I’m an airline product geek, and I like to keep an updated list of some of the best products out there, ranging from the best first class airlines, to the best first class lounges, to the best business class airlines. In this post, I figured I’d share my favorite business class lounges around the globe — after all, a nice lounge can contribute to a great business class experience.
Let me of course acknowledge that we’re all looking for different amenities from airport lounges, depending on the purpose of our visit. Furthermore, there are many factors that can impact our perception of a lounge, including crowding levels. As a result, two people can have vastly different experiences at the same lounge — heck, the same person can have very different experiences visiting the same lounge at different times.
Because of the number of variables, I’m not going to create a ranked list, but rather will just share what I consider to be the several top business class lounges in the world. Then I’d love to hear what OMAAT readers think, and how your list compares to mine.
With that out of the way, here are some of my favorite business class lounges in the world (and you can click each headline to read a review of that lounge)….
In this post:
Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Lounge Doha (DOH)
Qatar Airways has two exceptional Al Mourjan Business Lounges in Doha — there’s the original Al Mourjan Lounge North, plus the new Al Mourjan Garden Lounge South. Frankly both lounges are great, and I’m not sure which I prefer more. Time permitting, I’d absolutely recommend visiting both of them. For the purpose of this post, let me just keep the initial lounge on the list. This has to be the world’s most architecturally stunning business class lounges, which is what impresses me most about the lounge.
On top of that, though, the lounge features a couple of great dining options, including a bistro if you’re looking for a quick bite, plus a proper restaurant with a la carte dining. The lounge also has rest areas, civilized smoking rooms, showers, and more.
Cathay Pacific The Pier Business Lounge Hong Kong (HKG)
Cathay Pacific’s The Pier Business Class Lounge Hong Kong easily has my favorite design of any business class lounge in the world. The lounge is so cozy, warm, and luxurious, and it’s such a pleasant place to relax.
It’s not just that the lounge has nice interior design, though. The lounge also has a full bar with cocktails and barista coffee, and several dining concepts, ranging from a noodle bar, to a tea room. The lounge also has beautiful shower suites, as well as a relaxation area. This lounge is an absolute treat for premium oneworld travelers. And for higher tier oneworld members, Cathay Pacific’s The Pier First Class Lounge is even better.
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse London (LHR)
The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse is my favorite business class lounge in Europe, and it’s probably the business class lounge with the most fun vibe. It has a quirky design, amazing views, an outdoor terrace, friendly service, a la carte dining, and top notch drinks (including great cocktails and coffee).
This lounge experience is such a stark contrast to what you’ll experience if you’re flying business class on an airline like British Airways or Lufthansa.
Emirates Business Lounge Dubai (DXB)
The Emirates Business Lounge Dubai isn’t about to win any design awards, but it has some cool amenities, is massive, and has a good food and drink selection. While food is entirely from buffets, the options are endless, regardless of what kind of food you’re looking for.
Personally I prefer the older Concourse B lounge to the newer Concourse A lounge. That’s because this lounge has an awesome Moet & Chandon champagne bar, plus a Costa Coffee store, where you can get a (complimentary) barista made coffee. This is a great transit stop when traveling between other regions.
Turkish Airlines Business Lounge Istanbul (IST)
Turkish Airlines offers a top notch lounge at its hub in Istanbul. Admittedly this lounge can get really busy, given the size of the carrier’s operations, but I still find it to be very good. The lounge has nice decor with plenty of different places to sit, an incredible food selection, and even private bedrooms for those with extended layovers.
Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto (YYZ)
While the Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto has strict entry requirements, it really takes business class lounge dining to a whole new level. This is separate from the standard Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, so think of it almost like a great restaurant that business class passengers have access to.
The lounge is heavily focused on dining, with dozens of tables. In addition to an extensive buffet selection, the lounge also offers a la carte dining, as well as all kinds of wine, beer, and cocktails.
Etihad Business Lounge Abu Dhabi (AUH)
Etihad’s new business class lounge in Abu Dhabi is excellent. It’s spread across three floors, with a ton of natural light. Thanks to its size and odd layout, the lounge should never really feel too crowded, even during peak periods.
The lounge has everything from comfortable seating, to two large buffets, to a bar with cocktails and barista coffee, to shower suites, to relaxation rooms. This is a very well rounded business class lounge.
United Polaris Lounge Newark (EWR)
One thing United has done a great job with is its Polaris Lounges. They’re all pretty great, and I’m not sure one is actually that much better than the other, but I do like the one in Newark quite a bit. Polaris Lounges are the best business class lounges offered by any US airline, with comfortable seating, quiet rest areas, cocktails and barista made coffee, and a la carte dining.
Honestly, if flying United long haul I’d highly recommend just eating in the lounge, because the food gets much worse once you board a flight.
