The best airport lounges in the world

Let’s be frank: for all their baubles, the world’s best airline lounges are still just very fancy waiting rooms. Yet they attract such avid interest from the world’s #avgeeks (myself included) and can often be the reason why a big-spending customer chooses one airline over another. Working as a travel journalist, I’ve experienced many lounges over the years, from the abysmal to the wonderful, many of which I’ve listed below.

I also have a soft spot for lounges that meaningfully, imaginatively or playfully express something of their home country or the destination in which they’re situated. It just seems right, for example, that Finnair’s Platinum Wing lounge in Helsinki should include a sauna, or that a September visit to Lufthansa’s business-class lounge in Heathrow would include a cutesy Oktoberfest-themed buffet display, complete with pillow pretzels and big bowls of Bavarian Weisswurst sausages.

Of course, there are other elements that you hope to find all over. A switched-on team who can provide immediate assistance is invaluable if a problem comes up or you’ve missed a connection. There’s nothing more restorative than enjoying a proper shower and drying off with fluffy towels during a long layover. For parents, letting kids burn off energy in a playroom can make the subsequent flight much more pleasant.

With innovative lounges opening all the time, a definitive list of the world’s best airline lounges will never be static, but there are several deciding factors and places to look.

Priority Pass grants access to some of the world’s most premium airport lounges, with a range of memberships available aimed at occasional, regular, and frequent travellers. The results of the inaugural Priority Pass Excellence Awards were announced in March 2024, designed to highlight world-leading lounges and experiences. The lounges are judged on 379,966 member ratings and reviews across a wide range of criteria, including quality of facilities, customer service, food and beverage selection and overall satisfaction.

The overall winner in 2024 is Vienna Lounge, Terminal 1, Vienna Airport, Austria. Other winners include:

Overall Global Winner: Vienna Lounge, Terminal 1, Vienna Airport, Austria
Asia Pacific Winner: Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club, Terminal 1, Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong
Europe Winner: Vienna Lounge, Terminal 1, Vienna Airport, Austria
Latin America and the Caribbean Winner: Advantage VIP Lounge, Curitiba Afonso Pena International, Brazil
Middle East and Africa Winner: Petra Lounge, Amman Queen Alia International Airport, Jordan
North America Winner: VIP Lounge Aguascalientes, Jesus Teran Peredo International, Mexico

The 11 best airport lounges in the world

Vienna Lounge, Terminal 1

Vienna Airport

Discerning fliers heading out of Vienna International Airport Terminal 1 can unwind pre-flight in the lounge voted the overall winner in the Priority Pass Excellence Awards 2024. Relax across a range of sleek seating areas, from curved booths to laptop stations and comfy armchairs that take in views of the runway – one of the airport’s best spots for aviation geeks.

Fill up on pastries, sweet treats and goodies from the buffet at the Viennese cafe, get down to business using the complimentary Wi-Fi, or catch up on the latest news by picking up the latest newspapers and magazines. Thanks to shower facilities, conference areas and television screens, its a favourite of families and business travellers alike.

Access: First and business class ticket holders, frequent flyer card holders, Priority Pass holders; entry is available at a cost to regular travellers
Website: viennaairport.com

Cathay Pacific’s The Pier first-class lounge

Hong Kong International Airport

Of Cathay Pacific’s two first-class lounges at Hong Kong International Airport, most fliers visit The Wing, which waits just beyond security. But it’s better to venture all the way to Gate 63 to be enveloped by all the loveliness of The Pier. Here, design firm Studioilse was tasked with creating a lounge with the feel of a contemporary apartment, but to me, it’s more akin to a miniature hotel. Sizeable at over 2,000 square metres, The Pier feels tastefully fancy right from the off. Its reception area is lined in honed green onyx and perfumed with a signature scent of bamboo and jasmine. Next door, a brass-topped horseshoe bar makes a convivial place to chatter over classic cocktails with other travellers.

