Business class and premium economy: exceptional lounges

The benchmark in this field has long been Qatar Airways' Premium terminal in Doha, for the exclusive use of business and first class passengers, offering unprecedented luxury with an à la carte restaurant, a bathing area and a private spa with swimming pool. We almost regret that it will soon be closed, as Qatar Airways is in the process of transferring its operations to the new international airport. But the airline will certainly be offering its equivalent there. Or even better... In Dubai, the new Emirates satellite reserved for Airbus A380 flights doubles up as an upper deck dedicated exclusively to high-contribution passengers, with boarding rooms and lounges. This exclusive concept is also being applied by Lufthansa in some of its new boarding lounges at Frankfurt airport.

At Roissy, Air France has created a lounge in terminal 2E which has become a benchmark for its comfort, recalling both the elegance of Paris and the tranquillity of a garden, a sort of "appetiser" for what awaits passengers on board in 2014 in terms of services. In this 3,000 m² space, the largest in the airline's fleet, Air France offers an à la carte service to all its passengers: you can eat, work, be entertained or read in peace.

For its part, Finnair played the Scandinavian card in Helsinki. The furnishings are elegantly Nordic, creating a relaxing atmosphere with their white sofas and large armchairs. The only downside is that the sauna reserved for business passengers - a very Finnish activity - closed last year due to a lack of customers. We can always console ourselves in front of the open fire in the SAS business lounge in Copenhagen...

The British Airways lounges in terminal 5 at London Heathrow impress with their extravagant design, a cross between a British gentlemen's club and crazy baroque. In Germany, the Lufthansa lounges go for originality, with a "Biergarten" in Munich, an open-air space where you can enjoy a cold beer, while in Hamburg, you can sit on the lounge terrace and watch the incessant ballet of aircraft with your nose to the wind.

On the Asia-Pacific side, Malaysia Airlines' gastro nomic lounges are probably one of the best in South-East Asia, with a real restaurant and coffee specialities served à la carte. In Hong Kong, the noodle bar in Cathay Pacific's business lounge is also a must. Another lounge well worth a visit is the Qantas Premier lounge in Sydney, which is both an ode to Australian nature and to the creative talents of young local designers. The atmosphere is vaguely reminiscent of the sets inOrange MécaniqueExcept for the creepiness, of course!