Having flown in and out of Bahrain International Airport with Gulf Air, my home base, I have a fulfilling impression of the experience. Here’s what you can expect when flying from Bahrain Airport in Gulf Air Business Class.
directions
Bahrain, like Qatar, is a very compact country, with most of the activities located on the north side of the island. It took about 20 minutes by taxi from our hotel in the city center to the airport.
Although Uber is available in this country, it was very difficult to get picked up at the airport upon arrival and we were stuck with a local taxi driver. However, from the city he had no problem taking an Uber car. He now also has access to Careem, a UAE-developed ride-hailing service owned by Uber, which offers slightly lower prices but lower quality vehicles.
check-in
Bahrain International Airport opened a new terminal in 2021, but thanks to the pandemic, it was almost brand new during my trip in July 2022. From the outside, the airport is modern and clean, with several drop-off points for each airline, as well as a premium check-in area for ‘Falcon Gold’ business class passengers. This is similar to many airports such as Istanbul and Doha, making it a more special experience.
The terminal is large and open with interesting lighting fixtures, making it a bit more interesting to look at than most glass or steel terminals. Business class check-in was to the right of this deserted reception area, and wait times were minimal. I’m glad they added chairs, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone actually using them.
Immigration is just 100 meters from this premium check-in and provides a separate facility for Falcon Gold passengers. After receiving a very frosty welcome from the Bahraini Border Guard on arrival, I did not take any photos of the immigration desk.
Once you pass through it, you will be greeted by a central atrium lined with numerous luxury shops. Falcon Gold Lounge signage is displayed throughout the terminal, making it easy to find.
First impressions of Gulf Air lounges
When I arrived at the Gulf Air Falcon Gold Lounge, I was a little disappointed as the entrance didn’t fully represent the space. The old-fashioned wooden design and low ceiling of the entrance give it an old feel.
Despite its dated appearance, there was an adorable model plane in Gulf Air’s retro livery for its 70th anniversary a few years ago.
However, once you pass through the entrance, the lounge is much nicer and larger than first impressions suggest. Although this lounge has many elements, it is essentially divided into two main zones: dining and relaxing.
How about a great meal at Gulf Airs Lounge?
For a business class lounge, the service at Gulf Air Lounge is one of the most impressive I’ve ever seen on an airline. Firstly, as you can see on the menu, the breadth of options is outstanding.
Notably, the best part of this lounge’s food and drink offerings are the made-to-order pizzas and pastas. The taste was great and the quality was high.
The rest of the meals are self-service, with a choice of local, Indian and Western cuisine. To be specific, the service area was a bit untidy, but that’s really a minor criticism and I thoroughly enjoyed my meal here.
Even better was the seating selection. The lounge is rarely crowded, even during peak airport hours, and there is little competition for seats.
For drinks, there were self-service soft drinks in the refrigerator scattered throughout the lounge. As for alcohol, there is a bar area in the main seating concourse with alcohol visibly on display (which is not always the case in this area). Although we weren’t able to photograph the spirits directly, it appears that the essentials are available, in addition to a basic selection of wine and beer.
More space in Gulf Air lounges
Heading into the other main part of the lounge is the main concourse where most passengers spend their time. Here you will find almost all the seating types you need: tables, solo chairs, sofas.
Gulf Air has cleverly divided this main concourse, which is essentially one long rectangle, into different areas. This creates a bit more of a sense of privacy, and the lounge design itself feels modern yet upscale at the same time.
At the very back of the lounge is a gaming zone, which is very random. It features a pool table, foosball, and a “VR game booth.”
I decided not to use the gaming zone and instead use the excellent WiFi. A download speed of 277.67mbps and an upload speed of 476.38 have to be the best I’ve ever experienced at an airport. Indeed, in contrast to the ultra-restrictive he WiFi at Istanbul Airport…these speeds are also accessible on my desktop computer in the business center.
A prayer room is available for those who wish.
One disappointing thing
While the rest of the Gulf Air Lounge is great, the bathroom feels like an afterthought. For an airport that only opened two years ago, this is a shower. While certainly functional, it’s still very basic for a Middle Eastern airline, especially after a long day in the summer heat. The rest of the bathroom was always kept clean during our time in the lounge.
Gulf Air lounge summary
generally, gulf air lounge It’s a good lounge. Food and seating selections are great. Passengers in transit who spend a few hours here will feel comfortable and can also enjoy this visit before their next flight. The only thing they could improve is to improve the shower. I probably prefer the BA showers at Heathrow Airport.
Did you like our Gulf Air Lounge review? You can read more about our Airline Lounge review here.