CreditkeedaIf you have spent years navigating the cramped and overcrowded Earth Lounge in Pune’s old terminal, the Grand Elysian Lounge & Bar at the new terminal feels like a proper upgrade.
It is cleaner, more spacious, and far more functional for regular flyers.
Here’s my no fluff, practical review after using it firsthand
Location – Do Not Get Confused
The layout can feel slightly counter-intuitive on your first visit.
After security, you will be on the 1st floor. To access the main Grand Elysian Lounge, you need to go down to the Ground Floor via lift or stairs next to gate 5. Once down, take a left and you will find it.
There is also a smaller sub-branch called Elysian Lounge located opposite Gate 2 on the 1st floor near KFC.
While both are operational, I recommend heading to the Ground Floor main lounge. It offers better food variety, feels more complete overall, and has wider card acceptance for complimentary access.
Operating Hours
The lounge operates 24x7, which is ideal for early morning and late-night departures.
It can get slightly crowded during peak departure waves, but since there are two lounges in the terminal, the crowd remains manageable.
Ambience & Seating Zones
The first noticeable upgrade is space.
The lounge feels airy, well lit, and far less chaotic than the old terminal setup. Even during busier hours, it does not feel suffocating. The layout is open, movement is smooth, and there is enough breathing room between seating clusters.
It gives off a calm, functional airport lounge vibe rather than a rushed holding area.
Seating Breakdown
Sofa seating for relaxed lounging
Chair + table seating for comfortable dining
High chairs near the bar area for quick bites or drinks
You are not cramped next to other passengers, which is already a big improvement over the old terminal experience.
Amenities
The lounge is functionally well equipped for a comfortable pre flight experience. It offers air conditioning, disabled friendly access, digital card acceptance, refreshments, newspapers, TV screens, and a non smoking environment.
Washrooms are located inside the lounge, which is a big convenience. There are no shower facilities available.
Charging points are adequately available near most seating clusters, so you can comfortably plug in your laptop or phone without searching for sockets.
WiFi is stable and suitable for short work sessions.
Dedicated display screens show real time flight updates and announcements, so you do not need to constantly monitor your phone.
Food & Drinks
Moving on to the food experience, this is where expectations should be practical.
It is not a luxury dining setup, but it serves its purpose comfortably.
Food
The food is decent and functional.
There is still room for improvement:
Live counters would significantly elevate the experience
Taste consistency can be better
Dessert options are limited and could use more variety
That said, after accessing the old terminal’s Earth Lounge in Pune, almost anything feels like a major upgrade. In comparison, this already feels noticeably better.
Drinks
Soft beverages such as tea, coffee, juices, and sodas are complimentary
No complimentary alcohol
Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase
Card Acceptance & Access
The access experience was smooth.
Major premium Indian credit cards are accepted
Priority Pass is accepted
No swipe issues reported
I accessed it using my Axis Atlas card with complimentary guest access, and the process was seamless.
Who Should Use This Lounge?
Credit card holders with complimentary access
Business travelers needing quiet seating
Early morning or late-night flyers
Travelers who value space and comfort over gourmet food
What Can Be Improved?
Introduce live food counters
Improve taste consistency
Expand dessert selection
Better signage directing passengers to the Ground Floor lounge
Overall Rating: 7/10
Space & Comfort: 8/10
Food Quality: 6.5/10
Card Value: 9/10
Overall Experience: 7/10
Final Verdict
Grand Elysian Lounge & Bar is a solid and much-needed upgrade for Pune Airport. It is quiet, clean, functional, and spacious, which are the three things most travelers actually want before a flight.
If you are flying from Pune’s new terminal, head to the Ground Floor main lounge for the best overall experience.