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. However, they attract avid interest from travelers around the globe and can often be the reason why an informed passenger chooses one airline over another. As a travel journalist, I’ve experienced many lounges over the years, ranging from the abysmal to the truly wonderful, which I’ve detailed below.

I have a soft spot for lounges that meaningfully, imaginatively, or playfully express something of their home country or the destinations in which they are situated. It just seems fitting that Finnair’s Platinum Wing lounge in Helsinki includes a sauna. Moreover, a visit to Lufthansa’s business-class lounge in Heathrow can feature a delightful Oktoberfest-themed buffet display, complete with pillow pretzels and big bowls of Bavarian Weisswurst sausages.

Of course, several other elements are essential to enhancing the lounge experience. A proactive team who can provide immediate assistance is invaluable, particularly if challenges arise or if you miss a connecting flight. Consequently, there’s nothing more restorative than enjoying a proper shower and drying off with fluffy towels during a long layover. For families, allowing kids to burn off energy in a playroom can significantly improve the upcoming flight experience.

With innovative lounges opening constantly, a definitive list of the world’s best airline lounges will never remain static. However, there are several determining factors to consider when evaluating these spaces.

Priority Pass grants access to some of the world’s most premium airport lounges, catering to occasional, regular, and frequent travelers alike. The inaugural Priority Pass Excellence Awards were announced in March 2024, specifically designed to highlight world-leading lounges and experiences. These lounges are judged using an extensive dataset of member ratings and reviews across various criteria, including quality of facilities, customer service, food and beverage selection, and overall satisfaction.

The overall winner in 2024 is the Vienna Lounge, Terminal 1, Vienna Airport, Austria. Other notable 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