Concordia Lounge Review – Yogyakarta (JOG)

A SAD DAY FOR LOUNGE-DOM. A STAR HAS DIED. THE CONCORDIA LOUNGE IN TERMINAL ONE OF JOG HAS SHUT DOWN WITH THE SHIFT OF NEARLY ALL OPERATIONS TO THE NEW AIRPORT. MAY IT REST IN PEACE FOREVER. LOUNGESHARKS WILL COMMEMORATE THIS LOSS BY POURING OUT AN ENTIRE GLASS OF CAMPAIGNE AT THE NEXT LOUNGE WE VISIT. RIP, LOVE U FOREVER CONDORDIA. WE WILL NEVER MARRY AGAIN.

That said, we invite you to check out all the other great Concordia lounges. There are many.

Wayne and Garth say it best: WE ARE NOT WORTHY, WE ARE NOT WORTHY. I mean, we are not worthy in general, but we really don’t deserve this lounge. The Concordia Lounge at Yogyakarta airport is not just good for a pay-per-use lounge – it puts a more than a few global flagship lounges to shame. This lounge should be a case study for aspiring lounges – it’s so good it might even displace the Marco Polo Lounge in Venice as the best that we’ve reviewed. Concordia lounges are generally pretty solid, but this is something else. For all the juicy details to get you hyped up for your visit to the lounge, read on for a our Concordia Lounge Review – Yogyakarta.

Edit April 2020: Sad to say, this fantastic lounge may be going the way of the Dodo. As of this writing, anew international airport has been oepened in Yogya. Flights have largely transitioned to the new airport (YIA), but a few continue to depart from JOG. For how long, and whether or not this lounge stays open, is anyone’s guess. :/

The Facts – Concordia Lounge Review – Yogyakarta

The Concordia Lounge is located in terminal A, but please note: this lounge is lanside. Outside landside. As in, don’t bother heading to the main airport entrance to suffer through the security line – you’re too good for that. Head left instead, where you’ll see a sign board welcoming you to the lounge in the parking lot itself. This is your home now.

Don’t worry if you don’t have a boarding pass just yet – you’re too important to check in yourself. Once you’ve been swiped in with your Priority Pass or like card the agent will collect your passport/ID, luggage and confirmation number and invite you to have a seat in the lounge. In a few minutes, someone will bring you your passport and boarding pass. Is there any airline that offers service like this??

And with that, you’re all set. When its time to leave the lounge, you’ll be shown to the dedicated security check at the back of the lounge and ushered directly onto the tarmac to go to your plane. That’s right – you will never once visit the terminal during your trip to the airport.

Here’s a closer look at that entrance gate:

The Positives – Concordia Lounge Review – Yogyakarta

The space

This is the lounge that just keeps on giving. The main seating area is nothing if not vast. There are more than enough seats to accommodate lounge visitors in this area alone – but there are in effect three other seating areas as well (four if you count the spacious smoking room), each more or less blocked off from the other. The areas in the back are the least visited and most peaceful.

The food

Once again, the Concordia Lounge is just stellar. There is food on offer throughout the lounge. There is a decent spread of hot dishes located in the main area, enough to provide for a satisfying Indonesian meal. But there is also a separate stand in the Javan style that offers local specialties – if you didn’t get to try gudeg while you were in town, now’s your chance. In addition, there is a dessert table and a dessert cart. You will not fly hungry.

The internet

The internet is acceptable, with a download speed of about 11 mbps. It will get the job done, but you own’t be doing any gaming.

The games

How cool is this – the lounge has board games on hand if you have a friend who’s willing to play. Sadly, we found no takers. 🙁

The spa

Well, its not exactly a spa, but the lounge actually offers a number of theraputic massages for not much more than you would pay outside. The highest priced massage clocks in at just under US$10.

The Negatives

Do we really have to come up with some negatives?

The drinks

Well, there’s no alcohol, so i that’s something you care about, that’s one thing. That said, the drink options really aren’t that bad – coffees, teas, and a range of juices and infused water. There was no soda around, so this is a fairly healthy place. Still, given this is Indonesia, the lounge might have had 15 types of juices – whereas it only had 4. Oh well.

The restrooms

The restrooms are small but adequate. There are, however, no showers. On the plus side, the wudhu station and salaat room are nice enough.

The amazing

Again, it doesn’t get much better than having a dedicated security line just for lounge users. So, when you’re time in this oasis is finally up, you should make your way to the back of the lounge where you will find a security stand waiting with a line of exactly 0 persons. And from there, its straight onto the tarmac. No one will escort you or mind you either – as a VVIP, you know what you’re doing, so get out there to your private jet and go make some deals.

Final Grades – Concordia Lounge Review Yogyakarta