Many travellers are accustomed to airport departure lounges, and revel in entry to them by way of bank cards, enterprise class or First Class tickets, or elite standing.
What many travellers might not know is that there are additionally airport lounges which might be designated particularly for use after your flight, once you arrive at your vacation spot.
On this information, we’ll discover every little thing there may be to learn about arrivals lounges, together with what they’re, the place yow will discover them, methods to entry them, and why you may wish to reap the benefits of these areas after a flight in your subsequent journey.
What Are Arrivals Lounges?
Because the title suggests, arrivals lounges are meant as a spot of respite after your flight arrives at your vacation spot airport.
The lounges sometimes provide showers, an area to get refreshed after a protracted journey, a spot to work or make a cellphone name, free Wi-Fi, and a collection of meals and drinks.
Typically talking, arrivals lounges are a lot smaller than departure lounges, and so they sometimes have stricter entry necessities, with entrance typically reserved solely for enterprise class and First Class passengers.
Arrivals lounges will be notably helpful in various conditions, akin to getting refreshed after a protracted flight and earlier than a giant assembly, or in case your resort check-in time is hours away, and also you want a quiet place to work or calm down.
Moreover, some lounges additionally present distinctive and useful companies (e.g., ironing your garments), which we’ll spotlight intimately beneath.
Accessing Arrivals Lounges
Arrivals lounges are hosted by particular person airways, in addition to by hospitality teams like Plaza Premium.
Their hours of operation range relying on the airport and its flight schedule, because the lounges are typically open to service passengers coming in on long-haul flights.
Entry varies for every particular person lounge, and we’ll discover this additional within the part beneath.
Typically talking, arrivals lounges hosted by airways are made obtainable for enterprise class and First Class passengers of the related airline and for passengers with associated elite standing (e.g., airline elite standing, Star Alliance elite standing).
For passengers travelling in financial system class with out elite standing, some lounges are accessible by way of lounge go memberships, akin to Precedence Go and DragonPass, whereas others provide day-rates that may be reserved forward of time or bought on the entrance.
Which Airports Have Arrivals Lounges?
On this part, we offer particulars about various arrivals lounges from around the globe to provide you an thought about what you may anticipate in your go to.
Though the record shouldn’t be exhaustive, it does showcase how arrivals lounges can vary from extremely luxurious to very fundamental, and every little thing in between.
London Heathrow (LHR)
Heathrow Airport is the UK’s largest airport, and one of many busiest airports on this planet. As of early 2024, the airport is house to 4 arrivals lounges unfold throughout three of its 4 passenger terminals.
Terminal 2
The Arrivals Lounge is utilized by each United Airways and Air Canada, and the lounge is situated in Terminal 2.
The lounge is accessible to United Polaris enterprise class passengers and Air Canada enterprise class passengers arriving on a world flight, plus Aeroplan Tremendous Elite 100k members (who might also convey one visitor).
Guests to the lounge can take pleasure in showers (17 suites in complete), fundamental private facilities to assist get refreshed after a protracted flight, free Wi-Fi, buffet and à-la-carte food and drinks choices, and some completely different seating choices.
Terminal 3
The American Airways Arrivals Lounge is utilized by each American Airways and British Airways. The lounge is situated in Terminal 3.
Entry to the lounge is granted to those that flew on a same-day American Airways flight, and who’re, or who possess, the next:
- Flying in Flagship First, Flagship Enterprise Plus, or Flagship Enterprise
- AAdvantage Govt Platinum or AAdvantage Platinum Professional standing
- ConciergeKey standing
- Oneworld Emerald standing
- British Airways Premier standing
You may additionally entry the lounge when you flew on British Airways on a same-day, long-haul worldwide flight that arrived in Terminal 3, and you’re or have the next:
The Arrivals Lounge gives bathe suites (30 in complete) stocked with towels and facilities, and the distinctive characteristic of valet ironing.
Every bathe suite has a two-way closet the place you’ll be able to cling your garments. You then ring a bell to tell the employees, and they’ll press your outfit whilst you clean up.
