Which Airlines Have Onboard Bars And Lounges? – Forbes Advisor

As of November 2023, seven airlines have onboard bars or lounges where you can stretch your leg and order a cocktail, provided you’re in First or Business Class:

• Emirates
• Etihad Airways
• Korean Air
• Virgin Atlantic
• Virgin Australia
• Qantas
• Qatar Airways

In terms of specific aircraft, you’ll most commonly find bars and lounges onboard the largest passenger plane in the world: the Airbus A380. But some airlines have managed to squeeze bars, lounges and other social areas onto smaller A350s, A330s and even Boeing 787s and 777s.

Emirates A380 Onboard Lounge

Emirates via YouTube

Emirates has a lounge onboard its A380s called, quite simply, the A380 Onboard Lounge. Introduced in 2017, the lounge features a trained bartender, 18 custom cocktails, fresh snacks and live TV. There’s room for 26 total guests—eight seated and 16 standing—which is truly massive for an onboard lounge.

Aside from its sheer size, the A380 Onboard Lounge is also known for its delectable canapés, which are small appetizers served on bread, puff pastry or crackers.

Unfortunately (though not surprisingly), the A380 Onboard Lounge is reserved for First Class and Business Class passengers only.

Etihad Airways The Lobby

Etihad Airways (@etihad) on X

On select A380s, Etihad Airways offers an Arabian-inspired lounge area it calls The Lobby. Situated between First and Business Class, The Lobby features a self-service bar, live TV and fresh snacks.

What you see pictured above is three of the six total seats‚—all facing each other—so The Lobby is clearly geared towards socializing over imbibing in solitude. If you’re truly looking to stretch your legs in peace, you might consider booking The Residence: Etihad’s onboard three-room suite.

The Lobby is reserved for First or Business Class passengers only. Travelers in The Residence can access The Lobby, too, but would you really want to leave your private apartment in the sky?

Korean Air Celestial Bar

KoreanAir.com

Korean Air features a unique “Celestial Bar” on all of its A380s. Sponsored by Absolut vodka, the bars feature a rather vibrant motif and offer a short menu of vodka-based cocktails.

If you’re more of a wine or scotch person, you can always order off the menu and a flight attendant will retrieve your beverage of choice from the galley.

Celestial Bar access is available to all First and Prestige Class passengers.

Virgin Atlantic The Booth, The Bar and The Loft

VirginAtlantic.com

Upper Class travelers on Virgin Atlantic flights have access to three distinct social spaces onboard.

• The Booth, pictured above, offers an intimate lounge space for two passengers. The tiny alcove features Scottish leather seats, two TVs and the option to order cocktails or a full meal. The Booth is found on select A350s and you can make reservations once you’re onboard.

VirginAtlantic.com

• The Bar, available on all A330s and Boeing 787s, is perhaps a bit misleading in name; it’s quite literally just a long table (or a “bar”) with high-top chairs attached. Calling it a “lounge” is probably a stretch, but it’s still a useful place to meet friends for a snack and a cocktail.

VirginAtlantic.com

• The Loft, found aboard the A330neo and A350, offers a simple social area where you can socialize, order food and drink from a flight attendant and watch the live “tailcam” on a 32” TV.

Access to all three social areas is reserved for Upper Class passengers. And if you’re looking to try a gin martini in the exact place where James Bond sat in Quantum of Solace, you should know that specific onboard bar has since been decommissioned.

Virgin Atlantic, via X Quantum of Solace, property of MGM/Sony Pictures Releasing

Virgin Australia Boeing 777 Bar

Virgin Australia, via Facebook

Despite the Boeing 777-300ER being roughly 40% smaller than the Airbus A380, Virgin Australia still managed to squeeze a fully-tendered bar inside. Inside the pocket-sized lounge you’ll find high-top seating for four, two small couches and a Business Class flight attendant ready to pour your beverage of choice.

Scattered reports indicate that the tiny bar actually fills up towards the end of the flight, as passengers order extra coffee to offset the LA-to-Sydney jetlag.

Access to Virgin Australia’s onboard bar is reserved for Business Class passengers.

Qantas Captain A380 Speakeasy-Style Bar

Qantas.com

In stark contrast to the colorful, eye-popping Captain Cook Lounge of its past, Qantas now features a dim and cozy speakeasy-style lounge on all of its A380s.

Qantas installed these new lounges in 2019 in an effort to create a space that was more conducive to social interaction than their previous lounge design, pictured below. Considering everyone used to face the same direction, we’d say it’s an objective improvement in that regard.

news.com.au

As for food and drink, there’s a self-service minibar and a special menu designed by Australian designer chef Neil Perry. Access to the 10-seater lounge is reserved for First and Business Class passengers.

Qatar Airways A380 Bar

QatarAirways.com

Doha-based Qatar Airways offers a slick, ultramodern lounge aboard each of its Airbus A380s. It’s also one of the more robust onboard lounges we’ve seen, with freshly-made snacks, a full bar and a trained bartender ready to craft your favorite custom cocktail.

As expected, you’ll need a First or Business Class ticket if you’d like to experience this LED-soaked, Blade Runner-esque lounge yourself. And don’t delay—the CEO of Qatar Airways is outspoken in his disdain for the A380, intending to replace the “hopeless” airplane as soon as economically possible.