Capacious enough to hold 100 diners, the dining room really does function like a proper restaurant, with table service and changing menus. (On my last visit, I went for an excellent South Indian fish curry with coconut, tamarind and cashew, alongside chocolate and hazelnut cake with toffee and vanilla custard.) Throw in a spa area with showers and complimentary quick-fire treatments, a work zone, private snooze-friendly day beds, and a help-yourself pantry stocked with ‘grab and go’ treats, and this beautiful retreat really does handsomely cover all bases.

Access: First Class passengers, Marco Polo Club Diamond members, and Oneworld Emerald members.
Website: cathaypacific.com

JAL’s JAL First Class Lounge

Haneda Airport, Tokyo

Japan Airlines seems to understand that flagship lounges in your home country shouldn’t just be a nice-to-have amenity. They’re an opportunity to give your customers one final immersion in your culture, culinary heritage and indigenous design philosophies.

That’s all evident in this insightful facility, with interiors by the lauded Japanese designer Ryu Kosaka. Clad top to bottom in blond woods, its elegant Sushi Tsurutei restaurant serves meticulously prepared seafood – think prime tuna belly, simmered conger eel or sweet red shrimp – alongside vegetarian alternatives and distinctive sakes. Elsewhere, elegant screens are delicately inscribed with etchings of cranes in flight and cherry blossoms; a ramen menu features hearty noodles made especially for the lounge; and pretty decorative elements include lantern-shaped lighting and lacquer-painted artworks. Aviation aficionados will also be smitten by the in-house exhibition space that includes classic JAL memorabilia and vintage photography from the last century, or they might want to sip a cup of special-blend All Hands coffee, available only in the lounge, while watching all the action happening outside through sweeping floor-to-ceiling windows.

Access: JAL first-class passengers and JAL’s JMB Diamond- and JGB Premier-status passengers; eligible oneworld first-class and Emerald-tier passengers.
Website: jal.co.jp

Turkish Airlines Business Lounge

Istanbul Airport

It’s important to mention that Istanbul’s gargantuan airport is one of the world’s busiest, so unfortunately, you may find its lounges seemingly packed to capacity. Turkish Airlines’ prescient response to this likelihood was to build two highly similar lounges, its Business Lounge and its Miles & Miles Lounge, named after the airline’s loyalty programme. Both are 5,600 square metres and seat up to 765 guests. For ease, I’m profiling the former but a visit to Miles&Smiles should be just as enjoyable.

Most would agree that the Business Lounge’s standout amenity is its endless sprawl of buffet counters and live cooking stations, where chefs cook Turkish delicacies like cheese-stuffed gözleme. But there’s also a generous children’s play area (with a model plane big enough to clamber in and a popcorn maker), and lots of other uncustomary integrations like a large-scale toy racing track interspersed with models of Istanbul landmarks, a touchscreen globe that tracks Turkish Airlines’ international flights, golf simulators and a mobile masseur service.

Access: Turkish Airlines and Star Alliance business-class passengers, plus Elite and Elite Plus members of Turkish Airlines’ loyalty programme.
Website: turkishairlines.com

Virgin Atlantic’s Clubhouse

London Heathrow

I’ve long had a soft spot for Virgin Atlantic’s Clubhouse at London Heathrow, one of the first business-class lounges I accessed. Unfortunately, the barber’s and spa I used on earlier visits are long gone, but still working strongly in the Clubhouse’s favour is how social and convivial it feels compared to so many competitors’ offerings. Get chatting with the bar staff over a signature Virgin Redhead cocktail (prosecco, gin, strawberry liqueur, lemon and raspberry) and it can feel like your holiday has started already.

There’s a nicely curated culinary offering here too. Alongside a deli bar with salads, cold cuts, fruit and pastries, there’s a decent breakfast and all-day menu with classic made-to-order comfort food (shepherd’s pie, butter chicken and the like, though the calorie count listed against each dish might deter some orders – the plant burger and chips is a whopping 1370 calories). Still, there’s also a row of Peloton bikes and showers thoughtfully laid out – don’t forget your gym garb – alongside a pool table and library. With great views of the airport, the astroturfed roof terrace is an attractive spot for plane spotters and other travellers keen to get some perhaps-not-so-fresh London air before their long flight onwards.

