This post is a review of the new Crystal Lounge by Aspire which opened at Geneva airport in February 2022.
The Crystal Lounge by Aspire is a Swissport-operated lounge that opened in February 2022. The new lounge is located in the East Wing by the C Gates which serves flights to non-Schengen and long-haul destinations including Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Emirates and Etihad send their premium and status passengers to the Marhaba Lounge, located across from the Crystal Lounge. A review of the Marhaba Lounge will be published February.
What is good about the Crystal Lounge in Geneva?
The Crystal lounge has one big advantage. The location could not be more convenient. It is located in the East Wing above the C Gates from which both Etihad and Emirates depart.
The C Gates are used for non-Schegan and long-haul flights. It is necessary to pass through departure immigration control to reach the C Gates. The line can be unpredictable, particularly during peak winter holiday periods. Back in February, my family had a 40-minute wait while in June the line only took three minutes.
As the Crystal Lounge is just above the gates from which Emirates and Etihad typically depart it is possible to stay in the lounge until just before boarding closes with no risk or needing to rush.
Overall impression
The Crystal Lounge is aesthetically one of the most attractive at Geneva Airport. The lounge has a long and narrow layout. However, with floor-to-ceiling glass on both sides, it feels bright, airy and spacious with a wonderful view over the runway and mountains in the distance. Planespotters will be happy.
Seating
I counted at least eight different types of seating from desks to comfy armchairs and even a couple of private booths. Whether you need to work or want to relax, or are travelling alone or with a group, there should be a seating option available that works for you.
Food and beverage selection
The food and drink selection was the one aspect of the Crystal Lounge that I found to be a tiny bit disappointing. The selection was limited.
There were two drinks stations, one at each end of the lounge for coffee, tea and water. At the main buffet, there was a small selection of soft drinks and juices and one option of Swiss red, white, rose and sparkling wines. There were no spirits. The Swissport site says Champagne and Prosecco are available for an extra charge.
One charming touch. Heineken was available on draught on an airline-style catering trolley.
There was a continental selection for breakfast with croissants, pain-au-chocolat, bread rolls, muffins, fresh fruit and yoghurt. No hot breakfast items were available. There did not appear to be any set-up for hot options so I would not expect to see any during the day.
While the selection was limited it was sufficient and while none of the options was exciting the quality was good.
In contrast, the Marhaba Lounge next door has a broader range of food and drink, including hot items.
Power & Wifi
Power sockets are plentiful particularly at the workstations. Unfortunately, the sockets only take Swiss/Euro-style plugs. However, each socket also has USB and USB-C ports which should help most people.
Toilets
There are no toilets in the lounge. However, there is a shortcut at the back of the lounge to the toilets in the main terminal.
Who can access the Crystal Lounge Geneva
The Crystal Lounge is open from 0700 to 1800 and can be found above Gates C53-54.
Etihad and Emirates are sending eligible passengers to the Marhaba Lounge. However, if you do not have access to the Marhaba Lounge or it is particularly busy the Crystal Lounge is a solid, comfortable alternative. There are a couple of ways to access the lounge:
Use lounge programmes
The Crystal Lounge participates in the following lounge programmes:
- Priority Pass
- DragonPass
- LoungeKey
- Lounge Pass
- LoungeMe
Certain Emirates and Etihad co-brand credit cards include membership in a lounge programme as a card benefit. If you do not already have an Etihad co-brand card check the best sign-up bonuses currently available.
Pay for entry
Swissport charges USD $42.95 for adults / USD $21.48 for children for three hours in the lounge. Book access to the Crystal Lounge here.
Conclusion
The Crystal Lounge with floor-to-ceiling views of the mountains and the runway is a pleasant place to wait before a flight.
The food and drink selection is admittedly small, but it is sufficient.
You can find other lounge reviews by the Expat Flyer here.