The Weirdness of Airport Lounges
If you ever had the chance to be in an airplane lounge, you’ll immediately recognize the weirdness I’m going to write about in this article. From the perceived luxury to the drinking and more, a lot of things are peculiar about airport lounges.
I like traveling by plane. As a self-proclaimed aviation geek, I don’t dread going to the airport. To me, flying, despite all its drawbacks and implications, still remains an incredible form of traveling. It makes enormous distances seem small and allows me to work halfway across the globe while maintaining a sense of closeness to home. Nevertheless, even I can’t ignore the shenanigans of airports.
Terminals bring together people from all walks of life. It also seems to do away with many societal rules. Drinking at any hour is acceptable. Except for your boarding time, time is of no use at the terminal. In a few other places are a Burger King and a luxury watch store next to one another, and in even fewer instances is a Swiss chocolate store adjacent to both. But this and more all happens in the terminal.
Amidst this terminal's hustle and bustle, there is a place that promises an escape—a quieter, more relaxed place that promises a sense of refinement—the airport lounge. But while lounges mostly deliver on the above-mentioned promises, they also enhance the general funkiness of an airport terminal.
While in the terminal most often the finances somewhat limit the shenanigans within the terminal, they do not do that within the lounge. Once in, a few things, if any, have to be paid for in a lounge. This exaggerates some of the funny things about airports. Drinking is no longer limited by the wallet but only by the amount you feel comfortable with drinking. The same goes for food, and usually, people overestimate what’s good for them in both categories.
Also, while the general terminal usually has vibes that are more in tune with people leaving for vacation and fun, the lounge mixes that with a “businessy” sophistication. Whenever I am in a lounge, I feel like it is no more okay to just wait for my flight, but there is a need to work on something productive or at least do more than just mindlessly scroll through Instagram. Maybe it is a feeling that few share, but the few people in the lounge actually seeming to work always make me feel like I need to do something, too.
Last but not least, whenever I am in a lounge, I need to make the most of my opportunity and enjoy as many of the perks as possible. Hence, there is a slight restlessness that joins my urge to be productive. The combination of these two things then leads to me struggling to find a seat between people three drinks deep and with two laptops and four open Excel sheets as I explore a new part of the lounge.
I am not unaware of the privilege of getting into the lounge while flying, and I wholeheartedly enjoy any opportunity to do so. Nevertheless, I couldn’t help but notice how these little “oases” of peace often elevate the general weirdness of the terminal around them.
Stay safe,
Raffael
