Emirates Colombo Lounge
The Emirates Colombo Lounge is a surprising delight at an otherwise rather down at heel airport.Opened by Emirates after it did the splits with Sri Lankan Airlines, it was very much designed as a showcase. Back in 2013 that is, and it still sports the same furniture, as an 'old' style Emirates lounge.
Compared to all the other generic lounges on the corridor, the Emirates Lounge is a delight: it is the only real 'dedicated home lounge' of any airline other than Sri Lankan. Emirates had to fight for space for it. And that's why it is in the basement, down a hallway.
At the main terminal area, just across from immigration and duty free, take the lift down with the small Emirates sign. The Colombo Emirates Lounge is very much a classic Emirates lounge: indeed, from the chairs to the lighting, and even the Rolex clocks, it is a world of beige leather and Dubai Bling.
Don't miss the outdoor terrace with seating, which is a great way to start your flight.
Despite being in a basement, there are quite a few windows, and good hotel lobby style seats here. Indeed, acres of seats - there are 58 leather armchairs. Plus eight in a row around the large plasma TVs (52 inch no less, as the airline is fond of saying), which are always on CNN. However, you can guarantee these seats will be taken by just one couple, who won't take kindly to you joining them in their seating area.
Further around in the lounge is the dining room, with a long low counter overlooking the windows, plus plenty of dining chairs, all neatly decked out and even with flowers on the tables. Alas, again here many of the tables are set out with four chairs around a table, which as a single traveller means you often have to share a table.
At the back of the table area is the refectory side board, with food and drinks.
Food
It is the Food which is the mainstay of this lounge: considering the rather dull offerings at the airport, it is no wonder many people eat as if they haven't seen food in weeks. It is laid out on a sideboard opposite the main dining chairs.
Reflecting its status both as a combined First and Business lounge, food is a little better than you might expect.
Under the hot plates there are hot dishes with lamb curry, chicken tagine, pasta, noodles, and fish, along with a heated tray with hot sandwiches, Zucchini Pates, salmon steaks, sausage rolls (chicken sausage of course) and meat pies. There is a large pot of soup (changes daily).
Garlic bread is in the basket. Next to it in the standard Emirates round fridge with lots of mini plates laid out with different types of salad: there are labels on them all showing what they are. There are also plenty of desserts in mini-bowls, or cheesecake slices on a plate.
Bar
Of course the main attraction is the bar. There are two bar areas, both by the dining hall, and by the first TV as you walk in. It is fully stocked, although wine is rather poor: there is some new world wine, but it isn't very good.
Absolute top marks must go for the bottles of Verve-Cliquot Champagne, which is the proper French stuff.
In the other corner of the lounge was another bar area, with spirits and soft drinks.
Bathrooms
There are decent bathrooms in the lounge, and a couple of showers. Towels are in a pile next to the shower.
Alas the shower rooms are quite small, and fill with steam.
Business Facilities
There is a dedicated business centre with six good fast and new computers: alas, there is little virus protection, and you should take a lot of care logging onto any sensitive sites.
There is free wifi in the lounge, but it is painfully slow.
Access
Emirates has three flights a day to Dubai, plus Singapore, on an A380, so the lounge can get busy. Due to the odd times of some of the flights, the lounge is in effect open 24 hours a day.
Before leaving for your flight, remember that security is at the gate, so you should allow plenty of time.
| Emirates Lounge | ||
|---|---|---|
Loungeindex
rating:
6 out of
10
| ||
| Location: | After passport control, before security, lift down in central part of terminal. | |
| Open hours: | 24 hours | |
| Pay Per Access: | $100 | |
| Lounge for: | Emirates | |
| Access: | Emirates First and Business Class. Emirates skywards gold, and Qantas gold and platinum. | |