- A Different Kind Of Trip Report: Introduction
- Review: Emirates Lounge Dallas DFW Airport
- A First Timer’s Thoughts On Emirates First Class
- The World’s Most Over The Top Afternoon Tea
- Review: Emirates A380 First Class Dallas To Dubai
- Our Late Night Las Vegas Experience In Dubai
- Review: Park Hyatt Dubai Park Deluxe Room
- EK17 To Manchester: Having The Best Time And Keeping It Green While Ben Goes Amber
- Review: Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai B Concourse
- Oh MAN…
- Arlanda Express: Speedy Transport For Dummies
- Should A Few Instances Of Bad Service Spoil Overall Perceptions Of A Hotel?
- Review: Emirates A380 First Class Dubai To Manchester
- Review: Hilton Manchester Deansgate
- First Time In Lufthansa First (With Two Celebrities): Review Of The First Class Terminal In Frankfurt
- Review: British Airways Lounge Manchester
- Review: British Airways Galleries First Lounge London Heathrow
- Review: Sheraton Stockholm Hotel
- First Time In Lufthansa First (With Two Celebrities): Review Of LH450 from Frankfurt to Los Angeles
- Review: Aurora Lounge Stockholm Arlanda Airport
- Review: Grand Hyatt Berlin
- Review: Airberlin Lounge Berlin Airport
- Review: Park Hyatt Vienna
- Review: Austrian HON Circle & First Class Lounge Vienna Airport
- Review: Austrian A320 Business Class Vienna To Frankfurt
- Review: Lufthansa First Class Lounge Frankfurt
- Review: Lufthansa 747-8 First Class Frankfurt To Newark
After a few awesome days in Stockholm, our next stop was Berlin. We booked airberlin from Stockholm to Berlin using British Airways Avios, as it cost a mere 4,500 Avios one-way. That’s quite a value, given that the one-way fare was over 150EUR.
We were booked in economy, and for that matter airberlin is a low cost carrier, and doesn’t even offer a business class cabin within Europe. But thanks to my oneworld Emerald status we could still access a lounge.
We arrived at Arlanda Airport at around 9AM for our 10:35AM flight. Check-in was quick, as was security, and we found ourselves airside at Terminal 2 by around 9:15AM. I had asked at check-in about the lounge airberlin uses at Arlanda Airport, and was informed they use the Aurora Lounge.
Arlanda Airport check-in hall
Once airside we followed the signage towards the lounge, which is just shortly after security, past some duty free shops.
Arlanda Airport departures hall
Arlanda Airport departures hall
The lounge is located up one level from the main concourse, and you can take either the (painfully neon green) stairs or an elevator.
Arlanda Airport stairs to Aurora Lounge
At the top of the stairs I was a bit confused by the location of the lounge, given that I just saw (what looked like) a restaurant. As it turns out the Aurora Lounge is located in the back of the restaurant, which is a unique setup.
Arlanda Airport entrance to Aurora Lounge
Once inside the lounge we were greeted by a friendly associate, who scanned my AAdvantage Executive Platinum card. She informed us there were no boarding announcements in the lounge, which is hardly surprising for a contract lounge.
It’s worth noting that this is also a Priority Pass lounge, so you have several cards with lounge access to use.
- The Citi Prestige® Card: comes with Priority Pass access for the cardmember and up to two guests or immediate family
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: comes with Priority Pass access for the cardmember (Enrollment required)
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: comes with Priority Pass access for the cardmember (Enrollment required)
So there are plenty of ways to access this lounge.
Arlanda Airport entrance to Aurora Lounge
Anyway, the Aurora Lounge was modern and spacious. And it seemed to be very dedicated to having about as many themes as seats.
Aurora Lounge Stockholm Airport seating
The lounge was large, though not huge, but it must have had at least a dozen different “themed” area. I’m not sure if the lounge bought all their furniture in a sectional furniture store liquidation sale, or what, by my gosh did they have a lot of different types of furniture!
Aurora Lounge Stockholm Airport seating
I’ll let the pictures below speak for themselves.
