Dublin Airport T2: AerLingus or Airpor Genie Lounge? Which is better?

mcwoods

I've decided to treat myself - I've an early start next Friday for flight to the USA so thought I'd pay the little extra for an airport lounge for breakfast.

Aer Lingus and Airport Genie both offer paid for access to their lounges, but which one is the best? - Is is the same lounge? They appear to be roughly the same price:

Genie: €26 (including security fast track)
Aer Lingus: €25 (excluding security fast track)

I've found some great photos of the Aer Lingus lounge, but none of the Genie lounge.

Has anyone used the Genie lounge is it any good?

Leejo

There's 3 lounges in T2, The Aer Lingus one, The Etihad one and the Airport one. The "Genie lounge" is the airport lounge.

The 2 you're looking at are both more or less the same I think, only with the genie service you get to skip the security queues for the same price.

Only half decent picture I can find:

Stinicker

Is breakfast included in the €26? If so I might give it a try as I'll be flying out from Dublin for the first time since 2009 so am keen to see the new T2 and facilities. I'm flying with Emirates on Economy if that entitles me to anything.

BrookieD

Airport Genie use the DAA Executive Lounges (Complimentary drinks and food/snacks included), its the same lounge above in T2 Aer Lingus and Etihad use separate lounges.

€26 for FastTrack - Lounges - Alerts is pretty good in my book. have booked and used and service is very good in fairness.

Six of One

We used the Aer Lingus lounge before a morning flight last year. I remember there were crackers, cheese, soda bread, fruit, crisps and chocolate available food wise; then tea, coffee, orange juice, cans of beer, gin and tonics and a fluffy toy. I actually think the bacon bagel in the chocolate resteraunt would be money better spent!

jinkybhoy

Hi

I see the price of the lounge is now at €20 - I was thinking of using it for a Friday evening flight.

Has anyone used it recently and any comments on it? What kind of drink and food do they serve etc?

I will be having a few drinks and hopefully some food so thought the price seems good value.

Thanks

athtrasna

They don't "serve" food. Very few lounges do hot food (CDG & Zurich stand out as exceptions IME). Food is as mentioned above, brown bread, crackers, cheese, yoghurts, biscuits, fruit and crisps. Personally I like the lounges as a retreat from the crowds, and maybe a beverage and a snack but only when as a perk on ticket or frequent flyer status. Not worth paying for most of the time.

jinkybhoy

athtrasna wrote: »

They don't "serve" food. Very few lounges do hot food (CDG & Zurich stand out as exceptions IME). Food is as mentioned above, brown bread, crackers, cheese, yoghurts, biscuits, fruit and crisps. Personally I like the lounges as a retreat from the crowds, and maybe a beverage and a snack but only when as a perk on ticket or frequent flyer status. Not worth paying for most of the time.

The way i was looking at it was €20 - 3 bottles of beer and a few packs of crisps in normal bar at airport.

Plus added bonus of relaxing and wifi.

Is the terminal 2 lounge nice decor etc? large?

fletch

Check the opening times....my OH booked us into the Aer Lingus lounge as we had an early flight too. However, it doesn't open until 5:15a.m which we only found out when we got there (and were boarding at 5:30a.m)

jinkybhoy

fletch wrote: »

Check the opening times....my OH booked us into the Aer Lingus lounge as we had an early flight too. However, it doesn't open until 5:15a.m which we only found out when we got there (and were boarding at 5:30a.m)

My flight isnt till after 5 pm so im ok - thinking of heading up a few hours before and get comfy and catch up on some reading

Yamanoto

jinkybhoy wrote: »

The way i was looking at it was €20 - 3 bottles of beer and a few packs of crisps in normal bar at airport.

Plus added bonus of relaxing and wifi.

Is the terminal 2 lounge nice decor etc? large?

The EI lounge is nicer tbh, though their Wifi is considerably slower than that freely available throughout the terminal.

I'd agree though, when you consider the cost of dining at some concessions in Dublin airport, the €25 lounge access fee could begin to make sense for some. Helping yourself to soup, sandwiches, crisps, a newspaper, wine/beer/spirits, bottles of water for the flight, soft drinks and a bar of choccy could quite conceivably even result in a saving.

I'd also agree with athransa that for most folks, the peace & quiet factor is by far the greatest benefit to be had from lounge access.

Strumms

Yamanoto wrote: »

I'd agree though, when you consider the cost of dining at some concessions in Dublin airport, the €25 lounge access fee could begin to make sense for some. Helping yourself to soup, sandwiches, crisps, a newspaper, wine/beer/spirits, bottles of water for the flight, soft drinks and a bar of choccy could quite conceivably even result in a saving.

I'd also agree with athransa that for most folks, the peace & quiet factor is by far the greatest benefit to be had from lounge access.

That's pretty spot on in my experience. Havent used the airport genie lounge but as far as the Aer Lingus one I think it's worth it. I fly around once a month with work or for pleasure and usually go to the lounge. Lets face it even as nice a Terminal as T2 is airports in general are a hassle. Overpriced bars and restaurants. Long Qs for security as well as shops, bars and restaurants and at times crowded. Even with getting there very early to take some of the stress away the above eats into your time pretty quickly so hit the lounge, a couple of drinks, snacks and some take away water and nibbles for the flight and you will find you are probably 'up' on the deal. Compared what you'd spend for food and drinks outside the lounge and then on the flight !

jinkybhoy

Yamanoto wrote: »

The EI lounge is nicer tbh, though their Wifi is considerably slower than that freely available throughout the terminal.

I'd agree though, when you consider the cost of dining at some concessions in Dublin airport, the €25 lounge access fee could begin to make sense for some. Helping yourself to soup, sandwiches, crisps, a newspaper, wine/beer/spirits, bottles of water for the flight, soft drinks and a bar of choccy could quite conceivably even result in a saving.

I'd also agree with athransa that for most folks, the peace & quiet factor is by far the greatest benefit to be had from lounge access.

it's actually down to €20 now - even better value.