With a regular admission price of 55 euros, the Vienna Lounge at Vienna-Schwechat Airport is not exactly one of the cheapest exclusive waiting areas. However, the services offered on site seem to have won over Priority Pass members, as they were voted “Global Lounge of the Year”.

The Vienna Lounge was able to prevail in competition with 1.500 lounges located at 700 airports in 145 countries. According to Priority Pass operator Collinson, the award is based on customer reviews received from participants in the paid program. It is an access card that gives you free or discounted access to many airport lounges, depending on the tariff model you choose. Some credit card companies already include a Priority Pass.

“With Viennese elegance, Austrian art and high-quality cuisine, the Vienna Lounge is in the top league of airport lounges. We are delighted that Priority Pass members rated the Vienna Lounge top in the Excellence Awards. This is a great confirmation for our entire team. “So a big thank you to all the employees of the lounges at the airport as well as our partners DoN Group and Leopold Museum, thanks to their great commitment we can celebrate this success,” said Julian Jäger, CEO of Flughafen Wien AG.

The Vienna Lounge got off to a rocky start for frequent flyers. However, this was not due to the on-site services, but rather because some credit cards and even the Priority Pass card were initially not accepted due to a lack of contracts. Only gradually were agreements concluded. However, it also happened that Providers like Dragon Pass charge an additional fee and, for example, Erste Bank and Sparkasse only include the smaller Sky Lounge, but have made the Vienna Lounge chargeable. Excluded from this are, for example, Visa cards from the private banking of Erste Group Bank AG.

The Vienna Lounge at Vienna Airport was named “Global Lounge of the Year” at Priority Pass’ Excellence Awards 2024. The Priority Pass global network's rating is based on 379.966 member ratings and reviews and is based on a variety of criteria, including quality of facility, customer service, food and beverage selection and quality, and overall satisfaction. The Vienna Lounge competes against over 1.500 global airport lounges at over 700 airports in 145 countries.

“The winners of this year’s Priority Pass Excellence Awards have proven that they truly make every customer journey special. 2023 was an exceptionally successful year for Collinson, which would not have been possible without our excellent partner network. That’s why today we celebrate and honor those who are leaders in this space and providing world-class services,” said Christopher Evans, CEO of Collinson International. 

The Vienna Lounge is located on the top floor of Terminal 2 at Vienna-Schwechat Airport. This is very easy to reach for passengers flying from gate areas C and D. Non-Schengen passengers (D) should note that this exclusive waiting area is located before passport control. For example, travelers flying from Terminal 3 (F and G) can reach the lounge with a shuttle bus. However, you have to plan a lot of time for this so that you don't miss your departure. It is also possible to enter the security area via Terminal 2 and then take the shuttle bus to Terminal 3 after visiting the lounge. There is a connection between the non-Schengen areas D and G that can be passed on foot.

Fun fact: As part of the reopening of Terminal Complex 1/2, Vienna-Schwechat Airport has decided not only to drastically reduce the number of toilets, but also to remove all former smoking areas. In contrast, this has been retained in Terminal 3. Smoking is currently only permitted on the outdoor terrace of the Vienna Lounge in Terminal Complex 1/2 (gate areas C, D and formerly B).

A comparison of various lounges that are waiting for passengers at Vienna-Schwechat Airport can be found under this link at Aviation.Direct. It should be noted that the offers were compared immediately before publication and that minor changes or innovations - positive or negative - can always occur.