After the hassle of lining up to check-in for an international flight and the ever-more-tiresome airport security procedures, a comfortable place to sit and relax before boarding is practically a necessity.
After the hassle of lining up to check-in for an international flight and the ever-more-tiresome airport security procedures, a comfortable place to sit and relax before boarding is practically a necessity.
This is especially the case for business travellers, who have come to expect that airlines will provide them with such areas at major airports to recoup and refresh before, or between, long journeys.
What even the most widely travelled business executive won’t be prepared for, however, is the new Emirates business lounge at Perth International Airport.
The recently completed facility is truly state-of-the-art. One of the largest dedicated passenger lounges in Australia, at 600 square metres, it can cater for up to 106 guests.
Costing $2 million, the Emirates lounge was designed by Australian interior design firm Smith Madden, whose brief was to replicate many of the features of the multi-award winning Emirates lounges in Dubai, but with an Australian flavour.
It is not hard to see where the money was spent. As the automatic doors into the foyer silently slide apart to welcome you, it is as if you’ve entered another world – one far away from the frantic and often emotional environment outside. It’s a genuine sanctuary.
With the lounge situated at the southern end of the upstairs departures floor of the airport, guests have a perfect view over the runway against a striking backdrop of the city skyline through ceiling-to-floor windows. The daytime and night time vistas from this vantage point are absolutely stunning.
But what will really grab your attention, besides the friendly greeting at the front desk, is what’s inside. Italian marble floors, matching ceramic tiles, also from Italy, sumptuous beige Scottish leather lounge suites, custom-designed tables, wall lamps and coffee tables and imported cushions are just the start.
Rolex wall clocks from Geneva and original Australian-inspired artworks adorn the walls. Makore (African cherry wood) wood panelling, painstakingly fashioned from the one hand-selected log and Italian beechwood loose furniture add to the warmth of the setting and contrast comfortably with the huge plasma screen televisions. Even the six flight information displays are plasma screen.
Adjoining the seating area in its own section is a fully equipped business centre for travellers to catch up on last-minute business details before boarding. This area incorporates the same level of facilities you’d expect to find in a fully functional office, which can be utilised by passengers while they are in transit.
The centre has 12 individual partitioned workstations with adjustable office chairs and each desk is equipped with either personal computers with broadband Internet access or wireless access for travellers with laptops. There are telephones, photocopying and facsimile facilities. There are plasma screen flight information displays in this area also to ensure industrious passengers don’t lose track of their boarding time.
At the far end is an attractive dining area, where delicious and interesting finger food is freshly prepared in a modern commercial kitchen by experienced chefs from Airport Fine Foods and laid out in an artistic buffet arrangement. A wide selection of local and imported wines and beers and a self-serve full selection coffee station are also available.
A thoughtful touch for those travelling alone is the barstool-and-bench-style seating against the window.
‘Hearing loops’ are provided for hearing-impaired passengers, while custom-made Braille/tactile signage is available for the sight impaired, and bathroom and shower facilities have been modified to enable accessibility for physically disabled travellers.
The lavish style extends to the bathrooms, where generous shower facilities feature all the extras, including hair dryers, soaps, shampoos and fluffy towels, which make freshening-up a pleasure rather than an ordeal.
As the lounge opens three hours prior to each scheduled Emirates flight, the challenge won’t be getting Emirates business class travellers to the airport on time, something already well catered for by the on request home/hotel-to-airport limousine service.
The real challenge will be prising them from their luxurious lounge chairs and away from their canapés and champagne when it is time to board.