Access: passengers flying Upper Class on Virgin Atlantic, Delta One on Delta or Clase Premier on Aeroméxico; passengers with eligible loyalty-club status on Virgin Atlantic, Delta and Aeroméxico.
Website: virginatlantic.com

Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Lounge - South

Hamad International Airport, Doha

Colossal at around 10,000 square metres, Qatar Airways’ flagship business-class lounge feels staggering at first sight. At its ground level, a black-tiled pool provides a resort-like feel, something that’s compounded by the series of relaxation and dining areas inside.

When flying with Qatar Airways from Doha, I like to arrive at the lounge early and hungry to kick things off at the Global Deli, which serves gourmet sandwiches, salads and mezze; later, I skip up the spiral staircase to enjoy the a la carte restaurant, where Arabic specials are readily on offer alongside sushi, hot dishes and slabs of cake and pretty patisseries. Drinks cabinets are interspersed elsewhere, so guests don’t need to roam far if they want a refreshment while working at the expansive business centre, reclining in one of the sleep stations or distracting their kids at the games room with its integrated nursery.

Access: typically accessible to QR and oneworld first and business-class passengers, but some business-class passengers on discounted tickets may be required to pay a supplement for access.
Website: qatarairways.com

PS LAX

Los Angeles International Airport

For those who aren’t United States citizens, the country’s airports can feel unwelcoming at times. In response, a growing portfolio of PS-branded lounges are allowing moneyed passengers to sidestep many of the stresses associated with US air travel.

Originally launched as The Private Suite in 2017, PS LAX occupies a private building removed from the main airport. In fact, its guests don’t need to enter that latter facility at all: they can avail of queue-free TSA screening and access dedicated customs and immigration services; a BMW is on standby to take them to their aircraft’s door later. And there’s plenty to enjoy before boarding. Residing in one of 12 plush suites that accommodate up to six people and house fully stocked bars, clients can enjoy a la carte dishes and cocktails, or they can mingle with other guests at a communal salon, before being chauffeured to their flight in comfort.

Access: Access is available by purchase rather than through an airline.
Website: reserveps.com

Air France’s La Première Lounge

Paris Charles de Gaulle airport

Some may say it’s a touch petite (though that’s unsurprising given how few first-class seats there are within the Air France inventory), and I don’t think it’s the prettiest (I’d like a touch more fabulous French flamboyance), but nonetheless, the La Première lounge delivers a rarefied experience.

Its approach to dining has much to do with that. Here, Air France has partnered with Alain Ducasse. The beautifully presented French dishes on offer are intended to stand shoulder to shoulder alongside those served in his many celebrated restaurants. The champagne selection is expertly curated and the spirits list is extensive (that said, showcasing multiple still and sparkling water brands in vitrine-style displays feels excessive and pretentious). Also available is a Sisley-branded spa where passengers can enjoy complimentary half-hour treatments or paid-for longer sessions, and displays of Air France memorabilia by the check-in desk are another nice distraction for aviation aficionados.

Access: Air France La Première passengers and certain Air France business-class passengers who pay an additional fee.
Website: airfrance.co.uk

Lufthansa’s First Class Terminal

Frankfurt Airport

Like the aforementioned PS LAX, this flagship Lufthansa lounge stands apart from the main airport building and its customers are driven directly to their aircraft when it’s time to jet off. It’s more expansive than that LA retreat, however, and benefits from enhanced amenities as a result.

There’s a well-stocked bar, for starters (with over 100 whiskies to choose from); a pleasant restaurant space; and even a literal bathroom, complete with a take-your-time soaking tub, alongside three shower rooms (frequent visitors know to ask attendants for one of the lounge’s limited-edition rubber ducks, often depicted in themed attire, as a keepsake). For more practical needs, there are a series of decent office cubicles, shielded by frosted glass for privacy, two nap rooms with proper (single) beds, and a kids’ play area. One thing to note, however, is that the lounge is more easily accessed by passengers checking in for their journey at Frankfurt rather than those transferring via this popular global hub.

Access: available to first-class passengers flying with Lufthansa, Swiss or Discover Airlines and certain members of Lufthansa’s loyalty programme.
Website: lufthansa.com