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Jul 31, 2023

Review: Air Mauritius Lounge at Mauritius International Airport

The airline's Amédée Maingard Lounge is one of the two lounges at the airport. On my recent round trip journey to Mauritius with Emirates, I had the chance to check out the Air Mauritius - Amédée

The airline's Amédée Maingard Lounge is one of the two lounges at the airport.

On my recent round trip journey to Mauritius with Emirates, I had the chance to check out the Air Mauritius - Amédée Maingard Lounge located at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU). Due to the codeshare partnership between Emirates and Air Mauritius, I was able to access the lounge as a business class passenger.

While the lounge accepts premium passengers from over a dozen airlines, it also accepts members of more than half a dozen lounge access programs such as LoungeKey and Priority Pass.

The Amédée Maingard Lounge is one of the two available lounges at MRU. The second lounge, Salon Nenuphar, is not associated with any particular airline. However, passengers who are members of lounge access programs can gain complimentary access to it.

While the lounge accepts premium passengers from over a dozen airlines, it also accepts members of more than half a dozen lounge access programs such as LoungeKey and Priority Pass.

The lounge access programs enable members to have a seamless travel experience and access various airport lounges all around the world. To know more about the Priority Pass program, check out our detailed guide here.

The Amédée Maingard Lounge is located on the airside of the main terminal opposite gate 28, which is at the end of the terminal. This does mean that passengers with boarding gates on the other end of the terminal must ensure sufficient time is available to walk from the lounge to their gates. However, the terminal itself is not too big; hence, it should not be an issue if passengers are traveling light.

Furthermore, there is the added advantage of the lounge being located on the main terminal level, which makes it more convenient for passengers who require special assistance to access the lounge.

Leaving behind the hustles of the main terminal, upon entering the lounge, I was greeted by the lounge staff, who checked my boarding pass and followed the standard procedure of reiterating my boarding gate details and the boarding start time. I was also informed that there would not be any boarding announcements.

Beyond the entry, the lounge then splits into two levels, and on the day, I was informed that I could use the upper floor, called the Chamarel Lounge. The part of the lounge on the lower floor is called Tamarin Lounge, which remained empty.

Taking the elevator, I reached the upper level of the lounge, and my first impression was that it was spacious and comfortable. The areas were all well-lit (considering it was nighttime), and a fair number of passengers were present in the lounge.

However, with a space of 1860 square meters (just over 20,000 sq. ft.) and capacity for 400 guests, the lounge by no means felt crowded and had pleasant vibes.

The lounge offered facilities such as free WiFi, Internet Access points, and Fax services for passengers who preferred to remain productive while traveling. There were also workstations with charging points set up. Additionally, there were televisions and newspapers to cater to the passengers who like to stay up to date with all the latest world events.

Furthermore, there were ramps leading to different sections of the lounge, which enabled easier access for passengers who required wheelchair assistance. This shows that Air Mauritius has definitely gone the extra mile to ensure a seamless experience for all passengers.

In terms of seating, the lounge offered a range of different seating options and locations, which included restaurant-style group dining spaces, couples seating configurations for passengers traveling as a pair, and even sofas for passengers to sit together and socialize.

There was also a dedicated space for young travelers to play and enjoy, which included a soft pit filled with pillows and a television showing cartoons. The lounge also offered shower facilities for passengers who want to freshen up before their next flight.

The Air Mauritius website also shows that the Tamarin Lounge on the lower floor provides access to audio-visual amenities and a bar area. The lounge on the terminal's upper level offers a great view of the apron (during daytime); the lounge area has been designed to showcase a bit of greenery within its walls, giving it a refreshing ambiance.

The lounge provides a buffet-style meal service and has set up food stations encompassing various types of meals, such as light bites and appetizers to heavy, main course meals, which the passengers can help themselves to. There are also various drinks available for the guests to choose from. It is easily noticeable that the lounge has done a brilliant job of presenting various kinds of meals that cater to passengers with dietary preferences.

I chose to have a series of light bites, which included a small sandwich, an egg puff, a slice of pizza, and an assortment of sliced cucumbers with olives. Along with this, I also chose a side of salad and a small dish recommended by the lounge staff, which consisted of flavored yogurt garnished with cucumbers, which was a good choice.

The cutlery and tissues were all embossed with the Air Mauritius logo, which gave the whole experience a classier feel. As for drinks, there were different machines that dispensed water, various hot beverages, and soft drinks to which passengers could help themselves. The instructions to operate the machines were available in English and French.

The lounge staff present on the day was doing a great job in greeting guests and assisting us with various aspects. A personal observation was that the staff members stationed by the food counters gladly explained in detail about some of the cultural dishes that were present and gave suggestions. They were also attentive to details and ensured that meal options were always available.

Additionally, there were always staff members in sight to assist guests in any way possible, and they were all easy to approach and had friendly attitudes, making the lounge experience more comfortable.

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On the whole, the Air Mauritius Lounge provides a wonderful experience for its guests. The facility is equipped with various amenities that can cater to the needs of the passengers, be it for work, relaxation, or socialization.

Overall, the lounge is the perfect place to spend time relaxing before your flight out of Mauritius, and if you are flying with Air Mauritius or any of the partnering airlines or have a lounge access program membership, it is worth the visit.

Have you visited the Air Mauritius Lounge before? How was the experience? Let us know in the comments below.

While training as a Student Pilot, Abid is also pursuing an associate degree in Aviation Management. Having spent over a decade in the Middle East and flown a variety of carriers in the region, he is familiar with many of the airlines' products and services. His favorite aircraft is the Airbus A380, with 20+ flights logged on the type. Based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates