Quick Review: Ahlein Business Class Premium Lounge, Cairo, Egypt
Intro
What a wonderful time Cairo was for the brief 28 hours I was there. After a terrific time at the Fairmont, visiting the Pyramids, and even taking a boxing class, it was time to board the next leg of my around-the-world trip onboard the ITA A321neo in Business Class. Due to the nature of my business class ticket, I was offered free lounge access to the contract lounge "Ahlein."
I was quite skeptical going into this lounge, seeing as I thought it would be nowhere near the likes of a decent business-class lounge. Boy, oh boy, was I wrong; this lounge is damn good for a contract lounge. With plenty of hot food options, free/fast wifi, and a modern design, I had a lovely time. The only aspect I would love to see improve is the alcohol selection. However, I understand the fees associated with this in Egypt.
Let's get into it!
Access+Location
Located inside, after you clear immigration in Terminal 2, is the newest lounge to launch at Cairo International Airport: The Alhein Lounge. It's a bit complicated to find, but follow the signs to the airline lounges, and head up the stairs.
Learn from my mistake; don't end up in the AlFursan lounge😅 as they don't accept ITA Business passengers. Thankfully, they pointed me towards some back alleys, where I finally found the Ahlein Lounge Location.
In terms of access, this is a contract lounge and therefore comes with a variety of different options for entering.
Priority pass members are eligible 3 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Business Class ticketed passengers on Turkish Airlines, British Airways, and ITA, to name a few (there was no sign to say all of the airlines).
A day pass is 35$ and available at the door.
Seating
The seating aspect is where the Ahlein Lounge in Cairo really shines. It's a massive space, with plenty of options ranging from day beds to dining chairs to recliners, depending on what you are feeling like.
Additionally, there are a couple of private rooms distributed throughout the lounge, which can be rented for a fee at the front. The cost is 10$ per person per hour, which isn't too bad. However, during most of the day, the lounge is empty enough that this isn't needed.
Smoking Room
For those who are smokers, there is a lovely smoking/cigar room that is ventilated well enough that you cannot smell anything outside. Heck, it's even got a TV to watch a match is it is on.
Food+Drink
Surprisingly, okay, I guess unsurprisingly, since I gave it away in the beginning, the food selection was very decent here. Plenty of hot options were available and restocked frequently. These ranged from Swedish Metaballs, warm bread rolls, and even pasta with red sauce.
In terms of drinks, there was a station for coffee, water, soft drinks, and a few other non-alcoholic options. I didn't see any alcohol in the lounge this time around, but reports have suggested that sometimes they have booze and sometimes they don't😅.
Restrooms/Showers
The restrooms were kept clean throughout my stay and looked very modern. This was a surprise for me, as the last time I was in Cairo airport, the state of affairs was vastly different.
Heck, I mean the hand dryer is one of the nicest you will find around the world at any airport!
Showers are available for free, although you must ask at the front desk to take one.
Other Amenities
Supposedly, there are a vast number of other amenities throughout the lounge, ranging from full-on spa rooms offering treatments to mani-pedis to a prayer room and even luggage storage. Of course, bear in mind that everything comes at an extra charge here. Nothing is free🙂.
Naturally, free wifi is available.
How Busy Is The Lounge
I spent about 4 hours at the Ahlein Lounge in Cairo and found it to be especially busy during the evening rush of flights. Before about 4 pm, there must have been a total of about 20 people in the whole lounge. However, as departure drew closer to the British Airways flight, as well as the ITA flight, the lounge quickly started to fill up. Then, perhaps the private room isn't a bad idea.
Final Thoughts
The Ahlein lounge is one of the nicer contract lounges I have come across in my time. It shows how modern and new the lounge in the Ahlein is, with a multitude of beautiful seating, a good variety of food, and private rooms when necessary. Perhaps future travelers can provide an update if they alcohol next time?
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