The top 10 best airport lounges worldwide – Munich Airport ranks 1st
Airport lounges have a certain mythology to them. You approach with anticipation as guardians stand at the gate, stopping all-but a chosen few from passing. Most travellers are left on the wrong side of first class with barely a sneak peek at what lies behind the doors to commit to their memory. The lucky few make it through, at which point things get interesting. Because beyond those bouncers-with-smiles a painful secret is revealed: the mind-boggling difference between the standards of lounges across the world.
Anyone who’s paid to access the Escape Lounge at Manchester’s beleaguered, overcrowded and generally horrific Terminal 3 will have instantly regretted it. Of course, the state of the sandwiches (moribund) and quality of drinks (low) should come as no surprise given this section of the UK’s third busiest airport is essentially now Ryanair’s unofficial base.
Elsewhere facilities are greatly improved, with a new billion-pound Terminal 2 — still only halfway through transformation — picking up global awards for design, layout, retail and food offerings. Nevertheless, when it comes to airport lounges, North West England’s gateway still has far to go. And, according to Wings Global Travel, so does every other UK airport. If you’ve boarded in Luton, Stansted, or the bizarrely cramped and under-seated Edinburgh Airport this makes sense, less so when you consider Heathrow Terminal 5.
Still, according to the company’s data, based on business travel ratings by Skytrax, Britain doesn’t cut the mustard. And the list of the 10 best airport lounges in the world has a few other eyebrow-raising moments. For example, Singapore Airlines and Etihad both feature, but neither claim top spot. And fellow five-star carriers like Emirates, based in glitzy and super-modern Dubai airport, an orgy of blinged luxe, fail to rank at all. Also notable for its absence is Turkish Airlines and the brand new business class lounge at Istanbul Havalimani, voted the world’s top airport facility in several passenger polls.
In contrast, the Wings Global Travel list puts Munich Airport’s VIP Wing as the best lounge on the planet.
Registering the highest index score of any, with 68, the facility was commended for its quiet areas, large capacity, views of the outside, private workstations and charging points.
Second place SWISS 5-Star First Class Lounge at Zurich Airport’s Terminal E only just missed the top spot, and alongside state-of-the-art technology and great interior design, its al fresco dining area is unarguably worth celebrating. Albeit only really useful for a few months each year due to the chilly temperatures that pervade a country known for snow-capped peaks as much as its cheese.
Beyond this, passengers checking in for flights with United out of Houston and Chicago O’Hare also have a chance to try out a world-class lounge. As do those bound for departures from Beijing with Hainan, and Rome with any Star Alliance member (Lufthansa, TAP, Turkish, United) on Schengen Area-bound flights. Not forgetting Sydney with SkyTeam (Air France, KLM, Delta, Korean Air, Virgin Atlantic). Looking for a clearer view of the rankings? Say no more…
Top 10 Airport Lounges Worldwide
- Munich, Germany – Munich Airport VIP Wing – Skytrax Index Score: 68
- Zurich, Switzerland – SWISS 5-Star First Class Lounge Terminal E – Skytrax Index Score: 67.7
- Sydney, Australia – SkyTeam 4-Star Lounge – Skytrax Index Score: 61
- Beijing, China – Hainan Airlines HNA Club – Skytrax Index Score: 58.5
- Singapore, Singapore – Singapore Airlines Private Room Lounge – Skytrax Index Score: 58.4
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Etihad Airways First Class Lounge – Skytrax Index Score: 58.1
- Houston, United States – United Airlines Polaris Lounge – Skytrax Index Score: 58.1
- Rome, Italy – Star Alliance Schengen Lounge – Skytrax Index Score: 57.6
- Chicago, United States – United Airlines Club – Skytrax Index Score: 56
- San Francisco, United States – Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge – Skytrax Index Score: 55.5
