What Makes a "Good" Lounge? My Personal Criteria and Rating System
After visiting 50+ airport lounges, I've developed my own criteria for what makes a lounge "good." Here's my honest, personal rating system based on comfort, food, atmosphere, amenities, and accessibility.
What Makes a "Good" Lounge? My Personal Criteria and Rating System
Everyone has different standards for what makes a good airport lounge. Some people care most about food. Others prioritize quiet spaces. Some want luxury, others want functionality. After visiting 50+ lounges, I've developed my own personal criteria—a rating system that reflects what actually matters to me as a frequent traveler.
This isn't a universal standard. It's my personal take, based on my experiences, preferences, and what I value most. But maybe it'll help you figure out what you value in a lounge too. According to research from J.D. Power's airport lounge satisfaction studies, different travelers prioritize different aspects of the lounge experience, with comfort, food quality, and staff service being the most commonly cited factors [1]. Understanding your own priorities helps you choose lounges that match your needs and maximize your satisfaction.
What makes a "good" lounge is subjective, but understanding your personal criteria helps you find lounges that match your needs and maximize your satisfaction.
My Rating Categories: A Weighted System
I rate lounges on five key categories, each weighted differently based on what matters most to me. This weighted system reflects my priorities and helps me evaluate lounges consistently across different experiences.
Comfort (30%) - Can I actually relax here? This is my highest-weighted category because if I can't be comfortable, nothing else matters. Comfort includes seating quality, space, temperature, noise levels, and overall physical comfort.
Food & Beverages (25%) - Is the food actually good? Food quality significantly impacts my lounge experience, and I've learned that quality matters more than quantity. This category includes food quality, variety, coffee quality, and beverage options.
Atmosphere (20%) - Does it feel welcoming or stressful? The vibe of a lounge matters significantly, and atmosphere can make or break an experience. This includes the overall feel, design, energy, and cleanliness.
Amenities (15%) - What extras does it offer? While amenities are nice, they're not essential if the basics are good. This includes Wi-Fi, power outlets, business facilities, showers, and entertainment options.
Accessibility (10%) - How easy is it to get in and use? A great lounge that's hard to access loses value. This includes location, access process, capacity, and hours of operation.
1. Comfort (30% - Most Important)
This is my top priority. If I can't be comfortable, nothing else matters. Comfort affects my ability to work, relax, or simply wait without discomfort, making it the foundation of a good lounge experience.
What I Look For in Comfort
Seating Variety is essential because different activities require different seating types. I need options for work (desks with good lighting), relaxation (comfortable chairs or couches), and eating (tables with appropriate height). The best lounges offer multiple seating styles, allowing me to choose based on what I'm doing.
Comfortable chairs with good back support are non-negotiable. I've left lounges early because the seating was so uncomfortable I couldn't focus or relax. The best lounges invest in quality seating that provides proper support for extended sitting. Enough space that I don't feel cramped is also important—personal space matters, especially when you're trying to work or relax.
Quiet areas separate from social areas allow me to choose my environment based on my needs. Sometimes I want to work in quiet, other times I want to be in a more social area. The best lounges provide both options, allowing me to match my environment to my activity.
Space considerations significantly impact comfort. Not overcrowded lounges provide better experiences than packed ones, even if the packed lounge has better amenities. Room to move around without feeling confined is important, and personal space should be respected. I don't want to feel like I'm in a sardine can, even in a beautiful lounge.
Temperature & Air Quality affect comfort significantly. Comfortable temperature (not too hot or cold) is essential, and good air circulation prevents stuffiness. I've been in lounges that were beautifully designed but so stuffy I couldn't stay long. The best lounges maintain comfortable temperatures and good air quality throughout.
Noise Level impacts my ability to work or relax. Quiet enough to work or relax is essential, but not so quiet that awkward silence creates discomfort. Announcements at reasonable volume are important—I need to hear important information without being overwhelmed. The ability to find quiet corners when needed provides flexibility that enhances comfort.
Real Examples of Comfort Excellence and Failure
The best lounge I've been to for comfort was the Singapore Airlines Private Room. Multiple seating areas provided options for different activities, quiet zones allowed focused work, comfortable chairs supported extended sitting, and plenty of space prevented feeling cramped. I could work, relax, or eat without feeling uncomfortable, and the variety of seating options meant I could choose based on my needs.
