Review: Premier Business Class Lounge (JAS) Denpasar, Bali Airport
Intro
Following some splendid time in Bali, seeing family, and enjoying some fabulous food the island has to offer, it was time to head off on the next adventure to Egypt with Qatar Airways.
As I was flying business class, I was allowed access to the Business Class Lounge, which is titled "Premier Lounge" at Denpasar Airport. I was pleasantly surprised by this lounge, considering the lounge situation in Indonesia. It's certainly not up there with a flagship business lounge, but for a contract lounge, it is quite good.
Let's get into it!
Location+Access
Upon clearing security and immigration in the international terminal, follow through the Snake of Duty-Free, which will set you out right in front of the main shops/food court.
Right in front of me was a WHSmith, and next to that was the staircase that led upstairs to the two lounges. Once at the top of the stairs, I hung a right and found the entrance to the Premier Lounge. If you head left instead, that should put you out to the Garuda Lounge (which is just alright).
Once I arrived at the door, I presented my Qatar Airways Business Class ticket and was let into the lounge. If you are not flying on Skyteam and in Business Class, you will most likely be directed to this lounge. As an example, Qatar, Qantas, Batik, and Etihad passengers are all directed to the Premier Lounge.
I don't believe this is a priority pass lounge at the moment, but day passes are sold. The staff didn't quite understand what I was asking (my fault; I don't speak Bahasa), so I am not quite sure about the price.
The Seating
The seating was extensive across this lounge. In the few times I have visited before, I had no idea of the amount of space there was. Starting with the downstairs, which seems to usually remain empty.
A small decadently designed staircase allows for passengers to head back upstairs to the terrace.
Occasionally, the lounge can get busy inside. When this is the case, I highly recommend coming outside to the terrace to relax. There are even portable air conditioning units for the outside.
Head back inside to the main part of the lounge, which is the part you will walk by when you first enter. In theory, this seems like a comfortable place to relax, but at night it's jam packed. Of course, because this is where all of the food and drink is located😂.
On this particular evening, I found a spot to relax on the terrace with no soul in sight.
Food And Drink
Lounges in Indonesia haven't been the friendliest to me, in all honesty (bar the SQ First Lounge in Jakarta). However, I was pleasantly surprised by the good variety of food and drink at the Premier Lounge.
Starting with the downstairs portion of the lounge, there was a small array of buffet items, desserts, infused water, packaged sandwiches, yogurt, and chocolate cereal. The classic hot breakfast foods such as eggs and sausages were offered (most of these pics were taken from a separate time I was there).
Upstairs lies the larger selection, but also where all the people are 😂. There are a multitude of options, from hot items to lots of sauces, fresh fruits, sandwiches, and noodles, to name a few.
Now, let's get into the fun stuff: drinks!
Right by the entrance lies a bar that isn't too shabby for a contract lounge. Self-serve soft drinks, as well as water, are available for you to take at any time. If you fancy a beer, the Premier Lounge serves ice-cold Singaraja beer with cold glasses as well! Fancy some wine? Red, white, and sparkling wine is available free of charge.
Additionally, cocktails are available upon request, but it takes a minute or two to prepare. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that an off-the-menu espresso martini could be made. Heck, I certainly wasn't complaining, though😅. Be aware that a lot of these cocktails, they are made with the local liquor named "Vibe." It's not the best quality by any means, but it's still acceptable for cocktails.
The espresso martini was delicious and done perfectly with three coffee beans on top😉.
Other Amenities
For travelers looking to do some work, some watching, or some scrolling, you'll be happy to know that the Premier Lounge offers free wifi for passengers admitted into the lounge.
Okay, while what we have talked about so far in this lounge review has been good, the one aspect where the Premier Lounge needs to improve is the cleanliness of its bathrooms. It certainly left quite a bit to be desired for an airport bathroom, let alone a Business Class Lounge.
In all realism, I understand that with the humidity in Bali, it is difficult to maintain bathrooms. However, this certainly is an area I would like to see the Premier Lounge improve.
Additionally, the Premier Lounge also has showers. However, it slipped my mind to check them out during my multiple stays at the lounge. Judging by the state of the bathrooms, I would certainly opt to shower before heading to the airport.
Final Thoughts
Aside from the bathroom aspect of the lounge, I have thoroughly enjoyed my stays at the Premier Lounge at Denpasar Airport. If you head in here with the expectation of having a light bite before a flight, an ice-cold beer, and feeling a little bit hot (welcome to Bali), you won't be disappointed. The Premier Lounge certainly isn't up there with a contract lounge, and I certainly wouldn't recommend arriving at the airport early to check it out, but if you have access, it's not bad for an hour or two.
A solid 4 out of 5 stars.
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