Originally Posted by SoulVision

To have this in Brisbane, is so cool.



















Lounging around in Brisbane
Phil Lutton | April 9, 2008 - 9:00AM | Brisbanetimes

When you plonk yourself in the calming bubble of an airline lounge, away from the rows of rock-hard plastic seats and battalions of screaming children, it's difficult to convince yourself to brave the madness outside.

You dawdle over your complimentary beverage and bikkies for as long as possible, delaying that inevitable moment when you are forced to dive head-first into the mass of commuters and make a mad dash for your flight.

If it's not the careening luggage carts that get you, it's the $6 coffees. Best to put one on lay-by for the next time you take to the skies.

Emirates is cutting out the middle man with its new luxury lounge at Brisbane International Airport. In an Australian first, passengers can board their flights directly from the comfort of the lounge - including the top deck of the mammoth Airbus A380.

Emirates threw open the doors to the new lounge last week as part of the new northern concourse to Brisbane's international terminal. It can accommodate 172 guests, with 106 in the lounge area, 56 in the dining section and 10 in the business centre

The airline hopes to woo travellers with its array of massage chairs, leather armchairs, flat-screen televisions and designer bathrooms and shower facilities.

The Brisbane lounge facilities are available to both first and business class passengers as well as Gold members of Skywards, Emirates' frequent flyer program.

As well as the new lounge, Emirates will introduce the latest technology on the Brisbane route with the launch of the Boeing 777-300ER that features lie-flat business class seats. New first class private suites will be introduced in July this year and a second non-stop service to Dubai will begin in October using the advanced A340-500.

The current daily Emirates flight into Brisbane via Singapore delivers around 2600 people per week. When the second non-stop daily service to Brisbane is introduced, this additional flight will increase weekly seats to 4400, boosting tourism numbers from the Middle East and Europe.