One’s expectations are guided by one’s experiences and perceptions. I have seen this repeatedly, especially with airport lounge reviews. I have different expectations if I’m visiting a Cathay Business Lounge in Asia as opposed to a United Airlines Lounge in Atlanta.
Which brings me to Cancun. On two occasions, once in 2014 and again in 2016, I visited the lounge at Terminal 3 at Cancun International Airport. The entrance is somewhere behind the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. The lounge was was DDD – dark, dank and dingy. It had little to offer in the way of food or beverages.
Cancun Airport Lounge circa 2016
On those prior visits, I entered using my Priority Pass membership, used the wifi, relaxed before my flight and then I was on my way. I never wrote a review, because, frankly, there was nothing much to write.
Fast forward to July 2018. We stayed at the Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen for 5 nights. Our JetBlue flight home was at 5 p.m. We took a taxi to the airport (700 Pesos) and got to the airport with a few hours to spare. After picking up a bottle of Mezcal to bring home, we went to the lounge, now called the Mera Business Lounge.
To my surprise, the lounge had been totally renovated and it was vastly nicer than it had been two years before.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the Taj Mahal, but it was way better than my expectations. The lounge is clean, has good seating, working wifi, and plenty of outlets.
The food was considerably better than edible: it was decent. There was an assortment of salad and melons as well as some meat and cheeses. The platters were refreshed regularly. I thought the sushi and the guacamole were very good.
There was an espresso machine.
There were juices and waters and soft beverages as well as cans of beer in a refrigerator.
There was also a bar with a pretty good selection of alcohol, much of it top shelf. A lounge worker doubled as a bartender and even brought my drink to me at my seat.
The staff were all pleasant (service with a smile is always a big plus).
What a nice surprise. Overall, the experience far outweighed my expectations.
A New York frequent flyer who elegantly combines her passions for worldwide travel, running a gazillion marathons all over the globe and staying fit ... without sacrificing her fancy for good wine and food.
Looks like the same POS as when we visited several years ago.
Visited this lounge in March and yes, so much better than how it looked in 2016. The bartenders were very attentive and kept bringing our table new drinks. And I was surprised at the variety and taste of the food. It wasn’t gourmet, but surprisingly better offerings than most domestic lounges. A much better option than sending $8 for a Burger King burger as Cancun airport restaurants come with very high price tags.