It’s safe to say Nicholas Kralev has spent a fair chunk of his life waiting in some of the world’s best airline lounges. As a former correspondent for the Financial Times and Washington Times, Kralev learned how to play the road warrior’s version of musical-chairs game – otherwise known as booking air travel. He earned enough miles and learned enough tricks to stretch his travel budget, from around four international trips a year to 10.

A key perk of accumulating miles is access to some of the best airport lounges, often at international terminals. Inside these exclusive spaces, there’s no jostling among plebeians for a cup of coffee and a Wi-Fi connection. Instead, free amenities can include full-body massages, hydrating facials, showers, full-sized beds, lounges devoted exclusively to whisky and wine, cocktails shaken by mixologists — even your own, dedicated personal assistant, who will whisk you from an airport drop-off curb to a posh lounge, then to your first-class airline seat.

“I learned everything about the frequent-flier game,” says Kralev, who turned his knowledge into a book, “Decoding Air Travel: A Guide to Saving on Airfare and Flying in Luxury.” “I’ve flown 2 million miles,” he says. “2002 was the last time I flew coach.”

In international travel circles that include Kralev, there are select lounges that rank among the best and most unique. So save those travel miles and click ahead to see which airline lounges offer special perks — including one lounge that’s (egads!) open to the public and affordable.

By Heesun Wee
Posted 13 January 2012

The hip, modern clubhouse is 12,000 square feet and devoted to Virgin’s upper-class passengers. Amenities include gourmet food and a 40-foot bar, stocked with a wide range of spirits, champagne and wine. While waiting for your flight, you can play pool in the billiards room, watch a movie on a big screen or indulge in a spa treatment in the salon.

In the fall of 2011, Virgin opened the Grey Goose Loft on the upper deck of the clubhouse. The loft’s staff includes mixologists from some of London’s best bars.

Singapore Airlines’ $30-million terminal 3, including its SilverKris and KrisFlyer Gold lounges, opened in January 2008 at Changi airport. The lounges offer plenty of architectural details, including high ceilings and walls adorned with marble and timber. Amenities include buffet food stations, TV areas and work stations.

First-class passengers also have access to a private driveway when they arrive at the terminal gate. The driveway leads to an exclusive check-in area where porters help passengers.

As if the concept of a first-class lounge wasn’t exclusive enough, Thai Airways’ lounge in Bangkok features private living rooms and sleeping areas, says travel expert Kralev. You can also indulge in a full body massage before you hop onto your flight.

British Airways features six lounges at terminal 5. Costing about 60 million British pounds (or about $92 million), the lounges — collectively known as the galleries — can host up to 2,500 guests. Consider the lounges a gallery of amenities.

There are shower rooms and two large Elemis Travel Spas that offer hydrating facials and massages. Clothes wrinkled? Staff will press your suits. Cocktail? That’s where the fun really begins. There are bars devoted solely to champagne and wine. There are wine tastings, and British Airways has a dedicated wine buyer on staff. Plus, there’s the “Gold Bar,” covered in gold leaf, where customers can help themselves.

Located in San Francisco International’s terminal 2, the club lounge stands out for its amenities and commitment to green energy. Opened in April 2011, the Admirals Club is LEED certified — referring to a rating system that promotes sustainable building practices.

The club’s lounge also was designed to reflect its location in the San Francisco Bay Area, rich in Asian culture and iconic landmarks. Bamboo wood accents the walls. Golden Gate Park has been recreated inside the lounge.

Scenery aside, the club lounge features spa-like showers, a cyber café, flat-panel TVs, premium liquors and wine, and plenty of ports and outlets for travelers’ many gadgets.

Qantas’ luxury lounge in many ways reflects Australia’s great outdoors. The lounge prominently features a vertical garden that includes 8,400 plants. Once you’re soothed by the garden, you can choose from a variety of activities including free treatments at a Payot Paris day spa.

There’s a 48-seat, open-kitchen restaurant, and chair-side waiter service throughout the lounge, if you can’t be bothered to move. Entertainment areas include plasma screens and Sony Playstation entertainment systems.

If you need to freshen up or work, there are marble-lined shower suites, 11 computer work stations, video conferencing facilities, and power and data points throughout the lounge.

When it comes to a luxury lounge experience, even the most jaded international traveler would be hard-pressed not to admire Lufthansa’s first-class ground experience in Frankfurt.

For starters, Lufthansa’s premium frequent fliers travel in a separate air terminal that feels like a luxury hotel. A personal assistant is assigned to every passenger on arrival at the terminal.

For relaxation, there are daybeds, plush bathrooms with tailor-made marble washstands, showers with extra-wide shower heads, specially catered food, a dining area featuring gourmet selections, and 80 kinds of whisky, as well as a cigar lounge.

Once you’re ready to depart, you’ll be chauffeured to the aircraft in your choice of a Porsche, Mercedes-Benz or first-class bus.

If all this talk of exclusive lounges has you wondering about regular folks, consider the reLAX lounge at the Tom Bradley International Terminal between terminals 3 and 4, which is a pay-to-use public lounge.

For $15 an hour to $30 for three hours of lounging time, you can hang out in the modern, tranquil space and have a glass of wine or beer. Free refreshments include coffee, tea, bottled water, juice and soda. There’s also free Internet and wireless connectivity and free printing services for up to 10 pages.

If you’re stuck between flights, you can stay all day for $50 and get your glass of alcohol for free. The lounge is open daily from 8 a.m. to midnight. There are no showers.

United’s first-class lounge features an exclusive environment where guests can shower, eat and relax. Complimentary cocktails, beer and wine are available. If you need to get some work done, there are private work stations.