- Introduction: An Open-Ended Journey To Oman
- Review: Iberia Business Class Airbus A330 (MIA-MAD)
- Our COVID-19 Testing Mess At Madrid Airport
- Review: Four Seasons Hotel Madrid
- Review: Iberia Lounge Madrid Airport (MAD)
- Review: Iberia Business Class A320neo (MAD-MXP)
- Review: Sala Montale Lounge Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP)
- Review: Qatar Airways Business Class Boeing 787-9 (MXP-DOH)
- Review: Qatar Airways A320 Business Class (DOH-SLL)
- Oman Entry Requirements: My Experience
- Traveling As A Gay, Married Couple: My Philosophy
- Review: Alila Hinu Bay, Oman
- Review: Oman Air Lounge Salalah Airport
- Review: Oman Air A330 Business Class (SLL-MCT)
- Review: W Hotel Muscat, Oman
- Review: Alila Jabal Akhdar, Oman
- Review: The Chedi Muscat, Oman
- Review: Primeclass Lounge Muscat Airport (MCT)
- Review: Turkish Airlines A321neo Business Class (MCT-IST)
- Review: Turkish Airlines 737 MAX Business Class (IST-CPH)
- Review: AC Hotel By Marriott Copenhagen Bella Sky
- Copenhagen Airport’s Awesome COVID-19 Testing Center
- Review: SAS Lounge Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
- Review: Eventyr Lounge Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
- Review: SAS Business Class Airbus A350-900 (CPH-MIA)
After a fun few days at Alila Hinu Bay, our next destination in Oman was Muscat. We flew Oman Air business class from Salalah to Muscat (which I booked with Air Canada Aeroplan points). In this post I wanted to review the ground experience, and in particular the Oman Air Al Khareef Lounge Salalah Airport.
In this post:
Oman Air check-in Salalah Airport
Our flight from Salalah to Muscat was scheduled to depart at 5:40PM. We arrived at the airport at around 2PM, as I had a work call that I figured I was best off taking from the lounge. For a fairly small airport, Salalah Airport has a gorgeous terminal, with high ceilings and plenty of natural light.
Unfortunately the Oman Air check-in counter wasn’t yet open, though we were informed it would open at 2:30PM. Fortunately we were able to check-in online without issue, and they accepted the barcode from the PDF for getting through security.
The only other noteworthy thing about the landside area of the terminal is the store, which is called “Four Season International.” It even has Four Seasons’ logo. Seriously? I find this kind of intellectual property theft to be odd — do they think more people are going to buy a soda because the airport store is allegedly connected to Four Seasons, or…? And the airport authority just allows this to happen?
Oman Air Lounge Salalah location
The Oman Air Lounge Salalah is located past security, near gate 3B. Once you clear security just turn left, and then about halfway down the terminal you’ll see the entrance to the lounge on the left.
Oman Air Lounge Salalah hours & entry requirements
The Oman Air Lounge Salalah is open 24/7, given that airports in the Middle East tend to have flights all hours of the day and night. This is the only lounge at Salalah Airport, so as a general rule of thumb you can expect that a business class ticket on any airline will get you access to this.
On top of that, the Oman Air Lounge is open to Priority Pass members, so it’s pretty widely accessible, especially given all the great credit cards that offer a Priority Pass membership.
Oman Air Lounge Salalah seating & layout
For an outstation lounge, the Oman Air Lounge Salalah is a great size and beautifully appointed. The main part of the lounge features floor-to-ceiling windows (though no apron views), and has comfortable couches and leather chairs arranged in sections.
At one end of the lounge was the dining area, which included some cafeteria-style seating, plus a few high-top seats.
There was lots more seating at the other end of the lounge, though there wasn’t nearly as much natural light in this area.
There was a business center at this end of the lounge.
There was also a selection of reading materials, plus a play area for kids.
Oman Air Lounge Salalah food & drinks
The Oman Air Lounge had a buffet area, though there were a couple of staff that oversaw it. You were allowed to serve yourself, but they were also happy to help, and would hand you plates and trays, get you drinks, etc. The food selection included salads, finger sandwiches, spreads, fresh fruit, chocolates, cookies, and more.
There were also several hot dishes, including cream of spinach soup, paneer masala, chicken, and rice.
There were a variety of soft drinks, water, juice, coffee, and tea. I believe the lounge didn’t have any alcohol.
