This Is the World’s Best Priority Pass Lounge, According to Travelers

For frequent fliers and savvy credit card holders, Priority Pass is a passport to comfort. The independent lounge network—which now spans more than 1,700 airport lounges, restaurants, and experiences across 725 airports in 145 countries—grants members access to oases of calm before or between flights. While quality can vary greatly across locations, travelers themselves have once again helped identify the standouts with the 2025 Priority Pass Excellence Awards.

The awards, formerly known as the Lounge of the Year Awards, returned postpandemic in 2024—and interest has exploded. This year, 781,000 verified traveler ratings and reviews were submitted through the Priority Pass app, more than doubling the 379,966 submitted in 2024. That surge in participation has surfaced both exciting newcomers and a few familiar favorites from last year.

And 2025 is proving to be a breakout year for Latin America. Not only did a Brazilian lounge earn the title of Global Lounge of the Year, but the All Star of the Year awards—celebrating extraordinary lounge staff—also went exclusively to team members in Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina.

How the Priority Pass Excellence Awards Work

With such a vast global network, the Priority Pass Excellence Awards help travelers identify which lounges truly stand out. The awards are divided into three main categories:

• Lounge of the Year Awards: These winners are determined by traveler-submitted reviews via the Priority Pass app between January 2024 and January 2025. Ratings assess hospitality, food and beverage quality, facilities, and overall satisfaction. One winner is chosen per region—with most regions also naming a Highly Commended runner-up. The Global Winner is the top-rated lounge across all regions.
• Pioneer of the Year Awards: These honors recognize lounges that push boundaries with innovative services, such as sustainable practices, cutting-edge design, or enhanced digital experiences. Winners are nominated by Priority Pass partners and chosen by a judging panel.
• All Star of the Year Awards: These spotlight the people behind the experience—exceptional lounge employees who go above and beyond to deliver outstanding service. Like the Pioneer Awards, these are also partner-nominated and panel-selected.

This year, Latin America swept all three All Star awards, while Asia Pacific and Europe took home most Pioneer titles, demonstrating the global breadth of excellence within the network.

New Winners, Repeat Favorites, and a Global Shift

The 2025 awards reflect not only a rise in member engagement but also shifting regional dynamics. In Europe, the Vienna Lounge and Marco Polo Club in Venice both held onto their 2024 placements. Last year, Vienna was the Global Lounge of the Year, topping all other locations in traveler scores. This year, it retained its regional crown but passed the global spotlight to Brazil’s Advantage VIP Lounge in Belo Horizonte, which won the top honor worldwide.

That marks a continued rise for the Advantage VIP Lounge brand. In 2024, Advantage’s outpost at Curitiba Afonso Pena International Airport was named Latin America’s best. In 2025, another of its lounges—this time in Belo Horizonte—earned that same regional honor and rose all the way to the global top spot.

Over in the Middle East & Africa, the Primeclass Lounge at Muscat International Airport advanced from runner-up last year to regional winner in 2025, reflecting growing member satisfaction with its service and amenities.

Among the Pioneer of the Year honorees, two lounges earned recognition for trailblazing innovation—and doing so in entirely different ways. At Nice Côte d’Azur Airport in France, both the Infinity Lounge (Terminal 2) and the Library Lounge (Terminal 1) were recognized for their integration of emerging technology, including AI-assisted voice feedback and robotic concierge services. These enhancements streamline the traveler experience without compromising the Riviera’s relaxed charm. In India, the 080 Lounges—serving both domestic and international passengers at Bangalore’s Kempegowda International Airport—earned praise for their locally rooted sustainability initiatives. Operated by Bengaluru Airport Services Limited, the lounges achieved 40 percent energy savings, used eco-friendly materials, and embraced the 50 Miles Concept, sourcing ingredients locally. Weekend perks like Sunday brunch made the green ethos feel warm and welcoming rather than clinical.

