Duringmy Aria Suite Adventure to Hong Kong, I had the chance to check out several lounges at Washington Dulles Airport (IAD). After checking out the Capital One Lounge and Chase Sapphire Lounge, I stopped in at the Turkish Airlines Lounge, which is a lounge used by several airlines, and it’s also open to Priority Pass.
Continue reading: Review: Turkish Airlines Lounge Washington Dulles Airport (IAD)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
One of the reasons the lounge is so crowded is that Star Alliance Gold passengers - many of whom are flying United out of the iAD hub - find this lounge MUCH more preferable than the dismal non-Polaris lounges at IAD. Later in the day - it gets very crowded. The nice bartender made me a Turkish coffee - never had that before. Wow!!! One sip - and I felt as if I could fly. To avoid the crowds, I'll walk down to the Lufthansa Senator lounge - although the decor there is rather spartan - there is a good selection of food (Turkish lounge food is more interesting), a few decent showers (downstairs in the windowless business lounge), and floor to ceiling tarmac views in the main room.
A fair assessment. It looks kind of fancy from the outside. Inside it's ok, nothing to write home about. Furniture is worn. Two bathrooms are insufficient. Instead of waiting I'll back into the gate area. Last time I was there the bar didn't open until 9. Very convenient if you're on the ET flight to Addis although the morning can get very crowded too. I've done like the previous person, stopped in if I'm flying UA from C or D gates. Although I have found the standard UA lounges have gotten much better.
Not sure what OG stands for….but yes: the lounge has an upper floor which is much more quiet.
Slightly nicer than the TK lounge at JFK. On the surface these look nice from the outside, but inside, tney are Marriott-grade, circa 1996, with bad food, limited drinks, and no real atmosphere.
Yeah the LH basement lounge is pretty crappy. I usually end up at the TK lounge when flying a *A carrier in J
I agree, it's totally functional, but absolutely insanely busy all the time. They let in way too many people for the amount of space they have. Surprised you were able to get such good shots of it empty, even at opening time!
You didn't take pics of the upstairs seating area!
I use to come here a lot. The food, especially in the afternoon, was always really good. Loved the Middle Eastern/ Turkish options. That said, as others have mentioned, it can get insanely crowded. Oftentimes they deny entry to Priority Pass members.
Used to like it but it's just too jammed. Last visit sat uncomfortably at the back on the 'shared couch'. And of course this kid inserted himself between me and his mom. Then his mom told me not to drink alcohol near him. Like seriously? I've also seen people in the hallway eat and congregate there!
I think they need to eliminate Priority Pass at times of the day, like the afternoons/evenings, or restrict visits to 1 hour. And eliminate UA *G flyers who are flying UA out of C/D. That will make it more palatable.
I will say that an added issue on top of the actual crowding is that, last time I was there, there was only one bartender and there are no self-serve alcoholic drinks. So given the number of people in the space, you can wait a *long* time for a drink.
There has been every time I've been there (which hasn't been for a couple years, I usually go to the also very busy C1 lounge now).
There is an upstairs which has at times been blocked off however in recent years it’s been more consistently available. It’s very small though a bit less suffocating than the main two areas (accessible via the staircase to the right of the buffet against the wall in the main room — not well signed).
There's also a second level! But it's small and doesn't change the fact that the lounge is insanely cramped and crowded.
“ This space has a large booth”.. That would be a banquette, as it’s fully open and exposed to the room. A booth, by definition, is excluded or semi-enclosed, a more private space.
But flying a *A carrier in J gets you Polaris lounge access, so not sure why you aren't going there instead.
It's pretty nice by IAD standards (especially the windows and bar, also the turkish flavors in the food), but has been crowded / under-sized every time I've been... I stop by for coffee and baklava and move on pretty quickly.