Hair salons, free champagne, top-notch spas, exciting menus and world-class amenities- what do you expect from your airport waiting lounge?

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When it comes to luxe air travel, the airline industry has left no stone upturned. Whether it comes to having on-flight apartments and suites or sections of the air-craft dedicated to having a well attended (and stocked) bar.

Read also: How to make the best of a layover.

And yet there are some airlines, that extend this brand of hospitality and luxury even before you arrive at the boarding gate. Yes, we are talking about premier airport lounges that along with serving the primary purpose of waiting, transport you to a world fit for royalty. Cigar lounges, well-equipped business suites, shower rooms and rooftop pools are just a few amenities making their way into these very exclusive airport lounges!

Buckle up your seat-belts and hold your breath as we take you on a whirlwind journey of some of Asia's most luxe airport lounges. 


The Pier

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Experience the perfect blend of elegance, tranquillity and comfort at The Pier — Cathay Pacific’s newly revamped lounge for their first-class commuters at Hong Kong International Airport.

While providing the perfect ambience for travellers to mingle and relax before their flight, the lounge also provides enough room for a quiet retreat, lest you need one. The Pier comes with eight well-designed day suites where you can catch a breath undisturbed and three massage suites for a quick rejuvenation session. If you are on an important business trip, the lounge also comes with secluded work suites to amplify your productivity.

Matching up with the Cathay Pacific brand, the lounge offers premier options for dining and wining. Treat yourself to some signature noodle dishes from The Dining Room or unwind at The Bar with a hand-crafted cocktail before setting off on the next leg of your journey.


Al Mourjan Business Lounge

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Qatar Airways understands class and finesse! It is no surprise that the airline is awarded with the title of The Best Airline 2017 by Skytrax. This award-winning airline is known for maintaining world-class lounges globally and yet, the Al Mourjan Business Lounge at the Hamad International Airport has outdone them all.

Covering an area of 10,000 square metres, the lounge boasts of a garden resort area, quiet rooms for napping, private work stations, a gaming zone, a well-equipped spa and even a nursery for children. Al Mourjan also offers its patrons multiple dining options from gourmet meals, buffets, local middle-eastern fare and great coffee! If you enjoy the occasional drink, this Qatar Airways lounge comes with several stop-bar carts and an exemplary bar where you can relax with your favourite drink before your long haul flight.

 Adorned with the beauty of Arabic architecture and a touch of modern flair, the lounge is both classic and comfortable.


SilverKris Lounge

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Travelling first class on a Singapore Airlines flight? Get ready to be impressed by the ultra-luxurious SilverKris Lounge at the Changi International Airport.

Unlike other airlines, there are three SilverKris Lounges spread across the airport ensuring that their first class passengers are well treated, whether they are at terminal 2 or terminal 3. Along with plush interiors, excellent facilities and relaxing armchairs (so snug, we had to mention them); patrons accessing the lounge get private porters to handle their luggage and an officer to take care of their check-in formalities.

But if exclusivity is what you are looking for, The Private Room is where you should be. This hidden SilverKris Lounge is located at terminal 3 and is known for its gourmet restaurant that serves hand-crafted meals prepared with fresh and exotic ingredients in a private dining room setting away from the hustle and bustle of the busy Changi airport. (Straight off a page from the Crazy Rich Asians!)


 Etihad Airways Premier Lounge

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Ladies and gentlemen, if you had a  few busy weeks and did not have enough time for your hair and nails, worry not! Especially if you are flying first class on an Etihad Airways airline.

The Premier Lounge of this elite airline offers a 15-minute express treatment at their Style and Shave Salon for passengers in a rush at the Abu Dhabi International Airport. Book yourself in for a hair blow dry or nail session or a hot shave for your partner right before jetting off! For passengers who wish to indulge in a little pampering, the Sixth Senses Spa await you with relaxing neck and foot massages.

Along with a salon and rejuvenating spa, the Premier Lounge also offers personal concierge service, a cigar lounge, a fitness room for health freaks and a dining area where you can sample the chef’s signature dishes.


 JAL First Class Lounge

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In true Japanese style, the JAL First Class Lounge strikes the perfect chords of tradition in an ultra-modern setting. Revamped in 2014, this lounge at Haneda International Airport is not only maintaining high service standards but also pleases guests with its fascinating interiors.

Every room within the lounge is designed to exude a feeling of calm with the highlight being the Red Suite. Decorated with pieces from the JAL archives such as a flight crew’s bag from the 50s or cockpit indicators, this lounge-in-a-lounge has a shoe polishing corner, a private dining room, chess boards and a foosball table to keep the guests entertained. The JAL First Class Lounge also has a well-stocked library with vintage décor and a private resting corner for jet-lagged passengers.

While you can most definitely sample a great variety of sushi in the buffet, the lounge comes with a teppanyaki corner to meet the desire for a hot meal which you can wash down with some Laurent-Perrier Champagne and select Japanese sake in perfect wine glasses by Riedel.


For a hitchless layover and awesome flying experience, here are the best airports around the world for shopping, dining and staying.