Meanwhile, the All Star of the Year Awards spotlighted standout staff members in Colombia, Argentina, and Brazil. Travelers praised these team members for consistently going above and beyond—whether guiding overwhelmed families, helping nervous first-time fliers, or simply offering heartfelt hospitality. Their efforts helped cement Latin America’s dominance in this year’s awards.

Global Winner: Advantage VIP Lounge, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Photo by Gui Pires

The Advantage VIP Lounge in Terminal 1 at Belo Horizonte Tancredo Neves International Airport earned the coveted title of Global Lounge of the Year for 2025. Based on more than 781,000 member reviews, it was the highest-rated lounge across the entire Priority Pass network.

This domestic-terminal retreat impressed travelers with its authentic Brazilian cuisine, including vaca atolada (short-rib stew), chicken with okra, and guava with cheese. The decor blends warmth and elegance, with walnut wood finishes and a fast-track entry system for domestic travelers via a private security checkpoint. (International guests can still visit—postsecurity—by navigating to Terminal 1 and entering near Boarding Gate 2.)

The win is a milestone for the Advantage brand. Rute Scheliga, CEO of Advantage VIP Lounge, shared: “Being recognized as the Global Lounge of the Year winner for the Priority Pass Excellence Awards is the fulfillment of a dream that began in 2015 . . . to see this work recognized globally—in the very year we celebrate our 10th anniversary—is incredibly moving.”

2025 Priority Pass Lounge Winners by Region

Below are this year’s top-performing lounges and individual honorees, organized by geographic region.

North America

• Lounge of the Year, Winner: The Grand Lounge Elite, Terminal 1, Mexico City Benito Juárez International Airport, Mexico
• Highly Commended: Escape Lounges, Concourse A, Kansas City International Airport, USA

Europe

• Lounge of the Year, Winner: Vienna Lounge, Vienna Airport, Austria
• Highly Commended: Marco Polo Club, Venice Marco Polo Airport, Italy
• Pioneer of the Year: the Infinity Lounge (T2) & the Library Lounge (T1), Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, France
• Pioneer of the Year: Kepler Hotel & Lounge, Riga International Airport, Latvia

Latin America and the Caribbean

• Lounge of the Year, Winner: Advantage VIP Lounge, Terminal 1, Belo Horizonte Airport, Brazil
• Highly Commended: VIP Lounge Punta Cana, Terminal B2 Domestic, Punta Cana International Airport, Dominican Republic
• All Star of the Year: Cristina Isabel Escobar Sánchez, Cumbia Lounge, Barranquilla Airport, Colombia
• All Star of the Year: Nanci Quintana, AMAE Lounge, Rosario Airport, Argentina
• All Star of the Year: Guilherme Queiroz da Silva, BRT Lounge, Porto Seguro Airport, Brazil

Photo by Imad Hasan

Middle East and Africa

• Lounge of the Year: Primeclass Lounge, Muscat International Airport, Oman

Asia Pacific

• Lounge of the Year, Winner: Kyra Lounge, Terminal 1, Hong Kong International Airport
• Highly Commended: Oriental Club Lounge, Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport
• Pioneer of the Year: 080 Domestic & International Lounges, Kempegowda International Airport, India
• Pioneer of the Year: Kepler Club, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia

While we applaud the lounges ranked by travelers, it’s worth noting that here at Afar, we’ve also ranked and detailed our own list of the 10 Best Priority Pass Lounges in the World.

How to Access These Award-Winning Lounges

As a reminder, most of these lounges can be accessed for free. How so? Recall that Priority Pass membership is a benefit of numerous travel credit cards, including:

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card ($395 annual fee)
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® ($550 annual fee)
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card ($650 annual fee—see rates and fees)
• The Platinum Card® from American Express ($695 annual fee—see rates and fees)

With a Priority Pass membership, travelers can access participating lounges on their flight day, regardless of airline or class of service, and often bring two guests at no charge.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.