For any business traveller getting off a red-eye flight, an arrival lounge can be something of a sanctuary: a place to catch a couple of hours’ rest, freshen up and grab a bite before a busy day ahead.
These facilities are a relatively new trend, and certainly not as widespread as departure lounges. After all, the majority of travellers still prefer to leave the airport as soon as they’ve passed through immigration and collected their baggage.
While some popular air hubs such as Hong Kong International Airport and Singapore Changi Airport offer an impressive range of arrival lounges, the same cannot be said of Seoul Incheon, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, or Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta.
However, the facilities typically offered by arrival lounges are growing in popularity, particularly with business travellers who need to make the transition from plane to meeting without stopping. These include typical offerings such as food and drink, magazines and showers, and more specialised services such as shirt-pressing, or even a wet shave at the Etihad Airways Arrivals Lounge in Abu Dhabi.
Arrival lounges also find favour with the price-wary demographic that favours travelling with low-cost carriers (LCCs), as the most civilised time slots are typically taken up by full-service airlines. This means that many flights offered by LCCs are either late night or early morning services. Service companies such as Plaza Premium Lounge have capitalised on this lucrative market segment by introducing pay-in arrival lounges that are open to any traveller regardless of airline or cabin class.
With arrival lounges becoming increasingly popular, business travellers can expect to see more of them in the future. Here is our pick of some of the best arrival lounges worth checking into the next time you step off the plane.
PLAZA PREMIUM LOUNGE
WHERE Terminal 2, London Heathrow Airport
OPENING HOURS 5am-11pm
ENTRY INFO £25 (US$39) per person per hour, or £15 (US$23) for use of the lounge’s shower facilities.
FACILITIES Food and drink, wifi, shower facilities, spa, newspapers and magazines, TV, charging stations
INFO Located just next to customs in the arrival hall, the facility opened in December 2014. The first independent arrival lounge in Terminal 2 is open to all travellers, regardless of airline or travel class. The spa massage treatments are targeted to combat travel ailments.
plaza-network.com
ETIHAD AIRWAYS ARRIVALS LOUNGE
WHERE Terminal 1, Abu Dhabi International Airport
OPENING HOURS Open 24 hours
ENTRY INFO First and business class passengers only
FACILITIES Food and drink, shower facilities, clothes steaming, wet shaves, complimentary connectivity options, business centre
INFO Located just after customs, the lounge boasts a convenient location and offers eligible guests an area to freshen up. Check out the new “Shave” concept, where male guests can have a complimentary wet shave from qualified barbers. There are also ten individual shower units and a complimentary clothes steaming service area where garments are ready in ten minutes.
etihad.com
CATHAY PACIFIC ‘THE ARRIVAL’ LOUNGE
WHERE Central passage connecting Terminal 1 and 2, Hong Kong International Airport
OPENING HOURS 5am---12am
ENTRY INFO First and business class passengers, Gold tier or above members of Marco Polo Club, and Oneworld Emerald cardholders
FACILITIES Food and drink, shower facilities, workstations with broadband internet access, wifi, TV, international/local newspapers and magazines
INFO Cathay Pacific prides itself on its lounges – just take a look at The Bridge. The Arrival first opened in 2013, and is the perfect place for passengers flying into Hong Kong on the red-eye flights to catch a few hours’ rest, freshen up, or grab a bite before starting the day.
cathaypacific.com
LUFTHANSA WELCOME LOUNGE
WHERE Terminal 1, Concourse B, Frankfurt Airport
OPENING HOURS 5.30am-12.30pm
ENTRY INFO First class, Miles & More HON Circle, Senator, Frequent Traveller card members arriving on long-haul flights operated by Lufthansa
FACILITIES Food and drink, shower facilities, suit pressing service, wifi
INFO Lufthansa’s Welcome Lounge is reserved for the airline’s most valued customers, and everything in the facility is top notch. There are 28 shower suites, each equipped with powerful showerheads and stocked with L’Occitane toiletries. For those feeling peckish, a hot and cold buffet is available.