The lounge additionally supplies guests with each buffet and à-la-carte food and drinks choices, a espresso and champagne bar, a enterprise centre, free Wi-Fi-, and a collection of magazines so that you can take pleasure in.
The Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge can be situated in Terminal 3 and supplies entry to passengers flying Virgin Atlantic and Delta.
The lounge is open every day and will be accessed by the next passengers arriving at London Heathrow:
- Passengers travelling in Virgin Atlantic Higher Class
- Flying Membership Gold members travelling with Virgin Atlantic or Delta
- Passengers travelling in Delta One
- Delta SkyMiles Diamond Medallion cardholders (travelling from the US on both Virgin Atlantic or Delta)
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion cardholders (travelling from the US on both Virgin Atlantic or Delta)
- Virgin Australia Velocity Membership Platinum cardholders (travelling on Virgin Atlantic)
- Virgin Australia Velocity The Membership cardholders (travelling on Virgin Atlantic)
The Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge gives bathe suites, luxurious facilities, free Wi-Fi-, each buffet and à-la-carte food and drinks choices, a spread of seating choices, and, just like the American Airways lounge, you may as well have your outfit ironed earlier than you head out to proceed your day.
Terminal 5
The British Airways Galleries Arrivals Lounge is situated in Terminal 5.
The lounge is offered for the next visitors:
- British Airways prospects arriving in First Class or enterprise class (Membership World) cabins
- British Airways Govt Membership Gold cardholders arriving on a long-haul British Airways flight
- American Airways prospects arriving in First or enterprise Class cabins
- American Airways ConciergeKey cardholders arriving on a long-haul American Airways flight
The British Airways Galleries lounge gives showers (94 of them!), an à-la-carte food and drinks menu (with a full English breakfast obtainable till 12pm), a couple of small buffet gadgets (principally pastries and fruit), a wide range of seating choices, free Wi-Fi, and a small enterprise centre.
Frankfurt Worldwide Airport (FRA)
The Frankfurt Worldwide Airport is house to 2 arrivals lounges, the Lufthansa Welcome Lounge and the LuxxLounge, each situated in Terminal 1.
Lufthansa’s Welcome Lounge is situated on the arrival stage, instantly behind baggage declare space B, and is open from 5:15am to 12:30pm.
Entry is granted to the next passengers:
- First Class and enterprise class passengers, in addition to Lufthansa standing passengers arriving on intercontinental Lufthansa or Uncover Airways flights
- HON Circle members arriving on a flight operated by Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, or Uncover Airways
- United Airways World Providers Card members arriving on a United flight
- First Class passengers arriving on an Air China flight
The Lufthansa Welcome Lounge spans two flooring and has lockers to retailer your baggage instantly upon entry. The lounge gives ample seating choices, a enterprise centre, free Wi-Fi-, a buffet with a considerable collection of cold and hot meals and drinks, and 28 bathe suites, which offer towels and facilities.
The LuxxLounge is the primary arrivals lounge that we’re taking a look at that’s open to most of the people, permitting these with and with out premium boarding passes or elite standing to benefit from the area for a price of €35 for 3 hours.
The lounge will be discovered between Concourses B and C on the gallery stage of Terminal 1, and is open from 6:30am to 9:30pm.
The area gives a spread of seating choices, some snacks and drinks, free Wi-Fi, and bathe services.
As a novel characteristic, the LuxxLounge additionally supplies a six-person convention room you could ebook for an extra price.
Zurich Worldwide Airport (ZRH)
Zurich Worldwide Airport, the most important airport in Switzerland, has one arrivals lounge situated in Terminal 2.
The Swiss Arrivals Lounge is the open from 6am to 1pm and will be discovered after customs close to Arrivals 2.
The lounge is accessible to First Class and enterprise class passengers flying with Swiss and Lufthansa, in addition to Miles & Extra HON Circle, Senator, and Frequent Travellers members.
