of Cathay Pacific’s lounges in Hong Kong, having been to several of them, including the Deck and the Wing business lounges. Cathay is known to provide a solid lounge product, with good space design, ample seating and very decent food. Of course, given its popularity, the lounges in Hong Kong International Airport are usually very packed, so it’s pretty refreshing to go into a less crowded Cathay Pacific lounge.

20 January 19
REVIEW: Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, New York JFK Airport Terminal 4

The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse is one of the few airline lounges available at Terminal 4 and arguably one of the best the terminal has to offer.

Within the Virgin Atlantic lounge network, there are only 10 lounges, six of which are in US.

(more…)

22 June 18