United’s newest airport lounge is a ‘grab and go’ cafe

That is a really good idea the 7-11 of the airport free of charge, Asian Salad, Chicken and Mayo Sandwich, Beer, Soft Drinks and Wine. It actually increases the range without the additional cost of preparing meals and then the option of take onboard if you're in economy. 10 out of 10

Very interesting, all are slightly different approaches to the same idea. Definitely appreciate these are not replacements for traditional airport lounges, more like an alternative in a more convenient location. The Air Canada cafe and Lufthansa bistro could almost be normal airport lounges, just done in a different way.

Great idea as long as it is always offered in "addition" to your traditional lounge offering.

Call me cynical but I can see some airline execs testing the waters and see if consumers would accept the new 7/11 style grab and go's as replacement alternatives to your full service lounge (operating costs would be alot cheaper)

Imagine Qantas club membership being reduced to 7/11 style grab and go's 

I can seeing this being a nice service in smaller airports – but I have to say, the benefit of a lounge is not just a free snack. Having a quieter space to relax in away from the terminal crowds, a space to do work, nicer bathrooms with showers etc ... I think I place higher value on these ammenities than the food.

I must be old fashioned. The postmodern, colder world continues to depersonalise. The convenience store look is lacklustre.

I agree there has been strange responses but I get not every one wants to sit down in a reasonably comfortable chair and drink their coffee or eat their meals (preferably not in a box) rubbing shoulders with other pax. 

Having to pick up takeaway F & B package from an airline premium lounge with limited space, so that you can be the regular crowd eating standing up or box on your lap in an ultra low and uncomfortable seating area, pretty much defeats the purpose of paying or trying to get premium lounge access.

Are these people with such ideas trying to sell a turkey to justify downgrading a service?

There is almost no chance that Air Canada would replace their full lunge with their grab-and-go. For a start, there are way more eligible passengers that could ever fit into the G&G at any given time. And as nice as the Pearson G&G is, premium passengers would never allow the removal of comfortable seating/ work area (though the latter definitely needs renovating). G&G takes some of the pressure off the Maple Leaf Lounge, which is often full to capacity and sometimes has a queue of people waiting to get in. I haven't been in the G&G for a while, but last time I was there, there was a nice lady handing out super-premium chocolates (not available in the Maple Leaf Lounge). Further, the G&G cafe is on Level 2, departures level and really conveniently situated for both of the domestic-gate wings, whereas the Maple Leaf Lounge is on Level 4, and is serviced by the slowest elevators in North America.

Don’t mind the concept for domestic lounges but If it’s bottled beer then they would lose me, love my draft beer and would be happy to find somewhere else in the terminal and pay for it. 

Great   I like my Senator Cafe Munich for grab a coffee n go to smoking room at MUC T2 whereas in Zurich and Frankfurt we still have smoking rooms in out First Terminals, Senator Lounges and Business Lounges.  Just beware, as you may, like me have a Romanian steal your phone in public smoking rooms at Muenchen Jozef Strauss  As long as full service lounges are still where, why not have these ?

When I first read this article the thing that came to mind was "Oh great, race to the bottom" but on reflection I think if done well and keeping the core principle of "premium" at the centre of the strategy I think this concept could be a real winner and dare I say possibly out-shine over the existing model. As long as the 'grab & go' F&B are high quality, offer good variation & selection and are fit for purpose I can see this being great facility in domestic/short haul lounges. Grabbing a high quality & substantial sandwich. salad, roll and drink from the lounge for the flight could be a much better option than taking the inflight option in economy. What I would say though is that the existing model of F&B (i.e. not grab & go) will need to have a premium overhaul so that it really differentiates from the G&G or as I said earlier the later could outshine the former.

Welcome to the future boys and girls. It's all about profits and marketing. Lounges and generous seat pitch eat into the airline profits, so to put a marketing spin on these Coles Express outlets is obviously their focus now. Premium lounges will still remain, but only for the affluent passengers paying top dollar for their sets, and they will certainly be in the minority, while the loyalty tiers flying in budget seats will soon enjoy the express lounge experience. As we have already seen, status is now being earned through revenue spent, not miles flown. Lounges will be measured the same way.

The luxurious and intimate airline lounge experience of the 80's - virtually gone now!