Emirates has announced that it will be reopening more than 120 lounges in over 20 airports by February. Passengers travelling in premium cabins as well as Skywards members in select membership tiers will have access to the premium lounge experience.
Emirates, which says it has resumed operations to over 90% of its pre-pandemic network, currently flies to more than 120 destinations worldwide via its hub in Dubai. Customers travelling in First Class and Business Class will be able to complement their travel experience with Emirates’ signature premium lounge service at over 20 airports in its network, comprising popular destinations across Europe, Africa, US and Asia.
In the UK, Emirates has already reopened its airport lounges in London Heathrow, Birmingham, and Manchester, while the lounges in London Gatwick and Glasgow will welcome customers in January 2022.
In Europe, Emirates lounges in Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Dusseldorf, in addition to lounges in Milan, Rome and Paris have already reopened for passengers.
Meanwhile in the US, travellers on Emirates flights can access the premium lounge experience at Los Angeles International Airport, Boston Logan International Airport as well as New York JFK, with Emirates’ San Francisco lounge to re-start its services in February 2022.
An additional Emirates Lounge, to serve passengers travelling through Cairo, has resumed operations earlier, while premium class customers and eligible Skywards members will soon be able to relax and dine in its lounges in Colombo and Bangkok prior to flights.
At Emirates’ exclusive Terminal 3 at Dubai International airport, Emirates’ premium class passengers and eligible Skywards members are also able to enjoy the airline’s premium lounge service at five of its dedicated lounges, which are now fully operational.
In Concourse B of Terminal 3, both Emirates’ First Class Lounge, offering a private Lounge experience for customers flying in First Class, as well as its Business Class Lounge, have reopened with full-service offerings. Passengers flying in Business Class in addition to Skywards Platinum and Gold members can look forward to enjoying gourmet dining with premium beverages for up to four hours before departing on flights or utilising the complimentary Wi-Fi. The new menus also include vegan, vegetarian and healthier options to cater to passengers’ preferences.
Emirates’ First Class and Business Class Lounges in Concourse A have also resumed operations in the East Wing and, in the West Wing, the First Class and Business Class Lounges are set to reopen for customers in the coming weeks. Furthermore, plans are underway to ensure two Lounges in Concourse C are fully operational by early 2022 to provide an even more rewarding experience.
Emirates’ First Class passengers and Platinum Skywards members can enjoy complimentary access for the first passenger and up to three additional guests, including one adult and two children under the age of 17 in the airline’s lounge facilities. Before flights, passengers in Concourse A can enjoy gourmet dishes prepared by chefs in show kitchens, enjoy a drink at the Cigar Bar or let expert sommeliers guide them on the best vintages to indulge in, at Le Clos Wine Cellar. The lounges also feature spa services and shower facilities, a dedicated duty-free shopping area in First Class and a Concierge Duty-Free service in Business Class. Customers enjoying the lounge facilities will also have direct access to boarding gates at the airline’s dedicated A380 hub.
In addition to Emirates’ exclusive lounge experience in Dubai and select airports within its network, First Class and Business Class passengers in addition to Emirates Skywards Platinum and Gold members can also enjoy access to 96 partner lounges across its network and benefit from their services before flights, with an additional 15 partner lounges to be phased in. Customers can check availability of lounges before their flights and eligibility requirements for complimentary or discounted access.
All Emirates lounges have resumed operations after stringent health and safety measures have been put in place to ensure the wellbeing of passengers. Furthermore, Emirates’ airport services teams around its network have worked closely with partner lounge service providers to ensure specific protocols are met to provide services to its premium and frequent flyer customers. Depending on specific local guidelines in each market, either buffet service or a la carte dining is offered to customers and only contactless menus are available via one’s smartphone. Special seating arrangements have been made to ensure social distancing guidelines are met.
This year’s co-located FTE EMEA/FTE Ancillary show, taking place on 7-9 June in Dublin, will feature a dedicated Lounge Innovation Forum, designed to provide inspiration on what we can expect from the airport lounge in the future. Stay tuned for more information coming up in the next few weeks. Visit the FTE EMEA/FTE Ancillary website here.
