Where is the lounge you all speak of? I have never noticed it?

It's down on the way to Gate A1 on the right.

We have used the lounge the last two October trips while the renovations were happening. The cost was $20 per person. They had wine and soft drinks and appetizers like hot chicken wings. Considering the limited choices of places to eat the last two years, and after eating about three plates of the chicken wings and three or four glasses of the cheap wine, I felt that I got my moneys worth. They had wireless internet and private restrooms, televisions, magazines and comfortable seating. If more bars and eating opportunities are now available, then we probably won't use them this year.

Well, not really, there are still very few places to eat and drink. The choices to eat inside security are the burger place, Domino's, the caribbean place, Bacchus, and the place down at the end next to the smoking lounge, which has some sandwiches and salads. That's it. There is a grand total of one bar where you can get something other than beer or wine.

Just having private bathrooms would make that worth it.
The restrooms in the departure area get rather messy and smelly on a busy Saturday. P.U.

Those B(?) gates downstairs are THE WORST part of the trip. Hot. CROWDED. Not enough seating. No restrooms. Tables where people and their belongings are being searched out in the open in front of several hundred people.
If I knew where to complain about that, I would.

The departure lounge is a great choice if it suits your needs on a given trip.

We have tried the new places on our last few trips, Bacchus Lounge, Johnney burger etc. and have finally given up. Next trip we'll just grab a wrap from the place towards the left as you enter and hope for better results.

Yes, there are some attractive stores, but we've never bought anything in them.

And yes, the downstairs gates are terrible.

We were glad that we had brought a sandwich with us last time.

When we have the option, we prefer to fix something ourselves and take it with us to either eat on the plane or at the airport. Last trip we made our own sandwiches before heading to the airport, then just bought some drinks after we were inside security. Better than the airport food! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />