Very Important People. put the acronym VIP has the power to sensualize a bunch of service. A feature that has long been applied to lounges at airports, not infrequently, cramped boarding areas boasting depressing design and passable food at best.
Obviously, the big airlines realized that in order to do justice to their best customers, something had to change. call them vip lounges was a way of signaling that inside there would be a more charming decor, a more welcoming gastronomy and more attractive activities.
For those who don’t have these spots as the first stop of a long trip, we’ve gathered tips from great experts to reveal what they can hide.
“I have two favorites: the one from Air France in terminal 2F of Charles de Gaulle airport, in Paris, and Turkish Airlines in the beautiful airport of Istanbul”, says Shoichi Iwashita creator of the website luxury travel simonde.com.br
“The first one has everything we expect from a business class lounge: showers, Clarins spa, reserved space for rest, restaurant and a beautiful and wide view of one of the landing and takeoffs”, he says.
“In addition, it was entirely designed by the design office Jouin Manku, one of my favorites. The same for Alain Ducasse at Plaza Athénée, the Van Cleef & Arpels store in Place Vendôme, and even the Vélib public bicycles in Paris”, details the expert.
There, to relax, you can enjoy a detox area with snacks and healthy drinks, sun loungers and the Traveler Spa, an express 20-minute beauty facial. Now, it is worth saying that there is, yes, more luxury than that.
At the same airport, Air France’s four first-class occupants have unrestricted access to the very exclusive La Première, where they check-in and passport control and where they can enjoy a library of art books and à la carte menus. food and wine created respectively by M. Ducasse and Paolo Basso, already voted best sommelier in the world.
The aforementioned Turkish space, in turn, has “cute things like many teas from the Rize region, Turkish coffee and an unbelievably beautiful children’s area. But what I really like is that the food is freshly prepared, in several stations with chefs and that makes all the difference, even more so when you eat so poorly in most VIP rooms around the world”, reinforces Shoichi.
It is worth mentioning that within the 5,600 square meters of this Turkish Airlines Business Lounge there are also private suites, an exhibition in partnership with Istanbul Modern (the Turkish city’s modern art museum) and even a new flight simulator that allows passengers to discover Istanbul without leaving the airport.
When he was an executive at the technology company Huawei, Marcelo Pan made so many trips to China that he joined the sommelier team for VIP lounges.
In these forays, he took the opportunity to explore the country of his ancestors and much of Asia, and concluded that his favorite lounge there is The Pier by Cathay Pacific.
“Everything has been thought of down to the smallest detail. An impeccable service. You feel at home. The decor is light, well lit, the sofas are extremely comfortable and the incredible drink selection is dangerous!”
However, the lawyer makes a point of mentioning the company’s VIP lounge Qatar .
In Doha, Qatar, the Al Safwa First , the world’s first 7-star lounge, “impresses: you go up the stairs and come across an immense water fountain, Islamic art objects, beautiful furniture. The huge restaurant surprises you every time, whether with Arab cuisine or an impeccable selection of sushi and champagne.”
The chic location is also home to the QSpa, with exclusive treatment rooms and even a Jacuzzi, as well as a full business center, movie theater and a private area for families.
“But it’s not just the glamour, you know? One of the most memorable experiences for me was a British Airways gin tasting at Heathrow,” says Pan.
In fact, the lounge in the capital of England does not lack refinement, no: in addition to the high standard of cocktails and spirits, it has à la carte menus paired with wines and champagnes and Forty Winks, a space with capsules for naps. .
Mileage Record Accumulator, Sergio Timerman he doesn’t just collect more than a hundred stamps in his passport and 9 million airline miles. Doctor in cardiology, director of the Laboratory of Training and Simulation in Cardiovascular Emergencies and coordinator of Incor’s Rapid Response Team is, consequently, an authority in VIP zones.
“Lounge is the extension of good or bad service from an airline, where you really see the concern for the passenger”, he believes.
“In the UAE and Asia they are almost six star hotels and it’s unfair to compare because the concept is completely different, but I can assure you that American Airlines doesn’t let frequent flyers down – it gives you access to a lounge inside the lounge”.
Dr. Timerman refers to the Flagship Lounges in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami and New York, which feature a premium cocktail bar, signature paired tasting menus, comfortable bath rooms, relaxation therapies and “one great thing that is be received in the city where you will be staying at the door of the plane”.
“It’s a caress after a long flight, especially when you need to be willing to go straight to work”, justifies the traveling doctor.
In addition, Sergio makes a point of mentioning Brazil: “Gol has a very welcoming VIP room, which evokes Brazilianness. Before the pandemic, she served something simple and wonderful, hot pork, hot dog from A Casa do Porco, Jefferson and Janaina Rueda, who are considered the best chefs in the country. These are gestures that make a big difference.”
Source: CNN Brasil
