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If you have to fly, you may as well fly in style – and that’s what airport lounges were invented for. Now, a new ranking known as the ‘Oscars of the aviation industry’ has revealed the world’s 10 best lounges, and one of them is at a London airport.
The planet’s very top independent airport lounges were voted for by consumers in an annual global passenger satisfaction survey by aviation ratings site Skytrax. The shortlist was revealed at the World Airline Awards.
Coming in fourth place out of 10 was the Plaza Premium at Heathrow Terminal 4. The Heathrow lounge offers a complimentary buffet, free-flowing, self-serve beer, wine, spirits, juices and coffee, a meditation room, wi-fi and shower facilities (because there’s nothing worse than a long travel day with no access to a shower).
The London lounge was beaten by the Plaza Premium Lounge Rome Fiumicino in second place, and the Chase Sapphire Lounge in Hong Kong airport in third. The top prize was awarded to the Chase Sapphire Lounge at New York LaGuardia. This bastion of pre-flight relaxation boasts two storeys, a seasonal menu featuring local bites, a craft cocktail bar and complimentary 30-minute facial treatments, which sounds hard to beat.
Plaza Premium Group has airport lounges all over the world (including LHR terminals 2, 3 and 5) and was awarded the world's best airport lounge group title for the 10th year in a row.
Song Hoi See, chief executive of Plaza Premium Group, said: ‘Being named World’s Best Airport Lounge Group for a tenth consecutive year is an incredible honour. When we pioneered the concept of the independent airport lounge 28 years ago, our dream was to change how people experience airport transit.
‘This award is far more than a trophy; it reflects the trust our travellers place in us and the dedication our teams bring to their work every single day. First and foremost, we thank every traveller who voted for us and chose us to be part of their journey. We are fully committed to making your travel experience better with our airport hospitality.’
The world’s 10 best airport lounges 2026, according to Skytrax
- Chase Sapphire Lounge – LGA
- Plaza Premium – FCO
- Chase Sapphire Lounge – HKG
- Plaza Premium – LHR T4
- Capital One – JFK
- American Express Centurion – JFK
- Coral Cosmo Lounge – BKK
- The Pearl – BAH
- Primeclass Lounge – MCT
- Plaza Premium – DXB
The world’s best airlines for 2026 are in – and there’s a new number one.
First look: inside the radical £120 million revamp of South Kensington tube station.
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