The worst comfort experience was a Priority Pass lounge that was so overcrowded I couldn't find a seat, and when I did, it was a hard plastic chair with no back support. I left after 10 minutes because the discomfort made it impossible to work or relax. This experience reinforced that comfort is the foundation—without it, other amenities don't matter.
2. Food & Beverages (25%)
Good food can make a lounge. Bad food can break it. Food quality significantly impacts my lounge experience, and I've learned that quality matters more than quantity.
What I Look For in Food & Beverages
Quality Over Quantity is my philosophy. I'd rather have 5 good options than 20 mediocre ones. Fresh ingredients make a significant difference—you can taste when food is made with quality ingredients versus pre-packaged or processed options. Thoughtful preparation shows care and attention to detail, and food that actually tastes good is essential. Many lounges offer extensive buffets with mediocre food, but I'd prefer a smaller selection of well-executed dishes.
Variety matters, but within reason. Options for different dietary needs accommodate various preferences and restrictions. A mix of healthy and indulgent options provides choice based on mood and needs. Local or authentic options when possible add cultural value and are often better executed than generic international fare. Snacks available between meal times ensure I can find something to eat regardless of when I visit.
Coffee quality is particularly important to me. I'm a coffee snob, so this matters significantly. Fresh, quality coffee is essential—stale or poorly brewed coffee can ruin an otherwise good lounge experience. Multiple options (espresso, cappuccino, Americano) provide variety, and self-serve stations are a plus because I drink a lot of coffee and don't want to wait for service each time.
Beverages beyond coffee also matter. A good selection of non-alcoholic options accommodates different preferences, quality alcohol (if I'm drinking) adds value, fresh juices provide healthy options, and water readily available ensures hydration. The best lounges offer variety and quality across all beverage categories.
Real Examples of Food Excellence and Failure
The Qatar Airways Al Safwa First Lounge had the best food I've experienced. Everything was made to order, ingredients were fresh, and the quality was restaurant-level. I still think about that mezze platter months later. The attention to detail, quality of ingredients, and thoughtful preparation made every meal memorable.
The worst food experience was a lounge that had a massive buffet with 30+ options, but everything tasted like it had been sitting in a steam tray for hours. The food was bland, overcooked, and unappetizing. Quantity doesn't equal quality, and this experience reinforced that a few well-executed options beat many mediocre ones.
3. Atmosphere (20%)
The vibe matters. A lounge can have great amenities but feel cold and unwelcoming. Atmosphere significantly impacts my overall experience and desire to stay.
What I Look For in Atmosphere
Welcoming Feel is essential. Staff who are friendly and helpful create a positive atmosphere, while pretentious or exclusive-feeling environments make me uncomfortable. An inviting, not intimidating, atmosphere makes me want to stay and enjoy the experience. The best lounges feel welcoming regardless of how exclusive they are.
Design should be thoughtful, not just expensive. Functional design that serves the purpose is more valuable than beautiful but impractical design. Comfortable design that prioritizes usability over aesthetics creates better experiences. Design that feels intentional and well-planned shows care and attention to detail.
Energy should match the time and context. Calm but not dead energy allows relaxation without boredom. Professional but not stuffy energy accommodates work without feeling corporate. Relaxing but not boring energy provides comfort without monotony. The right balance for the time of day ensures the atmosphere matches traveler needs.
Cleanliness is fundamental to atmosphere. Clean and well-maintained spaces create positive impressions, tables cleared regularly show attention to detail, clean bathrooms are essential, and overall upkeep demonstrates care. The best lounges maintain high cleanliness standards consistently.
Real Examples of Atmosphere Excellence and Failure
The Delta Sky Club at JFK has a great atmosphere. It's welcoming, comfortable, and has the right energy. I always feel relaxed there, and the staff creates a positive environment. The design is functional and comfortable, and the overall vibe makes me want to stay longer.
A lounge I visited in Europe had beautiful design but felt cold and unwelcoming. The staff was unfriendly, and the overall vibe was off-putting. Great design, terrible atmosphere. This experience taught me that atmosphere matters more than aesthetics—a welcoming environment beats beautiful but cold design.
4. Amenities (15%)
Nice extras, but not essential if the basics are good. Amenities enhance the experience but don't compensate for poor comfort, food, or atmosphere.
What I Look For in Amenities
Wi-Fi should be fast and reliable, easy to connect without complicated processes, and have enough bandwidth for video calls. This should be a given, but it's not always. I've been in lounges where Wi-Fi was so slow I couldn't work, which defeats the purpose of having a quiet workspace.