Bottom line
There are some fantastic business class lounges out there, though admittedly everyone will have their own favorites. The above are some of my picks for the best business class lounges I’ve visited. They all have something special, whether it’s great buffets, a la carte dining, barista made coffee, or other cool amenities.
This list is by no means exhaustive, because there are lots of amazing lounges out there. I look forward to hearing what business class lounges OMAAT readers like most.
What are your favorite business class lounges in the world?
This is one of those articles I find useless and I think you consider the blogger aspect of yourself rather than the practical aspect. Most people do not choose an airline or route based on the lounges they have access to, unless they have a special reason or purpose, especially if it costs more.
This is the exact type of article I appreciate about this site. It’s all through the eyes of one, therefore reliable and somewhat objective writer vs TPG which is full of click bait second hand drivel. Also, this type of article helped me plan endless points trips when there were multiple routes to get from point A to point B, and helps even more when I want to know if X lounge is worth a detour through a large terminal or not.
Sorry iamhere. I VERY often will book travel routes based on what lounge I will have access to. If it was useless to you, WHY did you read it???
I've been privileged to use business and/or first class lounges for many airlines (e.g. Singapore Airlines, Etihad, Qatar Airways, QANTAS, Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines, to name some of the more recent), but the lounge which unexpectedly stood out as a real favourite was...Virgin Atlantic at Heathrow. I've never had such a great fun in any lounge until I experienced that!
Virgin probably has one of the best ground experience in the world for business class passengers at least in LHR.
1. Their upper class wing with private security.
2. Their clubhouse.
The only issue I have with the experience is that you need to walk between security and the clubhouse. If they could just make a direct way from the check in to the lounge it would probably be the best business class ground experience in the world.
Does anyone not agree with me?
To add to my previous comment on VS LHR ground experience.
The problem with other airlines are, if the airline has first class they can't make the experience of business class too good because what will you do in first? (There might be airlines with an exception but this is the case with the European airlines like BA, Lufthansa etc.)
But on VS the experience is a first class experience when arriving with a car....
To add to my previous comment on VS LHR ground experience.
The problem with other airlines are, if the airline has first class they can't make the experience of business class too good because what will you do in first? (There might be airlines with an exception but this is the case with the European airlines like BA, Lufthansa etc.)
But on VS the experience is a first class experience when arriving with a car. You have a private entrance with lovely staff at check in, two people waiting outside when your car arrives opening the door for you and taking your luggage, the private security etc.
As I said before the only issue I have is that you need to walk through the whole duty free maze between security and the clubhouse.
Singapore’s Silver Kris lounge in SIN’s T3, for the catering alone.
Agreed! I was there last month and was very impressed by the food, and also thought the lounge was a nice space to spend time before my flight.
I would swap Polaris at EWR with Polaris at IAD. Doesn’t get nearly as crowded and just as nice.
Totally agree. Just went through both in the past month. EWR doesn't have the space of IAD.
I agree as well. Flew Lufthansa out of IAD and enjoyed the lounge. Also very nice in ORD!
Polaris at EWR often gets too crowded. The Polaris at ORD is one of my favorites.
I do not agree that Turkish's lounge in Istanbul belongs on this list. Many of the amenities in your 2019 review are no longer there as of my trips through in summer 2022 and 2023. The food stations remains very strong, but the lounge is not in very good shape.
Totally agree with you. I've been a handful of times and it's never not been insanely busy. The food is good, but you're guaranteed to wait in a long line (which creates lots of congestion, since the lounge itself is relatively long & narrow). I seem to be the only one who way preferred the old TK lounge at the old airport.
This is a Your Mileage May Vary moment. Been able to stop by the Istanbul lounge twice in the last month with between and an hour and a quarter and hour and a half connections and been able to take a shower, eat, drink a Turkish coffee or espresso and comfortably make my next flight.
Having said that, I also preferred the old multi level lounge too!
Were there last week we didn’t care much for the food or service the massage was good. The food quality definitely has deteriorated over the last couple of years.
I still don’t understand why you have to have the boarding pass to get out of the lounge
Agreed and also overcrowding is crazy more so in the Star Alliance one. The people working at the food stations always look so misserable and things such as made to order eggs take ages.
Agreed and also overcrowding is crazy more so in the Star Alliance one. The people working at the food stations always look so miserable and things such as made to order eggs take ages.
I really like Cathay's in London too. For an outpost business lounge, it is quite wonderful.
When flying out of T3 it is a great option.
Another serious contender is QR’s “Premium Lounge” at SIN - for J pax and etc. The food and drinks are as good at QF F there imo
Finnair's lounge in Helsinki is the only place where I have ever enjoyed some quality sauna time.
I also really like the curry and freshly made sushi food offerings at JAL's first class lounge in NRT.