lufthansa.com
TURKISH AIRLINES ‘ISTANBUL ARRIVAL LOUNGE’
WHERE International Terminal, Istanbul Ataturk Airport
OPENING HOURS 5am-1pm
ENTRY INFO Business class passengers, or Miles&Smiles Elite Plus members
FACILITIES Food and drink, wifi, shower facilities, ironing service, charging station, newspapers and magazines
INFO The lounge measures 250 sqm and contains 38 seats, as well as showers and changing rooms. Designed to welcome passengers from morning arrivals that are too early to check into their hotels, it is open daily from 5am to 1pm, and stops welcoming guests at 12.30pm. Facilities include “media walls” displaying useful flight information, and TV shows.
turkishairlines.com
BRITISH AIRWAYS GALLERIES ARRIVALS LOUNGE
WHERE Terminal 5, London Heathrow Airport
OPENING HOURS 5am to 2pm
ENTRY INFO First or Club World, Gold Executive Club member arriving on a BA long-haul flight
FACILITIES Food and drink, shower facilities, spa, wifi
INFO BA has teamed up with British spa and skincare brand Elemis to offer complimentary 15-minute treatments to its premium customers. Pamper yourself after your flight with a deep clean aviator facial, or a muscle-ease power back massage. Male guests can opt for a first class power shave developed by shave guru Richard Anthony, while women can book in for a Sky High Brow Shape or Jet Set Power Polish.
britishairways.com
SWISS ARRIVAL LOUNGE
WHERE Terminal B, Zurich Airport
OPENING HOURS 6am-1pm
ENTRY INFO First and business class Swiss and Lufthansa passengers, HON Circle, Miles & More Senator and Frequent Traveller
FACILITIES Food and drinks, internet stations, shower suites
INFO At 770 sqm, the Swiss Arrival Lounge is second only to the Swiss Business Lounge in size. With 86 seats, there’s plenty of room for the airline’s premium travellers. Internet stations are also available, but it’s the 20 shower rooms that will probably prove the biggest draw for incoming passengers.
swiss.com
THE HAVEN BY JETQUAY
WHERE Terminal 3, Singapore Changi Airport
OPENING HOURS Open 24 hours
ENTRY INFO From S$35 (US$26) for two hours 10am-10pm, or S$41 (US$31) 10pm-10am
FACILITIES Food and drink, shower and nap facilities, meeting rooms, business centre
INFO The highlight here has to be the 18 nap rooms, where guests can purchase a nap room package for S$71/US$53 for three hours, extendable at an hourly rate of S$15/US$11. The nap room package includes a shower, meal and lounge access. The two meeting rooms can accommodate up to ten guests when connected. Meeting rooms are available to hire, starting from S$47 (US$35) including light refreshments.
thehaven.com.sg
AIR FRANCE’S THE ARRIVALS LOUNGE
WHERE Terminal 2C, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
OPENING HOURS 5am-2pm
ENTRY INFO La Premiere and business class customers, Flying Blue Gold and Platinum cardholders, and Skyteam Elite Plus members. Other passengers can enter for a fee of 50 euro (US$56) before 10am, or 35 euro (US$39) after 10am.
FACILITIES Food and drink, wifi, shower facilities, ironing service, newspapers and magazines
INFO This lounge may be starting to show its age, but it’s still your best bet in CDG Airport of finding a good place to shower and freshen up after a long flight, and the complimentary shirt pressing service is particularly welcome. Food and seating are basic, but there are plenty of charging stations.
airfrance.com
ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS ARRIVAL LOUNGE
WHERE Terminal 1, South Wing, Narita International Airport
OPENING HOURS 6.30am-7.30pm
ENTRY INFO First and business class customers, ANA Diamond & Platinum Service members, ANA Super Flyers Card members. Applies only to passengers arriving on ANA operated international flights
FACILITIES Food and drink, shower facilities, spa services, smoking rooms, internet terminals, newspapers and magazines
INFO Located immediately after immigration and just above the train station, the lounge is easily accessible for inbound travellers. It can be quite crowded as it doubles as a departure lounge for ANA travellers connecting onto domestic flights. The shower suites are well maintained and equipped with bath amenities. The food may be basic, but staff are helpful and courteous.
ana.co.jp
However, the facilities typically offered by arrival lounges are growing in popularity, particularly with business travellers who need to make the transition from plane to meeting without stopping. These include typical offerings such as food and drink, magazines and showers, and more specialised services such as shirt-pressing, or even a wet shave at the Etihad Airways Arrivals Lounge in Abu Dhabi.