Passengers who don’t qualify for entry primarily based on the above record are welcome to buy entry by way of the Swiss web site for 69 Swiss Francs ($110 CAD, $80 USD).
Equally to the opposite lounges, the Swiss Arrivals Lounge gives a breakfast buffet with a spread of cold and hot food and drinks choices, bathe suites with facilities, free Wi-Fi, enterprise rooms, and a wide range of seating choices, together with “quiet” rooms with reclining chairs.
Notably, the lounge additionally supplies guests with the chance to order an precise bed room to take pleasure in a non-public nap after a protracted flight. Unsurprisingly, these rooms are fairly standard, so when you’re hoping to partake, you’ll wish to notice your curiosity with the employees as quickly as you arrive on the lounge.
Paris Charles de Gaulle Worldwide Airport (CDG)
Charles de Gaulle Worldwide Airport in Paris is house to 2 arrivals lounges, each situated in Terminal 1.
The Qatar Airways Premium Lounge grants entry to First Class and enterprise class passengers arriving on both a Qatar Airways flight or any Oneworld airline, in addition to to Privilege Membership members with Gold elite standing or larger.
The lounge is open from 5am to 10pm every day and will be discovered on the eleventh ground of Terminal 1, providing views all the way in which to the Eiffel Tower.
The Qatar Airways Premium Lounge supplies an expensive lounge expertise with lovely seating areas for rest, socializing, and dealing, and it gives a wide selection of high-end eating choices.
The area can be fairly distinctive in that it has a fountain, two outside terraces, unimaginable views, female and male prayer rooms, bathe suites, and extra.
Alternatively, the Star Alliance Lounge is open to Star Alliance members with Gold standing or larger, in addition to to passengers with eligible lounge memberships and premium bank cards, making it significantly extra accessible.
Moreover, when you don’t have any free passes obtainable by way of your lounge membership program, you should purchase a day-pass for $35 (USD).
The Star Alliance Lounge gives three buffets with rotating food and drinks choices, showers, free Wi-Fi, and a spread of seating choices.
Notably, the lounge additionally has an open-air terrace, which doubles as a delegated smoking space. It’s price noting that there are two Star Alliance Lounges in Paris; nonetheless, the newly opened Star Alliance Lounge is situated airside, whereas this lounge is situated previous to safety.
Rio de Janeiro/Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim Worldwide Airport (GIG)
The Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 2 is a part of Plaza Premium’s community of lounges, so entry is offered to anybody with an eligible bank card, members with obtainable passes, and people who want to buy a single-entry go.
The price for single use is $35 (USD) per individual, and the lounge is open 24/7, making it very handy no matter once you land.
Lounge guests can take pleasure in a spread of food and drinks choices, numerous seating choices, free Wi-Fi, showers and facilities, and extra.
The area additionally has rest suites that may be pre-booked (for an extra price) when you’d prefer to seize a nap, plus a VIP room and a gathering room in your comfort.
Sydney Kingsford Smith Worldwide Airport (SYD)
Passengers arriving in Sydney are prime candidates for an arrivals lounge, provided that this airport serves many long-haul and ultra-long-haul flights.
Terminal 1 is house to a Plaza Premium Lounge for arriving passengers, which will be accessed through an eligible premium bank card that provides Plaza Premium visits, or by paying the single-entry price of round $40 (CAD) for an as much as five-hour keep.
This huge lounge gives a wide range of food and drinks choices, free Wi-Fi, and a great deal of seating.
For an extra price, you may as well make use of their bathe services, non-public rest suites, VIP room, and assembly room.
Johannesburg OR Tambo Worldwide Airport (JNB)
At OR Tambo Worldwide Airport in Johannesburg, there’s the South African Airways Arrivals Lounge, situated in Terminal A.
