Review: CIP Lounge at Antalya Airport - Happy Suprise
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We were to fly from Antalya to Helsinki on an August evening and, as airport lounge enthusiasts, were eager to experience the CIP Lounge in Terminal 2. Despite reading numerous negative reviews, we decided to give it a try. While our expectations were low, we ended up rating the lounge 3.5 stars. Read on to find out why.
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CIP Lounge at Antalya Airport
Antalya Airport is a popular summer destination in southern Türkiye. The airport is crowded with European and Turkish travellers heading to holiday resorts. CIP Lounge is the only airport lounge operator at the airport having lounges in Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Domestic Terminal.
Despite many negative online reviews of CIP Lounge at Antalya Airport, we were curious to try it ourselves. We're glad we did since the lounge was much better than the reviews suggested. In this article, we share our CIP Lounge experiences in Terminal 2.
Our Visit to CIP Lounge in Terminal 2
We were about to fly from Antalya to Helsinki on Finnair in August 2024. Our late-night flight prompted us to arrive at the airport early and try the CIP Lounge. Despite a delayed airport transfer from Alanya, we had plenty of time to enjoy the lounge thanks to efficient check-in, security, and passport control in Terminal 2.
Locating the Lounge
After passing through passport and security controls, we followed clear signs, leading us to the second floor via escalators. Then, we saw the lounge just a few steps away. The lounge was easy to locate and reach after the security check.
Entering the Lounge
At the entrance, the lounge seemed small, leading us to worry about its capacity. Nevertheless, we decided to enter. A friendly staff member in the bright reception quickly checked our digital Priority Pass card and boarding passes. Quite soon we realised that the lounge was much bigger than we had thought. We also found out that the walk-in price was 80 euros, which made us glad we had a Priority Pass membership.
First Impression
The lounge felt spacious and inviting, despite the negative reviews on Google. It was divided into many areas and featured Turkish-inspired decor with paintings on the wall. The lounge was clean and well-maintained, and it was easy to find available seating.
Premises
The lounge featured two main sections that mirrored each other. A small outdoor terrace, mainly meant for smoking, was situated between them. While the lounge was located near a tarmac area, the windows were dimmed to keep the interior cool during the day. The terrace provided the best view of the tarmac.
Besides the two main sections, a corridor to the reception had limited seating. The corridor was connected to a small duty-free shop and restrooms. Adjacent to the corridor was one more area offering an interior view of the terminal. Furthermore, some seating was available near the reception, although the reception area was notably bright and noisy.
The lounge had buffet tables in various locations, ensuring easy access to food and drinks. Additionally, the presence of green plants contributed to a more welcoming atmosphere. The layout was well-designed and functional.
Food and Drinks
The lounge featured several buffet stations scattered throughout the premises, each offering quite a similar selection of food. Hot food options included chicken nuggets, while cold options included salads, sandwiches, pieces of bread, yoghurts, cookies and similar simple cold food. Also, fruits were provided.
Refrigerated beverages were available in bottles. Alcoholic beverages were not served in the lounge but could be purchased at the duty-free shop inside the lounge. Coffee machines were provided.
Services
The lounge provided standard airport lounge amenities in addition to food and beverages.
The Wi-Fi connection was reliable, which was particularly important given Türkiye's high mobile roaming costs. While there were power outlets available, more would have been beneficial as not all seats had them nearby.
The lounge had on-site restrooms, although they were not professionally cleaned and could benefit from improvement. Showers were not available.
The lounge featured numerous flight information screens and televisions. Notably, it was the only lounge in the airport we had visited to have a duty-free shop.
Rating
We rate CIP Lounge in Terminal 2 of Antalya Airport as a 3.5-star lounge. The lounge was good with simple warm food including cold and hot drinks. The layout was practical and the lounge provided all typical lounge services. However, two things need improvements: the toilets must be cleaned better and more power sockets are needed. With small improvements, we could easily give the lounge 1 star more.
There are many ways to access airport lounges.
- Infrequent travellers may book lounge visits on Lounge Pass.
- Frequent travellers may benefit from a lounge membership. Read our Priority Pass review.
You will find more helpful information from our Airport Lounge Guide.
Bottom Line
Our expectations for the CIP Lounge at Antalya Airport were quite low based on the Google reviews. However, we were pleasantly surprised to find that the lounge was not bad at all. While there were a few areas for improvement, overall, our lounge experience was enjoyable.
Given its high walk-in price, a lounge membership can be considered a worthwhile investment for this lounge. The exclusivity of being the only lounge in Terminal 2 and its status as an airline lounge for business class passengers likely contribute to the elevated cost.
Have you visited CIP Lounge? What did you like? What could be improved? Comment below.
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