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-   -   Airport lounges have gone from bad to worse (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shifting-gears/273635-airport-lounges-have-gone-bad-worse-3.html)

This! When a dosa costs ₹500 and a filter coffee more than ₹100 (Bangalore airport, I am looking at you) us value conscious desis will naturally gravitate to the VFM option, even if that means standing in a long queue and barely getting to use the lounge for 20 minutes.

No offence to anyone but I feel this thread has so many elitist posts, surprising! You chose to live in a country of 1.38bn population of your own accord with one of the fastest growing economies and complain that no more than 10 people can access a ‘premium lounge’ so that remaining 1000 passengers sleep in chairs like railway stations. You ain’t afraid of what westerners will think at this picture of an airport?

And what’s with all this rant for people lounging for cheap free food seriously? Do all the weekly 4 days international business class travellers here PAY for your complimentary hotel breakfasts because you won’t eat anything free? Maybe for 1% of the ‘elite’ business travellers paying 400 bucks for a samosa or a coffee won’t pinch because you will proceed to claim the bills but for the 99% regular travellers boarding with small kids running and screaming and without a reimbursement option, YES FREE FOOD AT LOUNGE WILL SATISFY HUNGER PANGS.

Due to my work nature I have had the experience to visit 28 countries and counting; on that experience, I am flabbergasted how anyone feels the pathetic Heathrow, dirty JFK, stinking Tokyo or non existent European lounges themselves are better in standard to some of our really good ones at Blr or Mumbai. Don’t even get me started on airline lounges like BA.

We are definitely getting way better than all the facilities at old legacy countries and even better, able to get people come in with either free or paid access.

PS; Hope next someone doesn’t start a post that his or her Beemer is getting fuel from same shell bunk as an Etios cabbie because he has a shell rewards credit card. Own a petrol bunk, maybe?

Most of people will travel economy class but want to be treated on priority. And feel bad when others get similar treatment. That too based on some premium cards offerings which have no value in real life.

And in the same breath, we say outsiders ruled us for no fault of ours.

Agree, this thread reeks of elitism and seems to be in very poor taste. Rich people want others to not have access to what they have basically

I was thinking the same thing (see my post above).

In a country of 1.4 Billion people, only about 20 Million could afford an international trip in 2022. That works out to about 1.4%. I do not know how many of these were business travelers or how many had one of the more "premium" credit cards, but I am willing to bet that the fraction would be around 1% of the 1.4%. I call those who fall into this category the 1% of the 1% (of which I am 1). Most BHPians, by virtue of their average level of education and income/wealth, would also qualify.

I understand why airlines and CC companies would like to limit lounge access to a small handful of their customers, but for us (a very privileged few) to make an issue of it comes across as elitist.

Sure, the lounges have become more crowded, but that is the case in any part of India that has "public" access. It is India. We are one of the more densely populated nations on Earth. Expect a crowd wherever you go, and be thankful if you are so privileged that you get the option of sanctuary because of your lucky station in life.

I also agree that in most areas of hospitality (be it hotels or lounges), India offers a better experience than S.E. Asia, which again provides a better experience than Europe or the US or any of the " developed " nations.

Disclaimer: I am one of the lucky 1% of 1%.

I'm sorry but this entire thread reeks of elitism and I don't think that is fair. Comparing airport lounges to fish markets and what not! What are we going to do gatekeeping an airport lounge? Our economy is one of the fastest growing in the world, and the amount of disposable income in the hands of individuals is also increasing; not to mention the willingness to spend. All of this in turn stimulates the economy, so I am so surprised so many of us feel so intensely about this.

Those who use the lounges have the money to pay for the tickets like you do, and their banks provide them with the access, why shouldn't they avail the facility? Quite a deplorable thought process if you ask me. It is after-all a mere airport lounge.

We live in a democracy!

I have stopped using the airport lounges for at least 5 years now, the boarding gates in most cases are much more comfortable than the lounges which is more or less a fish market. Plus, the pandemic put the fear of God in me, the virus took me to the pearly gates, before deciding it's not my time yet. When it comes to crowded places and buffet counters, I have gotten obnoxiously careful, so much so, when travelling on business I have stopped reserving hotel rooms with buffet breakfast and eat out. And when travelling with family am at the counters as early as 7AM :D.

This is just blatant Gatekeeping. Think of this the other way, a student(me btw) or a young professional travelling in a plane is a dream for many. It is simply a luxury. Now imagine you get a card ( I have a SBI Platinum Debit Card for free ) for as low as a few hundred rupees. This immediately makes it worth it if you have food even once per year. It save you a lot of money for the free food. You look forward to go there early to eat 1 maybe 2 meals of the day so that you can save the extra money for other expenses such as last mile travel. It really helps us that we get the opportunity to do so. Sorry, not sorry

My basic understanding from an economic perspective is that allowing more people versus less needs strong finance reason to support either of the options.

From a premiumization perspective, if there can be business, economy and premium economy seats, the lounge can also have the same hierarchy or separation. Either ways, the balance sheet will dictate the business model.

Maybe this lounge business is finding its feet for the optimized business model.

Nice post! When I started my travel 25 yrs ago I was always keen to be in the Emirates lounge! Both in Dubai and Mumbai! Those were the best of times where the quality of the lounge was preserved!