There was also some Arabic coffee, as well as dates.
I ordered a cappuccino when I got to the lounge, which was excellent.
I also enjoyed a cup of Arabic coffee.
The lounge was nice and empty throughout our stay. The only other flight departing around the same time was a Smartwings flight to Prague, so a few Priority Pass guests accessed the lounge that way.
Oman Air Lounge Salalah bathrooms & showers
The Oman Air Lounge had well maintained bathrooms.
The mens bathroom also had two showers. These weren’t really luxury shower suites, but rather were just two shower “stalls” next to one another, with no privacy otherwise.
Bottom line
The Oman Air Lounge Salalah was excellent, as it was modern, with comfortable seating, a solid food & drink selection, and friendly staff. It’s essentially a scaled down version of Oman Air’s excellent first class & business class lounges in Muscat. This lounge can be accessed by virtually all premium passengers departing the airport, plus Priority Pass members.
Beyond the lounge, Salalah Airport in general impressed me. What a small but nice airport!
If you’ve visited the Oman Air Lounge Salalah, what was your experience like?
I’ve been in that lounge loads of times as a Sindbad Gold member. I agree with you, it is a super little lounge. You are right, there is no alcohol in the lounge. Reception staff are super too - on numerous occasions changing seats for my connecting flights. WY is a super airline.
I think it's important to note that even though Oman Air Silver and Gold passengers get complimentary access to Oman Air lounges when flying economy, this does not extend to the lounge in Salalah or flights departing Muscat to Salalah... Why? I don't know.
So no Business class ticket, no entry.
Actually Silver member no longer get access to lounges if flying economy I'm afraid. The policy changed quite some time ago.
Nice lounge and review.
Took same WY flight to Muscat when we were there. Lounge AWESOME. Great people watching. The back of the lounge seemed to be taken by Arab women where they could remove their face coverings. Mixed feelings about the uber-attentive foreign staff that waits on customers hand and foot, even carrying your dish and fetching tables. This level of servitude, unheard of in the West, made me a little uncomfortable.
I popped in there briefly last week for coffee and a bite to eat. It was one of the better Priority Pass experiences I've had in quite some time. There was only one other guest (granted, it was 4am), the staff was friendly and helpful, and everything was clean and felt new. The only odd thing was I poked my head in the shower room to take a look and found it full of mops and cleaning supplies.
Maybe you actually poked your head into the cleaning storeroom?
The pic of the bananas individually wrapped... if only bananas had some kind of natural protection you could peel off so you don't touch the fruit directly
But what if someone touched the peel before you peeled it? Wait, but what if someonetouched the plastic wrap while carefully wrapping the wrapped banana? the wrap should be wrapped by someone wearing latex gloves. But wait, what if the gloves touched something other than the wrap or the wrapper or the banana, like the person's hair or face or smartphone or elevator button, or the container of the wrapping box, or the knob to...
But what if someone touched the peel before you peeled it? Wait, but what if someonetouched the plastic wrap while carefully wrapping the wrapped banana? the wrap should be wrapped by someone wearing latex gloves. But wait, what if the gloves touched something other than the wrap or the wrapper or the banana, like the person's hair or face or smartphone or elevator button, or the container of the wrapping box, or the knob to open the cupboard where the wrap is stored? Double gloves. But wait...
The theft of the IP is quite amusing. WH Salah (the logo, and format) is copied from WH Smith in the UK (a common book store).
It is a WHSmith, if you looked closely before jumping to conclusions you'd realise it says WHS Salalah and not WH Salah, while WHSmith is displayed on the other side of the store.
you seem to have a bit more time than me - kudos for that.
So you got called out for your mistake and your response was like "lulz you must have nothing better to do". Sore lower much?
What a great looking priority pass lounge.
Hey Ben, this is slightly off topic, but do you maintain a list of all of the unique airports you've ever visited? I do, and I feel like my 165 is a pretty good number, but I'm sure your count (and the counts of many that follow your blog) would blow me out of the water. I'm just super curious if you have a record of that and, if so, if you'd share it with us. Maybe a post of some of your favorites and least favorites by geographical region and size category?
I seem to recall a quiet/sleeping area that isn’t there anymore. I thought this was a great lounge with comfortable seats. Stocked up on dates there.