Duringmy Four Seasons Yacht via Turkmenistan and Saudi Arabia adventure, I had a very long layover at Delhi Airport (DEL), prior to my Air India 777 first class flight. This allowed me to check out several lounges.
I first went to this lounge about a year ago, and after dealing with security being rude (to everyone not just me), it was a real breath of fresh air. I got in through paid access on top of encalm prive lounge access being a oneworld sapphire at the time flying on cathay, but I wonder now if oneworld emeralds would get encalm xenia access by default?
They also had some very cool indian whiskeys that I had never seen.
@Kct
‘Meanwhile if you have access to the Encalm Prive Lounge (a contract lounge used by a lot of airlines), you can upgrade to the Encalm Xenia Lounge at a cost of 7,000 INR (~73 USD) for two hours’
Based on what Ben wrote I think besides paying outright for access to the Xenia Lounge, you must pay for the upgrade regardless if you are flying first class or the highest elite tier airline member/One World Emerald member.
good to know, though $73 isn't outrageous, it is still a lot, the encalm prive lounge is perfectly nice too and also has decent food, just more crowded. Let's see next time I fly oneworld through there! Though for what its worth, Aeroplan redemptions for Air India First Class are decent and the lounge was amazing, I think Ben's review is coming soon.
@ Kct_photo -- Yeah, unfortunately oneworld Emerald members don't get access here, so they'd still have to buy up.
@Ben You need to try the Air India domestic lounge in BLR. Easily the best domestic airline lounge in the world. It has almost the same set up as this encalm Xenia lounge in terms of service with the food being small plates, prepared to order. The furnishing is also very unique with beautiful artworks everywhere. There is also a very nice snack buffet to go along
Could you buy more than two hours? So if you wanted to stay there 6 hours it would be $375 (or $225 if you are flying business on a non-star alliance airline that contracts with Prive - like @KCT / Cathay)? Might be better than dealing with the holiday inn to grab a nap for a few hours (more expensive perhaps...)
@ Peter_ -- Yeah, I don't think there's any proportional discount for staying longer, but you can absolutely buy multiple sessions. This space feels WAY more luxurious than the Holiday Inn Express, so if you wanted a combination of a nap and a great meal, this would be an excellent (but pricey) choice.
p2 just experienced this lounge a couple of days ago on our layover in DEL. i was planning to do so as well but wanted to hit the gym in the prive lounge, after which i was informed that the access rules allow only 2 hours, so she had just under 1hr left and i didn't feel that it was worth it for me to buy up at that point.
she absolutely loved it and was the only guest for much of her stay over the midnight layover, while the other lounges were slammed. she didn't drink anything which seems like a missed opportunity to me but hey she enjoyed it the way she wanted haha. i'd buy up if i had an opportunity to spend the whole allotted time, though i do think the strict 2hr limit is obnoxious given the price point. for what it's worth, there was no proactive offer of the cart transfer to the gate, which may have been because her session ended a little before boarding on our flight. would recommend that anyone in a similar situation take initiative to ask about the transfer even if it's a bit after the xenia access expires.
oh i should also note that she had the same experience as @Ben where the 10 minute massage was 20 minutes
I can definitely see myself trying this lounge next time i am passing through this airport. The food itself looks like worth the price of admission and the peace and the quite add to the experience.
Favourite non-airline lounge in the world? I think you don’t need to step outside the US for that — the Chase Sapphire Lounge LGA ought to win that one.
That said, it’s incredible that India, of all places, has managed to come up with such an outstanding First Class Lounge.
Why so? Luxury and hospitality are ingrained in Indian hospitality - not to mention the opulence and extravagance of the royalties that dominated India prior to union. Consider staying at any Indian hotel and you’ll never enjoy a stay in the US again.
Been to the lounge in LGA which you mention and it’s absolutely subpar compared to this lounge - perhaps a little better than a typical Delta lounge.
Hospitality in the US is underwhelming and service fairly non existent. I’m generally not expecting much and if I get a courteous or friendly greeting at a lounge or hotel in the US, I consider it a win. The problem is that the US given its lack of heritage and history doesn’t really have anything as much as a luxury or regal heritage. For example, luxury in the US is a big recliner.
I’d be surprised if a lounge like the Xenia showed up on the US.
"[The private bedroom] is super nice, though with most guests being limited to using the lounge for just two hours, it’s hard to imagine using this other than to just pose for social media, or whatever, since there’s not time to get any sleep."
Um... Ben. Maybe the room is meant for *other* things that are done in a bedroom.