The 2024 Priority Pass Excellence Awards showcase the best in airport lounges available through the Priority Pass Network. The best stand among the more than 1,500 Priority Pass airport lounges and travel experiences worldwide for their service, food, atmosphere, and overall experience. These awards are based on customer reviews and ratings, which adds the clarity of knowing that travelers of varied stripes feel comfortable settling into each.
Photo: Olena Yakobchuck/Shutterstock
The World's Best Airport Lounges, According to Priority Pass Users
What is Priority Pass?
When used correctly, airport lounges are everything you need to optimize a travel day. They’re part buffet restaurant, part coworking space, and in those that offer amenities like showers and nap rooms, part mindfulness retreat – all located inside the hectic confines of an airport terminal. Priority Pass has democratized the process of gaining access to airport lounges by combining a slew of them into an affordable annual membership. That membership even comes free with the right travel rewards credit card. I have one of those cards – the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, and since gaining access, Priority Pass has become the staple reason why I show up to the airport as early as possible.
A standard membership costs $329 per year and includes 10 lounge visits with further visits costing $35 each. It’s possible to go higher-tier for unlimited visits with the $469-per-year Prestige membership, or lower-tier with the $99-per-year Standard membership, with which you’ll pay $35 per lounge visit.
Priority Pass offers access to more than 1,500 lounges in airports around the world. In certain airports without a Priority Pass lounge, higher-tier Priority Pass members can take advantage of a $26 restaurant credit to use at participating restaurants in the airport. All of this makes Priority Pass an excellent gift for travelers.
Priority Pass Lounge of the Year: Vienna Lounge, Terminal 1, Vienna Airport, Austria
Photo courtesy Vienna Airport
Vienna Airport’s new Vienna Lounge in Terminal 1 has quickly become a favorite among travelers. It took first place for overall Lounge of the Year in this year’s Priority Pass Excelence Awards. Opened in March 2023, the lounge boasts a modern design with floor-to-ceiling windows offering stunning runway views. Passengers can choose between comfy armchairs, high-top seating, or communal tables, perfect for working or socializing.
Beyond the impressive space, the Vienna Lounge offers a generous spread. Do & Co, a well-regarded Austrian caterer, provides a buffet selection of hot and cold dishes. A wide array of drinks, including alcoholic beverages, are also complimentary. The lounge even features a children’s play area, a family bathroom with baby changing facilities, and shower suites for those seeking to freshen up before their flight.
Regional winners for Priority Pass Lounge of the Year
Photo courtesy Chase
Asia Pacific: Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club, Hong Kong International Airport
Every flight into and out of Hong Kong is international, so there’s a good chance you’re facing an upcoming long-haul. The Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club an ideal pre-flight spot to relax and indulge in fresh, seasonal meals, sip on signature cocktails or local beers, and post up in either the work section or relaxation section. The lounge’s design reflects Hong Kong with local art and curated menus, making your layover a relaxing and culturally inspired experience.
Latin American and the Caribbean: Advantage VIP Lounge, Curitiba Afonso Pena International, Brazil
Curitiba’s Afonso Pena International Airport offers a haven for weary travelers in the form of the Advantage VIP Lounge. Tucked conveniently inside the main terminal after security checks, the lounge boasts comfortable seating options that you won’t mind taking a nap in. The buffet is internationally inspired, and the Wi-Fi is the best of any lounge in Brazil.
Middle East and Africa: Petra Lounge, Amman Queen Alia International Airport, Jordan
Unlike the larger Crown Lounge, Petra Lounge boasts a quieter atmosphere, perfect for relaxation before an international flight. But what really separates this lounge as the best in its region is that it understands that its clients come from all over the world, and it caters to them as such. Guests can unwind in plush seating areas after working through the diverse spread of hot and cold dishes on the 24/7 buffet, featuring both Western and Arabic flavors. There’s space to spread out and take a call if necessary. Finally, the lounge is outfitted like a royal palace, meaning you’ll feel like a badass just by being there.
North America: VIP Lounge Aguascalientes, Jesus Teran Peredo International, Mexico
Not all of the best Priority Pass lounges are located in major international hubs. Located within Terminal 1 of Juan Teran Peredo Internatoinal Airport south of Aguascalientes, Mexico, the VIP Lounge Aguascalientes provides a comfortable space to unwind and enjoy the best of central Mexico’s cuisine and hospitality. Amenities include disabled access, televisions for entertainment, a selection of newspapers and magazines, and flight information displays to keep you on top of your departure. Additionally, the VIP Lounge offers alcoholic beverages alongside non-alcoholic options, with an emphasis on international. The lounge is particularly known for its coffee – so bring your refillable mug and snag an extra cup for your flight.
Additional winners in the 2024 Priority Pass Excellence Awards
Photo: Ragne Kabanova/Shutterstock
Priority Pass also awarded lounges based on innovation, the Pioneer of the Year Awards, and customer service, the All Star of the Year Awards. These lounges claimed prizes this year:
Pioneer of the Year
- Primeclass Lounge, Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport, Turkey
- AMAE Lounge, Argentina
- Hacienda Santa Lucia by The Grand Lounge Elite, Felipe Angeles International, Mexico
- Gameway, Terminal 3, Los Angeles CA – LAX International, United States
- The Coral Finest Business Class Lounge (Cocoon), International Concourse C, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand
All Star of the Year
- Miss Phatsalawan Narapornkitirat, Miracle Lounge, Domestic Concourse D, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand
- Anita Ganska, Preludium Lounge, Terminal A, Warsaw Frederic Chopin, Poland
- Daniela Potes Flechas, W Premium – 5th Avenue, Terminal 3, Sao Paulo Guarulhos International, Brazil
- Ghulam Sarwar, The Lounge, Sharjah International, United Arab Emirates
- Silvia Villatoro, Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, Washington DC Dulles International, Concourse A, United States
