In October 2022, I had the pleasure of visiting the British Isles with one among my greatest mates.
As a result of I’m inveterate schemer who’s morally and monetarily against paying the Air Passenger Responsibility (APD) on flights out of the UK, and likewise as a result of I’ve some curiosity in Irish historical past, I did what any self-respecting tax dodger would do and opted to go to Eire.
This meant that our journey concluded on the Emerald Isle, and we departed for our dwelling international locations from Dublin Airport, due to this fact avoiding the APD.
Regardless of feeling slightly below the climate because of a quite late night time on the eve of my departure, I wasn’t about to overlook an opportunity to go to the T2 Lounge Dublin Airport previous to my flight.
T2 Lounge Dublin Airport – Entry
While you enter Dublin Airport, you’ll often be dropped off at Terminal 1 for departing worldwide flights. The airport is commonly bustling, even early within the morning, and so it took some time to clear safety.
After going via the safety motions, I spotted that Terminal 2 was nonetheless fairly a distance to stroll, which wasn’t aided by the quite lacklustre terminal maps of Dublin Airport supplied on-line.
Then once more, I wasn’t in the perfect bodily situation the morning of my flight, so maybe that made me a bit extra sluggish.
As soon as the trudge to the lounge from Terminal 1 was over, I needed to do a double-take, as a result of the T2 Lounge is positioned subsequent to 2 different lounges. To make issues extra complicated, one lounge is related to the airport itself (within the case of the East Lounge), and the opposite is with the airport’s flagship service Aer Lingus (within the case of the eponymous lounge).
The T2 Lounge Dublin Airport is positioned on the identical degree because the 400 gates, in a hall that’s dwelling to the opposite lounges.
I noticed multiple confused buyer being gently turned away by the T2 Lounge workers, solely to stumble into the subsequent lounge the place their boarding go or different proof of entry was permitted.
Happily, we had been capable of find the T2 Lounge, which helpfully included an inventory of its most popular companions on the door outdoors. With a fast swipe of my Precedence Go card, which comes as a profit with my American Specific Platinum Card, I used to be capable of achieve entrance for each myself and a visitor with out challenge.
The lounge is open from 5am–7pm each day, so bear in mind that you will have to look elsewhere in case your flight departs later within the night.
I’d additionally prefer to take a second to acknowledge the useful workers: the woman on the entrance desk had an ideal grasp on each program that contained lounge entry, and what number of visitor(s) every may usher in.
Subsequently, for those who’re carrying a number of bank cards with lounge entry, and occur to have relations or mates you need to usher in, the entrance desk workers may help you optimize your advantages. Little bonuses to service like this at all times stand out to me, and we should give credit score the place it’s due.
T2 Lounge Dublin Airport – Seating
What could be stated concerning the seating and facilities that hasn’t been acknowledged earlier than? Should you’re a frequent flyer, and even an occasional airport lounge visitor, then you definately most likely know what I’m referring to.
There have been a number of personal assembly areas off to the facet, which felt a bit cloistered, so I opted to go to the extra open public areas.
The seating consists of plush chairs and couches, with the occasional swivel-back thrown in. The colors are drab pastel shades, which hinted at a want to be visually pleasing with out being daring or distinctive.
Nothing right here screamed ultra-luxurious class, nevertheless it certain as heck beats something accessible to the general public outdoors the lounge. The seating was snug and plentiful, despite the fact that the precise dimension of the lounge was on the small facet.
There was additionally a small enterprise centre space with a printer, ought to you should print paperwork. Noticeably absent from the room was a pc, which was supposedly away for repairs.
Wi-Fi was supplied freed from cost and I discovered it to be fairly quick, which is essential for enterprise travellers and digital nomads alike.
After I visited the lounge, the one accessible restrooms had been accessible rooms, although apparently if these had been occupied, different restrooms weren’t too distant outdoors the lounge.
T2 Lounge Dublin Airport – Eating & Bar
Foodstuffs and drinks had been each served alongside the identical open-topped buffet positioned simply to the facet of the general public seating space. The choice wasn’t notably different, however neither was it terrible given the lounge’s smaller dimension.
There was loads of sugar- and carbohydrate-dense meals to select from, and whereas I’m often an unlimited fan of each kinds of sustenance, I used to be left wanting for one thing sizzling for breakfast, resembling eggs or maybe some ham.
Whereas buffet meals high quality is usually a concern, I used to be happy to see that it was continuously being topped up. For instance, dishes just like the porridge had been being agitated to forestall it from creating that tasteless skinny movie on the high, which these of us used to consuming lounge breakfast meals could have usually resigned ourselves to tolerating.
I made a word of this as a result of the lounge was nearly empty, and but the workers had been once more making an attempt to take care of an honest degree of inventory and freshness, which is at all times a very good signal.
On the beverage entrance, there have been chilly self-serve fruit juices, in addition to a fridge filled with non-alcoholic drinks.
There was additionally an espresso machine, although I didn’t partake this time. I’d seen comparable machines in England, and felt that the standard of the espresso wasn’t definitely worth the effort.
After all, there was additionally draft beer, home wines, and quite a lot of arduous liquor on show, and all of it was accessible self-serve. Regardless of it being earlier than 10am, all alcoholic drinks had been on provide to travellers, which was a pleasant reduction from North America the place service hours can typically by arbitrarily restricted.
I opted for a breakfast of Guinness and oatmeal, and have not often felt so invigorated.
Conclusion
Total, my time on the T2 Lounge Dublin Airport was good, however unremarkable. This lounge is a wonderful choice for these wishing to herald a number of mates or relations throughout a variety of lounge entry packages, and the foods and drinks had been satisfactory.
I discovered the service to be significantly better than one would possibly count on at a lounge like this, particularly given its relative vacancy.
Nevertheless, there was nothing that stood out or “wowed” me per se, so for those who’re travelling in a premium cabin from Dublin, one other lounge positioned simply subsequent to this one would possibly present a extra luxurious or memorable expertise.
