Flight Delays Might Not Be So Bad in a New Airport Lounge

The last time I was in an airport, it was Dallas Ft. Worth International, one of the largest and busiest airports in the world. While waiting for my flight, I wandered around a terminal that included many gourmet restaurants and luxe boutiques. It occurred to me that we used to be satisfied, or at least acclimated to the fact that one could expect nothing from airport terminals but hard plastic chairs, fried food and stale coffee. Times have changed, and now many airports feature futuristic, luxurious venues for air travelers to lounge.

Famed chef Gordon Ramsay recently opened Plane Food (cheeky title) at London’s Heathrow Airport. Some menu items include Sevruga caviar, a selection of English cheeses and braised lamb. He even offers takeaway food for travelers to enjoy onboard.

At Air France's L'Espace Premiere at Charles de Gaulle, travelers enjoy a relaxation area with reclining chaise lounges, showers, and Clarins massages.They can also sip on wine and champagne. At departure, an agent accompanies travelers to a dedicated boarding gate, and a private Mercedes sedan then escorts them to their plane.

Sometimes, the lounge is so amazing that it’s actually separate from the rest of the airport. The Lufthansa Lounge in the Frankfurt Airport is an enormous, freestanding haven for stressed travelers. Just for starters, imagine a cigar lounge, a bar serving 80 different whiskey labels and private glass-doored office units. Feeling a bit tired? The lounge includes a rest area with leather daybeds and alarm clocks. Maybe you would like to freshen up? The Lufthansa lounge has bathrooms with monsoon showers.

These fantasy lounges aren’t in every airport, certainly. However, they are definitely a hot trend.  And just think - lengthy flight delays used to be a major annoyance. Perhaps now, it’s simply an opportunity to enjoy a second glass of champagne while you wait.