Arrival lounges also find favour with the price-wary demographic that favours travelling with low-cost carriers (LCCs), as the most civilised time slots are typically taken up by full-service airlines. This means that many flights offered by LCCs are either late night or early morning services. Service companies such as Plaza Premium Lounge have capitalised on this lucrative market segment by introducing pay-in arrival lounges that are open to any traveller regardless of airline or cabin class.
With arrival lounges becoming increasingly popular, business travellers can expect to see more of them in the future. Here is our pick of some of the best arrival lounges worth checking into the next time you step off the plane.
PLAZA PREMIUM LOUNGE
WHERE Terminal 2, London Heathrow Airport
OPENING HOURS 5am-11pm
ENTRY INFO £25 (US$39) per person per hour, or £15 (US$23) for use of the lounge’s shower facilities.
FACILITIES Food and drink, wifi, shower facilities, spa, newspapers and magazines, TV, charging stations
INFO Located just next to customs in the arrival hall, the facility opened in December 2014. The first independent arrival lounge in Terminal 2 is open to all travellers, regardless of airline or travel class. The spa massage treatments are targeted to combat travel ailments.
plaza-network.com
ETIHAD AIRWAYS ARRIVALS LOUNGE
WHERE Terminal 1, Abu Dhabi International Airport
OPENING HOURS Open 24 hours
ENTRY INFO First and business class passengers only
FACILITIES Food and drink, shower facilities, clothes steaming, wet shaves, complimentary connectivity options, business centre
INFO Located just after customs, the lounge boasts a convenient location and offers eligible guests an area to freshen up. Check out the new “Shave” concept, where male guests can have a complimentary wet shave from qualified barbers. There are also ten individual shower units and a complimentary clothes steaming service area where garments are ready in ten minutes.
etihad.com
CATHAY PACIFIC ‘THE ARRIVAL’ LOUNGE
WHERE Central passage connecting Terminal 1 and 2, Hong Kong International Airport
OPENING HOURS 5am---12am
ENTRY INFO First and business class passengers, Gold tier or above members of Marco Polo Club, and Oneworld Emerald cardholders
FACILITIES Food and drink, shower facilities, workstations with broadband internet access, wifi, TV, international/local newspapers and magazines
INFO Cathay Pacific prides itself on its lounges – just take a look at The Bridge. The Arrival first opened in 2013, and is the perfect place for passengers flying into Hong Kong on the red-eye flights to catch a few hours’ rest, freshen up, or grab a bite before starting the day.
cathaypacific.com
LUFTHANSA WELCOME LOUNGE
WHERE Terminal 1, Concourse B, Frankfurt Airport
OPENING HOURS 5.30am-12.30pm
ENTRY INFO First class, Miles & More HON Circle, Senator, Frequent Traveller card members arriving on long-haul flights operated by Lufthansa
FACILITIES Food and drink, shower facilities, suit pressing service, wifi
INFO Lufthansa’s Welcome Lounge is reserved for the airline’s most valued customers, and everything in the facility is top notch. There are 28 shower suites, each equipped with powerful showerheads and stocked with L’Occitane toiletries. For those feeling peckish, a hot and cold buffet is available.