Aurora Lounge Stockholm Airport seating
Aurora Lounge Stockholm Airport seating
Aurora Lounge Stockholm Airport seating
Aurora Lounge Stockholm Airport seating
Aurora Lounge Stockholm Airport seating
Aurora Lounge Stockholm Airport seating
Aurora Lounge Stockholm Airport seating
Aurora Lounge Stockholm Airport seating
Aurora Lounge Stockholm Airport seating
Aurora Lounge Stockholm Airport seating
Perhaps the one downside of the lounge was that it doesn’t overlook the tarmac, but rather you just have views of the interior of the terminal.
The buffet spread was back near the entrance of the lounge. Since it was around 9:30AM at this point, they were serving breakfast.
Aurora Lounge buffet Stockholm Airport
The spread was quite decent, as they had toast, croissants, muffins, cookies, cereal, yogurt, cold cuts, cheese, veggies, etc.
Aurora Lounge breakfast spread Stockholm Airport
Aurora Lounge breakfast spread Stockholm Airport
Aurora Lounge breakfast spread Stockholm Airport
Aurora Lounge breakfast spread Stockholm Airport
Aurora Lounge breakfast spread Stockholm Airport
Aurora Lounge breakfast spread Stockholm Airport
Then there were also a few types of snack mix.
Aurora Lounge breakfast spread Stockholm Airport
In terms of drinks, there were fruit juices, soft drinks, beer, and an espresso machine.
Aurora Lounge breakfast spread Stockholm Airport
Aurora Lounge beer & juice Stockholm Airport
Aurora Lounge espresso machine Stockholm Airport
We only had about 45 minutes in the lounge, and at around 10:10AM we headed to the gate for our flight to Berlin, which was departing very close to the lounge.
Aurora Lounge Stockholm bottom line
For a contract and Priority Pass lounge I thought this one was pretty nice. It was large, modern (even if a bit oddly designed), and had a decent snack spread. It’s certainly not a lounge I’d arrive early to visit, but ultimately all I want from a lounge in the morning is a place to fire up my laptop, grab a coffee, and maybe some granola.
Something that is missing here are metal chairs. Not only that they are easy to clean but they look very luxurious. Metal chairs are a great choice! They are strong, easy to clean, and come in a variety of designs to fit any space. Whether for indoor or outdoor use, metal chairs are a practical and versatile option.https://www.schots.com.au/furniture/chairs/metal.html
Poor lounge. No thanks. The furniture craziness and weird styles and many styles was very odd.
These people sure are lazy, really bad. 5.45 and still not open. NOT first time. About 50 people were waiting when I arrived a few minutes ago, and they all had to leave with no breakfast etc, despite paying for business class tickets. As this has happened to me a few times, the conclusion is don't expect it to be open in the morning. The posted opening hours are only when they bother going up early. Bad, Swedavia should kick them out.
Don't be fooled by the reviews, this is a truely aweful lounge. Grumpy staff on the reception. Double checked my ticket and asked to see my card (as I don't look like you average business class passenger). Once inside used a very dirty coffee machine serving way below average coffee. Then on to the buffet... two cardboard dry crepes, some close to stale bread, meat and cheese in full supply tho. Minimal options but to...
Don't be fooled by the reviews, this is a truely aweful lounge. Grumpy staff on the reception. Double checked my ticket and asked to see my card (as I don't look like you average business class passenger). Once inside used a very dirty coffee machine serving way below average coffee. Then on to the buffet... two cardboard dry crepes, some close to stale bread, meat and cheese in full supply tho. Minimal options but to make a bad sandwich. The seating options are very good, sofas, recliners, work spaces. But they are all a little dirty. To me the place looks like it was designed well but badly managed. Poor food. Poor service. Poor cleanliness. One world should really check on the partner lounges they use...
Maybe they spent too much time in Ikea showrooms.
Hm, economy class @ airberlin... would be fun to see that review :)
One addition / correction to the drinks list (unless it has changed since I was there a year or so ago). The tap handles in the picture are beer *and* wine. They had a red and a white wine on tap - at least when I was there.
Thanks for your timely review. ;-) I will be flying out of ARN with AB in 2 days and will be using this lounge for the first time. It looks quite good for a contract lounge - spcially compared to other Menzies lounges in Europe. ^
Food choice is abysmal. A well fed traveler is a content traveler.
Love that they have beanbags! That's unique.
Hehe was there at the end of last year and had a similar impression to you, Ben - pretty decent for what it is. They've also got fantastically fast Eduroam WiFi access (applicable to anyone with a university login as a staff member or student from pretty much any major university in the world!)