Trip to Kathmandu flying on Etihad A380 First Apartment and Qatar Airways A380 First Class
Last month, Mike and I traveled to Kathmandu, Nepal for the first time to meet our travel partner Helena, owner of Helena India Travels. We are sending our first group to Nepal in autumn and it was a great opportunity to meet her as well as the owners of the hotels where our group would be staying at. We were offered complimentary five nights stay by Mingma, the Nepalese owner of Chhahari Retreat and needless to say, we enjoyed every single day of our stay not only because of the nice room and excellent food in the restaurant but moreso because each one of them treated us like their own family. As for our flight, Mike and I used our remaining American Airlines Advantage miles to fly in first class from Europe to the Indian Sub continent, just before the devaluation in March, which is 80K miles return per person. Here's the full trip report of our trip to Nepal and I hope that thru this, more people would consider traveling to this wonderful country in the future!
Review: British Airways Business Class, Stockholm-London
Review: Etihad A380 First Apartment, London-Abu Dhabi
Review: Al Dhabi Lounge, T1 Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH)
Review: Qatar Airways Business Class, Abu Dhabi-Doha
Review: Qatar Airways Business Class, Doha-Kathmandu
Review: Chhahari Resort, Kathmandu
Review: Yeti Airlines Everest Express
Top Attractions in Nepal
Review: Executive Lounge, Kathmandu International Airport (KTM)
Review: Qatar Airways Business Class, Kathmandu-Doha
Review: Qatar Airways A380 First Class, Doha-Paris
Review: Hilton Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
Review: Cathay Pacific First & Business Class Lounge, T2 (CDG)
Review: British Airways Business Class, Paris-London
Review: Hilton London Heathrow Airport
Review: British Airways Business Class, London-Stockholm
Executive Lounge VIP Room, Kathmandu International Airport
Date of visit: May 31, 2016
Location: After passport control and before Security Check. Take the stairs or the escalator to the 2nd floor.
Access: Business Class passengers of airlines like Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Etihad, etc.; Priority Pass members; walk-in guests pay 200 rupees
Opening hours: 6am to 11pm
Lounge Access
Located outside the entrance on the first floor is the list of "Executive Lounge User Airlines".
Executive Lounge
There is also some sort of a pre-reception although there was no staff when we came.
When you get to the second floor, you will see this signage, one leading to the restaurant (to your left) and to the Executive Lounge to your right.
Reception
Executive Lounge reception
Seating
Executive Lounge Kathmandu Airport, seating
Executive Lounge Kathmandu Airport, seating
Executive Lounge Kathmandu Airport, seating
Dining
Dinner buffet spread, vegetables, pea rice, etc.
Dinner buffet spread, grilled chicken
Dinner buffet spread, salads and sauces
Selection of appetizers
Opposite the buffet station is the bar and another food corner where you can get some appetizers, more main course and desserts. They also have a microwave oven to reheat your choice of main course.
Aloo Tikki, Paneer Pakora, Fish Balls, Chicken Meatball, Tenderloin
Bar station and food corner
Bar station and food corner
Alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks were to be ordered from the bar.
Coffee
Tea selection
VIP Room
There is also a VIP Room located on the other side of the main seating area.
VIP Room
There are also frames from the Radisson Hotel Kathmandu. The Exexutive Lounge is actually being managed by the Radisson Hotel which in my opinion is a very good thing.
Smoking Room
Located beside the VIP Room is the Smoker's Lounge
Work & Entertainment
International newspapers and magazines
More newspapers and magazines
There is also complimentary wifi and you would need to ask for the password at the reception.
Toilet and Shower Room
Gentlemen's toilet
Shoe shine machine inside the gentlemen's toilet
There are also shower rooms but I was informed by the receptionist that one has to pay for it.
Flight Departures monitor
There are several monitors with updated flight departures.
There are also staff walking around the lounge stating the flight numbers/destinations to remind the passengers to go to the security check.