Fast forward to current, I personally feel that the lounges of today at both international and domestic terminals (india) need a serious makeover. Firstly the crowd as the general mass feels they can gorge on anything by paying INR 2!! The way the plates are stuffed and the quantum of food wastage speaks volumes. Secondly the loud talking, jarring ringtones and listening to videos on full volume without an iota of care for fellow “loungians” rl:

During my recent travel within india I’ve avoided the lounge facility like a plague!! I’ve found solace in walking between gates while catching up on a web series or sitting at a gate not so far away from my boarding gate and reading a nice book!

Bye bye lounges till we roll back to earlier times !

Those of you saying this thread reeks elitism, here are my questions:
1) Would you be okay if AC coaches are allotted to all at the rates of passenger class ticket, without any reservations and you have to fight for your seat?
2) Would you be okay if Taj were to open their gates at the rates of Oyo room?
3) How do you feel when can't buy a bottle of clean water, because its out of stock and you have to either stay thirsty or drink from the tap in a bus stop?
4) Can you imagine how it would be if street vendors are allowed on express ways and toll roads because they cannot afford highway rental?

I can name 100 such examples and each one of us will have a tipping point and cannot take anything beyond. That line may be airport lounge for some, unreserved trains for another and so on. We homo sapiens are not living under the laws of nature, where fittest shall survive and all are born equals.

In this unequal world, everyone aspire to be something higher than what they actually are / have born with. So if it is absolutely ok for a free credit card holder to aspire and get lounge access, why is it ethically wrong and heinous for an well to do person to expect a peaceful place to eat, rest and relax? Afterall, for all you know he / she may be a CEO of a company who is enabling thousands of employees to apply for that 'free no annual fee' credit card!

Now at this exact point, socialism enters the chat. This is where the government should step in and provide certain basic amenities for a dignified life. Is it not possible to provide a decent mode of transportation with clean seats without A/C, so that rich can have exclusivity of AC coaches and not so rich can still go to places not being treated like a rat in a garbage? I don't want pasta or a pizza at Rs. 10, at the same time, I feel cheated and 1-2 tear also may drop if food stalls in airport charges Rs. 250 for a plate. Atleast in Bangalore airport, nandini shop is selling flavored drinks at MRP (not the jacked up MRP like shopping malls).

What we are seeing on this thread today is the result, the cause is unequal society, corrupt people, unempathetic behavior, unscientific temper, greed etc.

As Erich Fromm said "Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction"

One can extend this argument to many walks of life, not just airport lounges. There is a class with spending power but with moderate, sober habits which seeks occasional indulgence and a classy ambience with "behavioural etiquettes" for the lack of better words, but instead sees people displaying less than polished social habits , but have to be tolerated simply because they can afford to be in that situation. I have seen so many cases of tourists behaving obnoxiously loud at resorts where one pays to enjoy a classy quiet and elegant ambience. I recently made a complaint about this at Mahabaleshwar to the resort management, but they are obviously helpless because such people have money and can afford to stay there.

How are any of these questions relevant to the discussion here? You are arguing with a straw man argument, and I don't think that is fair.
1) If I can pay and get in (like I would for an AC train seat), or if my bank and the airport in collaboration allows me the access, why shouldn't I? Nobody is fighting for anything here, I am not taking a first class seat for free. Even train stations have lounges exclusive to people with AC tickets, but even those you can pay a certain amount and rest in there.
2) Nobody is asking them to. If I can't afford Taj, I'll go to Sterling or something. I will go to the places I can afford and I have access to.
3) Water is a basic need. Are you saying only the wealthy should have access to bottled water, something that costs only 20 rupees? Are you going to gatekeep people from being able to buy bottled water? Why do you feel like you deserve that bottle of water more than another person who is paying the same amount you are?
4) Have you not seen fruit and flower vendors at toll gates? Also how is that relevant here exactly?

I get what you're trying to say with how being wealthy opens up possibilities for a more comfortable lifestyle, and all that is fair. But it is upsetting to see that people are complaining about others having access to things only they did up until now. You have lost the exclusivity that came with it, and sharing it seems to hurt quite a few egos. I am sorry for being blunt, but getting this worked up because more people use airport lounges now and you have lost your peace of mind as a result is upsetting. There will always be more exclusive lounges, nobody is stopping you from going there.

Stopped using domestic lounges after covid. Would go and take a seat at a quite place near the departure gate. Not really interested in witnessing people fighting at the Dosa or Omlette counters, unattended kids howling, people putting the mobile phones on speakers and listening to music in these Lounges. The point is that credit card that gives a free entry to such Lounges is not AI enabled to induce common sense and etiquette in people. And to be honest, same is applicable to roads, resorts etc.

I think we are digressing.

Lounges were a desirable facility with a fair amount of exclusivity. Some premium lounges are still so.

However, off late the accessibility of these lounges have increased significantly due to credit card tie-ups and that has brought down the desirability factor and also the quality levels of the lounge itself. What do lounge service providers do when they choke with crowds? The food quality in many of these busy lounges is pathetic and in general the service levels are like—“its free, so this is what we can do”.

While some of us maybe ok with this new environment, few of us may not. That’s fine, its a personal choice. There have been times when i have used the lounge and availed the free food, cause i thought it was clean. But in my case i have usually visited the lounge only when i have had more than 2-3 hours to kill at the airport, else i have never bothered about the lounge. After seeing the massive crowds and the below par food quality and service levels, i have now stopped entering these lounges. Does that make me elitist? No way! Its a personal choice. Should we think lower of people continuing to use the lounge for free? Not really. But i wish for the sake of cleanliness and overall quality, the lounges curtail usage, maybe some way or the other. If they dont do this and with the increase in air traffic, lounges would lose meaning of the very word.