Oman Air, First and Business Lounge Muscat review.
Muscat's airport is not comparable to Dubai or Qatar: I would say it is very similar to Abu [...]
Oman Air
MCT
Muscat airport is not comparable to Dubai or Qatar: I would say it is very similar to Abu Dhabi, although objectively it is much less busy than the UAE's national airline hub.
In this article:
This is the home of Oman Air, a company that is a kind of Boutique Airlines with a few long-haul aircraft and a narrow network of destinations. Suffice it to say that (today) it does not fly to the United States and that its main market is to intercept European passengers bound for the Gulf areas or Asia and vice versa.
Location
All two airport lounges are in the same area. On the 5th level of the terminal plaza: this is where you get right after going through security and from here the various A/B/C piers of the airport are divided.
On the one hand, there is the Prime Class and on the other this lounge. In between is the Aerotel, a hotel intended for transit passengers.
One of the benefits the company offers is to have free stop over in Muscat for all passengers connecting in business or first. Free you get the chauffeur and the hotel, all included in the price in case you have a long connection. Economy passengers, on the other hand, can take advantage of Aerotel.
Access
As you are not part of any alliance in the lounge, you only enter if you are a member of Oman's loyalty program or if you are traveling in business class.
I am not aware of the possibility of even paid entry.
The lounge
Past the reception desk, you cross a corridor that leads to the first buffet area. The common thread of the lounge is the round walls.
It's like this everywhere, it's like being inside a rose: there is no straight wall except for the bathrooms.
The beautiful staircase in the heart of the lounge leading to the upper floor is also circular and very scenic.
Of course, the tables in the dining area are also round, and the buffet is displayed on a circular wall. The open kitchen, which was not active, however, is also round.
There are plenty of seats, the lounge is much larger than, for example, Etihad's lounge in Abu Dhabi, although the company is definitely smaller.
The thing that surprised me though is to have seen it really full of people, considering that it does not participate in alliances are all (or almost all) premium passengers.
Food & Beverage
There are two buffet areas where practically everything is offered: From sweet to savory, breakfast to dinner, and spirits. Which is not to be underestimated, since Oman is a Muslim state.
Whether or not alcohol is served is a discriminating factor that for many passengers may affect their choice of carrier. For example, Saudia does not offer any alcoholic products on board or in lounges And he won't even tolerate the passenger carrying his own.
Basically, it is as if there are two restaurants in the lounge, and it is likely that when the kitchen is in operation on view there is also some show Cooking. I didn't have much time to stop: I just had a cappuccino (industrial Nespresso machine) and popped upstairs for two photos.
Services
The main attraction is the SPA on the upper floor. Unlike in other companies, however, there is a charge for the offer and there is a real menu of proposals.
On the one hand, it is a service that by doing so will be available to only those who are really interested and not as is the case in other lounges where people (like me) go there because it is free.
There are rooms for prayers and ablutions, it could not be otherwise. And finally there is a family room, which is also important in a nation where there is still a lot of focus on the coexistence of men and women.
In conclusion
Sure, the gold is a tad tacky, but the lounge is nice and elegant with a beautiful view of the runway. It offers much more than what, for example, Qatar or Etihad offer with the in-house spa, and I really like this rounded world I found myself in for a half-hour.
Pro
- Location
- Gastronomic offerings
- View
Against
- Spa for a fee