Coimbatore airport lounge was originally known as Avaachi Lounge and has recently been rebranded as Blackberry Restaurant and Bar. Since the rebrand, many travelers have reported issues with card acceptance and inconsistent service. I kept seeing negative comments every month, so I decided to visit and see for myself. Below is my experience from a visit in the last week of February 2020.
Table of Contents
- At the lounge
- Accepted Cards
- The Food
- The Interiors
- Bottomline
At the lounge
- Me: Can I have access via cards?
- Lounge staff: Sorry sir, card access was closed a few months back. It’s only a restaurant now. (Repeated twice with a confident smile.)
- Me: (Calls Dreamfolks)… “Hey Dreamfolks, I’ve a situation……”
- Dreamfolks to lounge staff (on call): What’s happening?
- Lounge staff (to Dreamfolks): RuPay card has some issues. Yes sir, yes sir, we accept cards at the lounge, only the RuPay machine has a problem.
- Me (thinking): You just said the lounge concept was closed.
- Lounge staff (after call): Sorry sir, we accept only Visa cards. Many face issues, so we had to say it was closed. Also we don’t have any food now; chef timing is different.
- Me (thinking): New story again.
- Me: So what can I have now?
- Lounge staff: Sandwich and some tea/coffee.
- Me (thinking): So you do have something after all.
Moral of the story: If you face lounge access issues like the above, call Dreamfolks support at 18001234109.
Accepted Cards
After the call, they agreed to swipe my card. I tested several Visa cards (Signature and Infinite) and all worked without issue. The staff can put the card into the terminal and check how many complimentary visits remain if the card is supported. From my wallet, the following cards were accepted:
- SBI Prime
- Axis Vistara Signature
- HDFC Infinia
- Axis Magnus (Mastercard)
Notably, the lounge has been accepting Mastercard (Axis) for the past two months, so acceptance has improved. This makes the earlier claim that the lounge was closed puzzling.
One of the lounge staff volunteered his Axis Privilege card for testing and it worked as well. They also appear to have devices ready for RuPay and Amex, so wider acceptance may arrive once approvals are complete.
The Food
I was prepared for limited options, so I ordered a vegetable grilled sandwich and coffee to sample. Given the earlier confusion, my expectations were low. The chef had slightly overcooked the sandwich, leaving some pieces browned quite dark, but I tasted one piece and was pleasantly surprised. The sandwich turned out flavorful and I ended up eating three of the four slices. The coffee was good as well. Overall, the food was better than I expected for this lounge.
The Interiors
The interiors are pleasant and comfortable. The lounge is noticeably cooler than the terminal, relatively quiet, and equipped with charging points throughout. It offers a calm space to relax before your flight.
Bottomline
While this isn’t an outstanding lounge, its interiors and food make it a solid option at Coimbatore airport. The food selection may not match larger airport lounges, but for this airport it is a convenient and welcoming place to wait before departure.
Side note: After my card was accepted, a couple arrived and asked about credit card access. The lounge staff replied, “Yes sir, but we don’t have buffet…” in an awkward tone while I was nearby. If I hadn’t been there a few minutes earlier to test access, they might have been told no access. I hope this account helps others facing similar issues at this lounge.
Have you visited the Coimbatore airport lounge recently? Feel free to share your experience in the comments below.