Entry to this lounge is open to the next passengers:
- Voyager Lifetime Platinum, Platinum, and Platinum Elect members (plus one visitor) when arriving on South African Airways
- Enterprise class passengers and Voyager Gold and Gold Elect members when arriving on South African Airways (no visitor privileges)
- Discovery Financial institution Purple cardholders and Investec Enigma cardholders, no matter airline flown (no visitor privileges)
The lounge gives its visitors a wide range of food and drinks choices, areas to relaxation or to work, bathe suites, garments urgent companies, an enclosed smoking space, and free Wi-Fi.
Dubai Worldwide Airport (DXB)
On the Dubai Worldwide Airport, there are two arrivals lounges in Terminal 3.
The Their Patio Lounge by Plaza Premium Group gives complimentary entry to visitors holding an eligible bank card or lounge membership, and to those that buy a single-entry go, which prices round $50 (CAD) for a two-hour keep.
Notably, the Their Patio Lounge is definitely designed as a co-working area slightly than a traditional arrivals lounge, so it doesn’t have most of the traditional lounge choices.
There are not any bathe suites, and there may be solely the smallest vary of snacks and drinks. Nonetheless, the area does present assembly rooms, a convention room, a co-working area, printing and photocopying, and a concierge service.
Uniquely, the lounge companies additionally embrace a consultancy centre to assist with enterprise set-up, visa sponsorship, residency inquiries, and extra.
The opposite arrivals lounge on the Dubai Worldwide Airport is the Jumeirah Airport Lounge, which is a high-end lounge reserved solely for passengers who’ve requested an airport switch to one in every of Jumeirah’s inns or resorts.
Provided that this area is run by a luxurious resort chain, it’s not shocking that it’s a shocking area and features extra like a non-public spa than an airport lounge, providing meals, drink, showers, and a spread of bespoke concierge companies to make your journey expertise seamless.
Hamad Worldwide Airport (DOH)
Dwelling to Qatar Airways, Hamad Worldwide Airport in Doha has two lounges for arriving passengers, one which is pretty unique, and the opposite which is significantly extra accessible.
The Qatar Airways First and Enterprise Class Arrivals Lounge is, because the title suggests, solely for Qatar Airways enterprise class and First Class passengers.
The arrivals lounge is an extension of the devoted premium immigration facility that exists to streamline the method for First Class and enterprise class passengers.
The arrivals lounge is properly appointed with many seating areas, a enterprise centre, free Wi-Fi, bathe suites, a buffet collection of meals and drinks, and a small à-la-carte menu.
One other lounge possibility on the Hamad Worldwide Airport is the Al Maha Arrival Lounge, which is open 24 hours a day.
Lounge entry is complimentary for Platinum and Gold Privilege Membership members and can be made obtainable to passengers with eligible lounge memberships (although this entry could also be restricted throughout peak instances).
Entry can be obtainable for the day-rate price of 230 QAR ($85 CAD, $65 USD) for adults and 115 QAR ($42 CAD, $31 USD) for kids.
When you’ve received an abundance of Avios factors, you might select to pay the doorway price utilizing your factors by reserving the companies on-line.
The Al Maha Arrival Lounge is kind of massive and gives all the usual lounge facilities, together with cold and hot meals and drinks, first-come-first-served bathe suites, free Wi-Fi, baggage lockers, a great deal of seating choices, and a enterprise centre.
Extra distinctive options of the lounge embrace household rooms, quiet rooms with reclined chairs suited to naps, and a smoking room.
Tokyo Narita Worldwide Airport (NRT)
Narita Worldwide Airport in Tokyo has 4 arrivals lounges on provide, two in Terminal 1 and two in Terminal 2.
The ANA Arrivals Lounge in Terminal 1 is open from 2pm to five:55pm (or till the departure of the ultimate ANA-operated home flight). These odd hours are as a result of the lounge can be a departure lounge for home flights, so the area is shared with outgoing passengers as nicely.
Entry to the lounge is reserved for passengers travelling on long-haul ANA flights in enterprise class and First Class, in addition to ANA elite members holding Diamond, Platinum, or Tremendous Flyers Membership standing, and people with an ANA Million Miler Program’s lounge entry card.
Moreover, every passenger might convey one visitor to the lounge, excluding passengers travelling in enterprise class.
The ANA Arrivals Lounge is kind of massive, with ample seating, and it gives bathe suites, enterprise services, free Wi-Fi, and a small providing of snacks and drinks.
Narita Airport additionally has two IASS Govt Lounge places, one in Terminal 1 and the opposite in Terminal 2.
The lounges present free Wi-Fi, a quieter place to seat, and complimentary drinks (although alcohol is restricted to a single drink).
It’s noteworthy that neither lounge has showers, although as mentioned beneath, there’s a separate bathe space in Terminal 1.
Entry to each IASS Govt Lounges is offered to these with eligible bank cards or membership to lounge go packages, and the one notable distinction between the 2 places is that the Terminal 2 lounge has seating for over 130 individuals, whereas the lounge in Terminal 1 can solely match round 80 individuals.
When you’re hoping to have a bathe once you land at Narita Airport, Terminal 1 is house to the Narita Airport Showers, which gives any passenger the chance to get refreshed after a protracted flight for a price of ¥1,050 ($10 CAD, $7 USD).
A ultimate possibility in Terminal 2 is the Rassurants Traveler’s Lounge, which, equally to the IASS Govt Lounges doesn’t provide meals or showers and fees a price of round ¥1,000 ($10 CAD, $7 USD).
Given the shortage of facilities, the area is usually obtainable to offer a quiet space to relaxation or work earlier than venturing on to the subsequent a part of your journey, and we’re undecided that we’d actually name it an “arrivals lounge.”
Tokyo Worldwide Airport – Haneda (HND)
Tokyo Haneda Worldwide Airport (HND), the town’s second main airport, presently has one arrivals lounge.
The Energy Lounge Central is operated by Haneda Airport itself, and is situated in Terminal 1.
The lounge gives some gentle meals choices in addition to showers for an extra cost. You should purchase entry to this lounge at ¥1,080 ($10, $7 USD) per individual.
In Terminal 3, the airport additionally operates designated bathe rooms for all passengers to take pleasure in. The TIAT Bathe Rooms will be accessed for ¥1,030 ($10 CAD, $7 USD).
Moreover, prior to now, ANA has had an arrivals lounge in Terminal 2, however sadly it’s quickly closed. The lounge is presently scheduled to re-open in 2025.
Indira Gandhi Worldwide Airport (DEL)
India’s important airport, the Indira Gandhi Worldwide Airport in Delhi has one arrivals lounge in Terminal 3.
The Encalm Lounge is open 24 hours a day, and entry is offered to passengers with lounge memberships and eligible bank cards.
The lounge is pretty easy, with free Wi-Fi, some seating, and a small collection of food and drinks choices. Notably, the lounge doesn’t have bathe suites, so it’s principally designed to be a quieter place to calm down or work earlier than you allow the airport.
Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Worldwide Airport (BOM)
In Mumbai, at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Worldwide Airport, the Aviserv Lounge in Terminal 2 is offered to welcome visitors who’re in transit. Whereas it’s not solely an arrivals lounge, this area supplies related facilities.
Entry to the lounge will be loved by passengers with a Precedence Go and DragonPass membership, and it will also be bought, with the costs ranging primarily based on which facilities you’d like to make use of.
Costs vary from round $15 (CAD) only for lounge entry, a meal, and Wi-Fi, to round $115 (CAD) for eight hours of entry, together with a sleeping pod, bathe, meal, and Wi-Fi.
The lounge additionally gives à-la-carte pricing for the sleeping pods, showers, and garments steaming.
Conclusion
Arrivals lounges present travellers with a spot to unwind, get refreshed, and do a bit of labor after a protracted flight.
Lots of the lounges provide refreshments, which vary from very modest choices to high-end eating experiences, and most lounges present bathe suites to assist revitalize you earlier than the subsequent a part of your journey.
The following time you journey, think about wanting in as to whether your vacation spot airport has an arrivals lounge, as it may be an effective way to decompress after your flight.