lufthansa.com
TURKISH AIRLINES ‘ISTANBUL ARRIVAL LOUNGE’
WHERE International Terminal, Istanbul Ataturk Airport
OPENING HOURS 5am-1pm
ENTRY INFO Business class passengers, or Miles&Smiles Elite Plus members
FACILITIES Food and drink, wifi, shower facilities, ironing service, charging station, newspapers and magazines
INFO The lounge measures 250 sqm and contains 38 seats, as well as showers and changing rooms. Designed to welcome passengers from morning arrivals that are too early to check into their hotels, it is open daily from 5am to 1pm, and stops welcoming guests at 12.30pm. Facilities include “media walls” displaying useful flight information, and TV shows.
turkishairlines.com
BRITISH AIRWAYS GALLERIES ARRIVALS LOUNGE
WHERE Terminal 5, London Heathrow Airport
OPENING HOURS 5am to 2pm
ENTRY INFO First or Club World, Gold Executive Club member arriving on a BA long-haul flight
FACILITIES Food and drink, shower facilities, spa, wifi
INFO BA has teamed up with British spa and skincare brand Elemis to offer complimentary 15-minute treatments to its premium customers. Pamper yourself after your flight with a deep clean aviator facial, or a muscle-ease power back massage. Male guests can opt for a first class power shave developed by shave guru Richard Anthony, while women can book in for a Sky High Brow Shape or Jet Set Power Polish.
britishairways.com
SWISS ARRIVAL LOUNGE
WHERE Terminal B, Zurich Airport
OPENING HOURS 6am-1pm
ENTRY INFO First and business class Swiss and Lufthansa passengers, HON Circle, Miles & More Senator and Frequent Traveller
FACILITIES Food and drinks, internet stations, shower suites
INFO At 770 sqm, the Swiss Arrival Lounge is second only to the Swiss Business Lounge in size. With 86 seats, there’s plenty of room for the airline’s premium travellers. Internet stations are also available, but it’s the 20 shower rooms that will probably prove the biggest draw for incoming passengers.
swiss.com
THE HAVEN BY JETQUAY
WHERE Terminal 3, Singapore Changi Airport
OPENING HOURS Open 24 hours
ENTRY INFO From S$35 (US$26) for two hours 10am-10pm, or S$41 (US$31) 10pm-10am
FACILITIES Food and drink, shower and nap facilities, meeting rooms, business centre
INFO The highlight here has to be the 18 nap rooms, where guests can purchase a nap room package for S$71/US$53 for three hours, extendable at an hourly rate of S$15/US$11. The nap room package includes a shower, meal and lounge access. The two meeting rooms can accommodate up to ten guests when connected. Meeting rooms are available to hire, starting from S$47 (US$35) including light refreshments.
thehaven.com.sg
AIR FRANCE’S THE ARRIVALS LOUNGE
WHERE Terminal 2C, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
OPENING HOURS 5am-2pm
ENTRY INFO La Premiere and business class customers, Flying Blue Gold and Platinum cardholders, and Skyteam Elite Plus members. Other passengers can enter for a fee of 50 euro (US$56) before 10am, or 35 euro (US$39) after 10am.
FACILITIES Food and drink, wifi, shower facilities, ironing service, newspapers and magazines
INFO This lounge may be starting to show its age, but it’s still your best bet in CDG Airport of finding a good place to shower and freshen up after a long flight, and the complimentary shirt pressing service is particularly welcome. Food and seating are basic, but there are plenty of charging stations.
airfrance.com
ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS ARRIVAL LOUNGE
WHERE Terminal 1, South Wing, Narita International Airport
OPENING HOURS 6.30am-7.30pm
ENTRY INFO First and business class customers, ANA Diamond & Platinum Service members, ANA Super Flyers Card members. Applies only to passengers arriving on ANA operated international flights
FACILITIES Food and drink, shower facilities, spa services, smoking rooms, internet terminals, newspapers and magazines
INFO Located immediately after immigration and just above the train station, the lounge is easily accessible for inbound travellers. It can be quite crowded as it doubles as a departure lounge for ANA travellers connecting onto domestic flights. The shower suites are well maintained and equipped with bath amenities. The food may be basic, but staff are helpful and courteous.
ana.co.jp 