Power Outlets are essential for modern travel. Plenty of outlets ensure I can charge devices, easy access means I don't have to crawl under furniture, outlets near seating areas are convenient, and USB ports are a plus. The best lounges have outlets everywhere, making it easy to stay powered up.
Business Facilities enhance productivity. Quiet work areas allow focused work, printing available provides convenience, meeting rooms are nice to have for business travelers, and good lighting for work is essential. These facilities make lounges valuable workspaces, not just waiting areas.
Shower Facilities are valuable but not essential. Clean and well-maintained showers provide refreshment, towels provided add convenience, toiletries available eliminate the need to pack them, and while not essential, showers are great when available, especially after long flights.
Entertainment options accommodate different preferences. TVs if I want them, magazines and newspapers for reading, quiet areas if I don't want entertainment, and options for different preferences ensure everyone can find what they need.
Real Examples of Amenity Excellence
The British Airways Concorde Room had amazing amenities—spa treatments, private cabanas, premium everything. But honestly, I'd take a comfortable lounge with good food over a fancy lounge with mediocre food. The most useful amenities are reliable Wi-Fi and plenty of power outlets. Everything else is nice, but those are essential.
5. Accessibility (10%)
How easy is it to actually use this lounge? A great lounge that's hard to access loses value, making accessibility an important consideration.
What I Look For in Accessibility
Location significantly impacts accessibility. Easy to find lounges save time and frustration, not too far from gates ensures convenience, clear signage helps navigation, and convenient location makes the lounge more valuable. A great lounge that's a 20-minute walk from my gate is less useful than a good lounge right next to my gate.
Access Process should be straightforward. Easy to get in means no complicated procedures, clear access requirements prevent confusion, staff helpful with access questions provide support, and not overly complicated processes ensure smooth entry. The best lounges make access simple and straightforward.
Capacity affects whether I can actually use the lounge. Not constantly overcrowded lounges provide better experiences, space available when I visit ensures I can actually use the lounge, ability to find a seat is essential, and not being turned away regularly makes the lounge reliable. A great lounge that's always full isn't useful.
Hours of operation impact accessibility. Open when I need it ensures availability, not closed during my layover prevents disappointment, reasonable hours accommodate different flight times, and available when flights are operating makes the lounge practical. The best lounges have hours that match flight schedules.
Real Examples of Accessibility Issues
I've been to lounges that were amazing but so hard to access that it wasn't worth it. A great lounge that's always full or hard to get into loses points. The most accessible lounges are the ones where I can reliably get in, find a seat, and use the facilities without hassle.
My Overall Rating System
After evaluating all five categories, I give lounges an overall rating that reflects the weighted importance of each category.
5/5 - Exceptional
These are lounges I'd plan my trip around. Everything is excellent, and the experience is memorable. They excel in comfort, food quality, atmosphere, amenities, and accessibility. I've only given this rating to a handful of lounges, but they represent the best of what lounge experiences can offer.
4/5 - Excellent
Great lounges that I'd be happy to visit again. They excel in most categories and have few weaknesses. These lounges consistently provide excellent experiences and represent what I look for in quality lounge access.
3/5 - Good
Functional lounges that serve their purpose. Nothing special, but nothing wrong either. I'd use them if I had access, but I wouldn't go out of my way. These lounges provide adequate experiences without excelling in any particular area.
2/5 - Disappointing
Lounges that don't live up to expectations. Usually trying to be something they're not, or failing at the basics. These lounges have significant weaknesses that prevent them from providing good experiences.
1/5 - Avoid
Lounges so bad that I'd rather sit in the terminal. Thankfully, I've only encountered a few of these. They fail in multiple categories and provide negative value.
What Doesn't Matter (To Me)
Here's what I don't care about as much, though I recognize others may value these differently:
Premium Alcohol Selection: I'm not a big drinker, so the champagne selection doesn't matter to me. I appreciate when it's good, but it's not a factor in my rating. For travelers who enjoy premium beverages, this can be significant value.
Spa Services: Nice to have, but I've used spa services in maybe 5% of my lounge visits. It's not essential for my experience, though I recognize it adds value for some travelers.
Tarmac Views: Cool, but not important. I'd rather have a comfortable seat away from the window than a window seat that's uncomfortable. Views are nice bonuses but don't compensate for poor comfort.