CONCLUSION
I was actually glad that this lounge is being managed by the Radisson Hotel since I know that they have the same good service and product they are known for. The design obviously needs a make over although I thought that the food from the buffet tasted really good. The food offered was not the best selection and just simple but I thought that they have a very good chef so kudos to them. The staff were also very friendly and service minded. Unfortunately, one has to pay for the use of the shower room. Also, during our visit at around 8pm, the electricity went off although it was fixed quite quickly. Overall, this is a nice lounge with very good food selection and friendly staff. Just make sure you leave the lounge early enough as there could be a long queue in the security check as they have separate lanes for men and women, with the men's lane always being full.
Related Posts:
Business Lounge, Dubrovnik Airport (DBV)
Egypt Air Gienah Lounge, Cairo International Airport (CAI)
Last month, Mike and I traveled to Kathmandu, Nepal for the first time to meet our travel partner Helena, owner of Helena India Travels. We are sending our first group to Nepal in autumn and it was a great opportunity to meet her as well as the owners of the hotels where our group would be staying at. We were offered complimentary five nights stay by Mingma, the Nepalese owner of Chhahari Retreat and needless to say, we enjoyed every single day of our stay not only because of the nice room and excellent food in the restaurant but moreso because each one of them treated us like their own family. As for our flight, Mike and I used our remaining American Airlines Advantage miles to fly in first class from Europe to the Indian Sub continent, just before the devaluation in March, which is 80K miles return per person. Here's the full trip report of our trip to Nepal and I hope that thru this, more people would consider traveling to this wonderful country in the future!
Review: British Airways Business Class, Stockholm-London
Review: Etihad A380 First Apartment, London-Abu Dhabi
Review: Al Dhabi Lounge, T1 Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH)
Review: Qatar Airways Business Class, Abu Dhabi-Doha
Review: Qatar Airways Business Class, Doha-Kathmandu
Review: Chhahari Resort, Kathmandu
Review: Yeti Airlines Everest Express
Top Attractions in Nepal
Review: Executive Lounge, Kathmandu International Airport (KTM)
Review: Qatar Airways Business Class, Kathmandu-Doha
Review: Qatar Airways A380 First Class, Doha-Paris
Review: Hilton Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
Review: Cathay Pacific First & Business Class Lounge, T2 (CDG)
Review: British Airways Business Class, Paris-London
Review: Hilton London Heathrow Airport
Review: British Airways Business Class, London-Stockholm
Date of visit: May 31, 2016
Location: After passport control and before Security Check. Take the stairs or the escalator to the 2nd floor.
Access: Business Class passengers of airlines like Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Etihad, etc.; Priority Pass members; walk-in guests pay 200 rupees
Opening hours: 6am to 11pm
Lounge Access
Reception
Seating
Dining
Opposite the buffet station is the bar and another food corner where you can get some appetizers, more main course and desserts. They also have a microwave oven to reheat your choice of main course.
VIP Room
Smoking Room
Work & Entertainment
Toilet and Shower Room
There are also shower rooms but I was informed by the receptionist that one has to pay for it.
Flight Departures monitor
There are also staff walking around the lounge stating the flight numbers/destinations to remind the passengers to go to the security check.
CONCLUSION
I was actually glad that this lounge is being managed by the Radisson Hotel since I know that they have the same good service and product they are known for. The design obviously needs a make over although I thought that the food from the buffet tasted really good. The food offered was not the best selection and just simple but I thought that they have a very good chef so kudos to them. The staff were also very friendly and service minded. Unfortunately, one has to pay for the use of the shower room. Also, during our visit at around 8pm, the electricity went off although it was fixed quite quickly. Overall, this is a nice lounge with very good food selection and friendly staff. Just make sure you leave the lounge early enough as there could be a long queue in the security check as they have separate lanes for men and women, with the men's lane always being full.
Related Posts:
Business Lounge, Dubrovnik Airport (DBV)
Egypt Air Gienah Lounge, Cairo International Airport (CAI)