Frequent travellers with access to airport lounges already know what escaping the crowds at the gate, getting a facial or being able to freshen up between flights can mean. For them, the latest Skytrax ranking is a handy guide to where to linger on the next layover. For everyone else, it may be the push needed to finally figure out how to get in.
Announced at the 2026 World Airline Awards, the ranking was based on votes from travellers around the world through a passenger satisfaction survey covering things like facilities and staff hospitality.
It is a list of independent lounges, not run by airlines, which in essence means that access comes through a credit card, a membership or a paid ticket rather than flying business class. Some are open to all passengers regardless of airline and travel class and can be accessed by booking online or paying directly at the lounge.
Geographically, the top ten is spread remarkably widely. The United States has three entries, all of them in New York; Europe and Asia have two each, while three Middle Eastern hubs complete the ranking.
The Chase Sapphire Lounge at New York LaGuardia Airport was selected as the best lounge globally. Spread over two floors, it offers a seasonal menu featuring local dishes and craft cocktails from its Apotheke bar, as well as complimentary 30-minute facial treatments and guided meditation sessions, available between flights, upon booking.
Two lounges at New York’s JFK airport came fifth and sixth: Capital One at number five, followed by American Express Centurion. The Capital One lounge is open around the clock, with private shower suites and dining stations, including a bodega-style counter featuring a bagel bar. Amex’s two-storey Centurion Lounge offers two premium bars, a hidden speakeasy, and a full-service coffee bar.
Europe secured two spots in the global top ten. Both are Plaza Premium lounges: the one at Rome Fiumicino Airport took second place, while its counterpart at London Heathrow’s Terminal 4 came fourth.
The Rome lounge combines Italian-inspired design with live cooking, generous seating and shower facilities.
Its Heathrow counterpart offers a complimentary buffet, complete with a self-service bar and a quiet zone. It also features showers and facilities to freshen up.
Plaza Premium also came out on top as a group, ahead of TAV Primeclass and Chase Sapphire Lounges. Song Hoi See, founder and CEO of Plaza Premium Group, said that being named World’s Best Airport Lounge Group for a tenth consecutive year was “an incredible honour” that “reflects the trust our travellers place in us”, as well as the dedication of its teams.
Plaza Premium Group, 10. Kez Dünyanın En İyi Havalimanı Lounge Grubu Seçildi
— HavaSosyalMedya (@HavaSosyalMedya) September 19, 2026
Plaza Premium Group, Skytrax tarafından düzenlenen 2026 World Airline Awards kapsamında “Dünyanın En İyi Havalimanı Lounge Grubu” ödülünün sahibi oldu. Şirket, bu ödülü üst üste 10. kez kazanırken; Roma… pic.twitter.com/0wUG1bMYAE
The two Asian lounges in the top ten were the Chase Sapphire Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport, in third place, and the Coral Cosmo Lounge at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, in seventh.
The Middle Eastern hubs closed the top ten: The Pearl at Bahrain International Airport came eighth, the Primeclass Lounge at Muscat International Airport ninth and Plaza Premium at Dubai International tenth.
Further down the top 20, the Vienna Lounge at Vienna International Airport ranked 12th, Istanbul Airport’s iGA Lounge 17th and Airport Lounge World at Munich Airport’s Terminal 1 18th.
Among airline lounges, the best business class lounges were Qatar Airways in Doha, Air Canada in Toronto and Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong.
