Above Ground Levell Lounge Review

Hi everyone 🙂

I’m back today to speak about my love for interiors.  I recently visited Above Ground Levell Lounge which is located at Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore. And today’s blog is purely dedicated to those souls who love interiors and food. 😀

Today, I’ll be talking everything you would want to know Above Ground Levell Lounge so that the next time you are catching a flight and need time to relax and have some good food, you know where exactly to go 🙂

A little about Above Ground Levell Lounge before I start talking about my experience here:

The Bird Group, broke new ground by announcing their foray into airport lounges under the brand name “Above Ground Levell”. The first two lounges are situated in the international and domestic terminals of Kempegowda International Airport (KIAL), Bangalore.

The launch of Above Ground Levell Lounge in 2014 placed the Bird Group amongst the few Indian companies to venture into airport lounges in India. As the name suggests, Above Ground Levell signifies the sensuality of feeling free. Above Ground Levell represents young, eccentric and hip lounge where the traveller is guaranteed to experience a feeling of peace while indulging in the various comforts of the lounge.

Spread across over 13,000 square feet, with over 250 comfortable seats at domestic terminal and 4,445 square feet at international terminal, Above Ground Levell Lounge play host to around 15+ million passengers passing KIAB annually. Designed to combine elegance and comfort with quality and innovation, Above Ground Levell Lounge is located on the mezzanine level of domestic terminal and level 1 of the international terminal. With comfortable and plush seating, Above Ground Levell Lounge bring forth an unparalleled and unrivalled premium airport experience including a fully equipped business centre.

Let’s talk a little about The Bird Group that actually came up with Above Ground Level Lounge-

The Bird Group was founded in 1971 with the incorporation of Bird Travels. Today, with over 40 years of experience and more than 45 offices supported by over 6000 well trained staff and an impressive clientele of over 500 top corporates, Bird Group is India’s fastest growing business conglomerates with interests in Travel Technology, Aviation Services, Hospitality, Luxury Retail and Education.

Starting off as the India’s leading travel and technology service providers; Bird Group has pioneered many innovations in the areas of IT, GDS and BPO services. Headquartered in New Delhi, India, Bird Group implement’s the philosophy of ‘Imagine. Innovate. Inspire!’ thereby helping clients to do business better. Bird Group emerges as a focused corporate, leveraging its knowledge, leadership and operations to add lasting value for its stakeholders and investors.

My take on Above Ground Levell Lounge

You might have already got a jist of Above Ground Levell Lounge. But let me explain that now in layman terms 😀

When you enter the lounge at the domestic terminal, the first thing you would notice is a welcome message and a board with the lounge name on it. The over-all concept behind the name and logo of Above Ground Levell is that 10 to 15 seconds before the flight takes off, you feel very light and like in a vacuum and that’s exactly the kind of hospitality Above Ground Levell Lounge inculcate and incorporate in the services that they offer. The bird on top signifies that it comes under The Bird Group umbrella. The leaves that you see signify the herbs that are used in cooking and the entire circle that goes around the logo represents completeness signifying when ever they provide services, it needs to be perfect. Quite thoughtful I must say! 🙂

The lounge at domestic terminal has three areas – the first area is where one can grab a cup of coffee and relax if you’re there for a brief amount of time.

One thing you would definitely notice about the place is the beautiful Hampi engravings on the walls and the pillars as well depicting the Vijayanagar empire. This was specifically done because the lounge is in Karnataka and to bring out the elements of the state.

Bangalore is known as the Garden City and to depict that the entire lounge has lots of greenery around with indoor plants. Even the concierge area has a leaf wall ie small pots of leaves that is changed every fortnight.

There is also a bar present in the next area.

And the third area is for people who have a lot of time left to catch a flight and would want to relax a bit and have a complete meal.There are various buffets spread out every day bringing in something different and unique for each day. There is a glass facade to the kitchen that makes you feel more connected and also give you a glimpse of the chefs at work. For breakfast there are various options available such as english, continental and native dishes of Karnataka like Idli sambar. And coffee plays such a major role in everyone’s life that instead of having those normal espresso, latte and cappuccinos… Above Ground Levell Lounge adds a south Indian flavour to it by incorporating filter coffee in the menu. Trying to bring in small and simple elements that can bring a smile across your face is Above Ground Levell Lounge’s USP. They also have a brunch concept as there are times when people who come in aren’t that hungry but just want to have something light to fill their stomach. Also, if you love chaats, let me tell you that Above Ground Levell Lounge is the only one serving chaats in the entire airport. 😀 And name anything and everything from the kitchen and it’s cooked in induction. How cool is that?

The flooring is carpeted with motifs of Rangoli. In south India, Rangoli signifies welcoming guests or Athithi Devo Bhava. And it is so thoughtfully colored red signifying vermillion or what we usually call as “KumKum” used in most of our Indian festivals. At the international terminal, the Rangoli pattern and color differs.

Jaali or what is called as Lattice is at the domestic as well as international terminal to bring in natural light.

Above Ground Levell Lounge at the International terminal has pretty much the same concept but what will actually get your attention is the twinkling sky dome above. These lights above the seating area make you feel so relaxed like you’re lying on grass in an open space staring at the sky twinkling away to glory. 🙂

The Jeromy Diaries Verdict

On the whole, it was wonderful visiting Above Ground Levell Lounge and I would definitely recommend visiting this place when you’re at the airport.

On our TJD score card,

Above Ground Levell Lounge scores Grade A+ 🙂

I hope you loved reading this post as much as I loved writing about it! And do let me know your thoughts on Above Ground Levell Lounge if you have visited the place already 😀

Until next time,

Ciao. ♥