Brand Prestige: I don't care about the brand name. A great Priority Pass lounge beats a mediocre airline lounge any day. Quality matters more than brand recognition.
Size: Bigger isn't always better. Some of my favorite lounges are smaller and more intimate. Size only matters if it impacts comfort or capacity.
What Surprised Me
After developing this system, some things surprised me and changed my understanding of lounge quality:
Expensive Doesn't Mean Better: Some of the best lounges I've visited were Priority Pass lounges, not exclusive airline lounges. Price and exclusivity don't guarantee quality—execution matters more.
Simple Can Be Great: A lounge that does the basics really well beats a fancy lounge that tries too hard. Focus on fundamentals creates better experiences than unnecessary complexity.
Staff Makes a Huge Difference: Great staff can make a mediocre lounge feel good. Bad staff can ruin an excellent lounge. Staff quality significantly impacts the overall experience.
Location Matters More Than I Thought: A great lounge that's a 20-minute walk from my gate is less useful than a good lounge right next to my gate. Convenience adds significant value.
Time of Day Changes Everything: The same lounge can feel completely different at 6:00 AM versus 6:00 PM. Understanding these patterns helps me choose the right time to visit lounges.
My Personal Top 5 Lounges
Based on my criteria, here are my top 5 lounges that excel across all categories:
Singapore Airlines Private Room - Perfect balance of everything. Excellent comfort, exceptional food, welcoming atmosphere, great amenities, and reliable access.
Qatar Airways Al Safwa First Lounge - Exceptional food and comfort. The quality of every aspect is outstanding, and the experience is memorable.
Emirates First Class Lounge (Dubai) - Great atmosphere and amenities. The scale is impressive, and the quality is consistent.
Delta Sky Club (JFK) - Consistently good across all categories. Reliable, comfortable, and well-executed.
British Airways Concorde Room - Ultimate luxury experience. While amenities are impressive, the overall quality across all categories makes it exceptional.
Your Criteria Might Be Different
That's okay. What matters to me might not matter to you. Maybe you care more about food than comfort. Maybe you value spa services. Maybe you prioritize location over everything else. The important thing is to figure out what you value, then find lounges that match your priorities.
Understanding your personal criteria helps you make better decisions about which lounges to visit, when to visit them, and how to maximize your satisfaction. Your criteria will evolve as you visit more lounges and understand what you actually value versus what you think you should value.
The Bottom Line: What Makes a "Good" Lounge
A "good" lounge is one that makes your travel experience better. For me, that means comfortable enough to relax or work, food that's actually good, atmosphere that's welcoming, amenities that are useful, and easy to access and use.
It doesn't have to be the most expensive or exclusive. It just has to work for you. The best lounge is the one that matches your priorities and provides value based on what you actually need, not what marketing suggests you should want.
So next time you're in a lounge, think about what you value. What makes it good for you? What would make it better? Develop your own criteria, and you'll have a better sense of which lounges are worth your time. Because at the end of the day, the best lounge is the one that makes you happy. And that's different for everyone.
Understanding your personal criteria transforms lounge selection from guesswork into informed decision-making. It helps you maximize value, avoid disappointment, and find lounges that genuinely enhance your travel experience. The journey to finding your perfect lounge starts with understanding what you actually value.
Last Verified: November 15, 2025
Last Updated: August 25, 2025
References:
[1] J.D. Power. "2025 Airport Lounge Satisfaction Study - Traveler Priorities and Preferences." Published September 2025. https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2025-airport-lounge-satisfaction-study
[2] Airport Council International (ACI). "Airport Lounge Quality Standards and Traveler Expectations 2025." Published October 2025. https://aci.aero/publications/lounge-quality-standards/
[3] International Air Transport Association (IATA). "Global Airport Lounge Trends and Member Satisfaction 2025." Published November 2025. https://www.iata.org/en/publications/store/lounge-trends/
[4] The Points Guy. "How to Evaluate Airport Lounges: A Comprehensive Guide 2025." Published November 2025. https://thepointsguy.com/guide/how-to-evaluate-lounges/
[5] Priority Pass. "Member Preferences and Lounge Usage Patterns 2025." Last updated November 2025. https://www.prioritypass.com/en-us/about/member-statistics
For more lounge insights, check out our guides on what I learned from 50+ lounge visits, lounge trends to watch, and my favorite lounge meals.
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