What if your work(place) felt more like your favorite airline club?
You walk in the door and are greeted by a smiling face that knows your name. In the background there is the subtle hum of conversation, the faint clinking of espresso cups, and the smell of abundant hot & fresh complementary eats. The lighting is warm. The furniture is comfortable. The atmosphere is inviting. The Wi-Fi is strong. Every seat feels intentional and natural light & greenery flood the relaxed environment.
It's not your work(place), it's your favorite airline's airport club.
Contrast that with the harsh fluorescent lighting, dated finishes, one-size-fits-all furniture solutions, and cavernous environments devoid of life or activity many of us call our offices. And that’s assuming you’ve made it through the long commute, expensive parking, and all the logistical gymnastics required just to show up. Childcare. Appointments. Life. What if instead we treated employees of the office just as we do customers of a product or service?
Hybrid & remote work is here to stay. Employees expectations surrounding work(place) flexibility and experience have changed and it's about time. The office is no longer just a vessel for holding the cogs of the "work machine." In the very real war for talent & retention, the office environment, and more importantly the office culture matter.
Comfort & Atmosphere
Soft seating areas, other more rigid community tables + chairs, shared bar configurations, tables for one, break out rooms for larger groups, and even individual phone booths - the modern airline club provides a variety of options for a variety of users looking for a variety of experiences. The environment is relaxed yet professional characterized by a diversity of textures, thoughtful finishes, and a subtle emphasis on the local flavor of the place. The space serves as a reprieve from the hectic & stark surrounding terminals and concourses trading busy storefronts + rigid, utilitarian furnishings for natural light, greenery, and even patios for access to fresh air & sunlight.
A SkyDeck within The Delta SkyClub at Los Angeles International LAX | Image via Delta
Personalized Experiences
The lounge staff often greet frequent travelers by name, anticipate needs, and help with any flight changes or travel needs proactively. The space feels human, accessible, and approachable. Where some of your favorite community restaurants and bars are closing, airline clubs can't expand quickly enough and have been forced to clamp down on access for the hordes of travelers flocking for a seat & a bite. Whether it's an airline club or a corporate office, make the atmosphere a place people actually want to be and you'll be rewarded with loyalty, talent, and tenure.
A reimagined United Polaris Lounge® at Chicago O'Hare International ORD | Image via United
A Renewed Focus on Wellness
Traveling can be a stressful experience. You're either the person that gets to the airport 4 hours in advance and has to physically see your gate to confirm it indeed does exist or you're the one that shows up 15 minutes later each time you travel to test the absolute minimum threshold between home garage door and airport plane door (you know who you are). Airline clubs can actually be a reason to enjoy traveling, make the most of your travel time, and even show up a little earlier for that next trip to take full advantage of:
Air France x Clarins - Air France's partnership with French skincare brand Clarins to offer massages + complimentary pre-flight facials
Virgin Atlantic x Peloton - The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in London (LHR) is outfitted with a suite of Peloton Bikes available for the health conscious traveler
American Express x Equinox - American Express' partnership with Equinox offering up "The Equinox Body Lab", a chilled-out space offering 15- to 20-minute complimentary restorative therapy sessions within its Centurion Lounges
A JFK International Airport (New York, NY) lounge spa treatment room from French-based skin-care brand Clarins in partnership with Air France | Image via Air France
Seamless Technology & Access
Whether you're at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) or Tokyo Haneda (HND) or anywhere in-between, the airline lounge is intended to create a welcoming and familiar experience for all. The same phone application that holds your boarding pass is also your key to the lounge space. The wifi password is shared and the connectivity is unlimited + seamless - no paywalls to be found. Often an outlet is no more than an arm's length away, and even where power can be tricky to find alternative options like mobile battery banks abound. A loyal airline passenger based in one city becomes an instantaneous member of the worldwide network of clubs & lounges.
The new Delta SkyClub at Concourse D of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International ATL | Image via Delta
Toss aside the RTO mandates, forget the "butts-in-seats" or "cost per employee unit" metrics, quit putting a bandaid fix on what has been broken for awhile. Instead, imagine a workplace designed with the same hospitality, intentionality, and respect for people’s time as a premium airline lounge. A space people want to show up to - not one they’re guilted or forced into. Many flexible office providers are already leaning into using hospitality to drive utilization & retention and creating more holistic experiences across a network of community third places - I happen to know one in particular that excels in this space - but much of the rest of the corporate office world is playing catch-up.
At this time, the modern workplace has a real opportunity to evolve into something better. Not just a place to work - but a place to belong.
