TFCbest: the 8 best 2022 lounges in the world
The year 2022 is now winding down so it is time to make our personal ranking of the best lounges, [...]
Star Alliance
SkyTeam
Oneworld
MXP
The year 2022 is now drawing to a close Therefore, the time has come to make our personal ranking Of the best lounges, hotels and airlines.
In this article:
The ranking is not based on hearsay or what has been seen on youtube, but solely and exclusively on firsthand personal experiences.
Last year the best lounge by far had been the Clubhouse at Virgin Atlantic, I haven't been there this year but I think it is still as beautiful as ever, in fact it will become even more beautiful since VS company will become part of Skyteam effectively from January 1, and so this room will be much more accessible than it was until now.
A small note on merit:
- the same lounge cannot win in two categories, the order of publication does not reflect the order in the rankings
- We report only the winner in each individual category and always compare based on lounge type and airport
- all the lounges we reviewed can be seen here
The #1 lounge in the world
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Here I don't think there is any doubt, the best lounge in the world in 2022 is without fear of contradiction the AlFursan of Jeddah, the hall owned by Saudia It's not perfect, but it's close. Of course for some the most serious absence is the lack of alcohol, for me it was the non-functioning wi-fi, but everything else was of a higher standard than all the other carriers. Only Turkish in the gigantic new Istanbul airport competes on (almost) equal terms.
The best Priority Pass lounge in Europe
I absolutely disagree with those who elected the lounge Plaza Premium in London as the best independent lounge the world. I find that there are many nicer lounges in the world, and one of them is in Europe: Barcelona's Pau Casals.
This lounge is in the main terminal of the Catalonia airport. Since it is an independent lounge it could compete with (and beat) many official lounges. It is large, offers everything you would expect in such a lounge, has a galactic buffet and a view of the different areas of the terminal.
The most beautiful lounge in Italy
For the second year in a row, this title belongs to the Premium Plaza at Rome Fiumicino. Voted as fifth best independent lounge in the world (I personally don't think it's that good) beats the ITA Airways lounge both in terms of view and space for all the guests. Of course ITA's improves from week to week, but the biggest flaw is that it has no view. Worth mentioning is the lounge at Lufthansa at Malpensa, beautiful and essential.
The most beautiful lounge in an aviation alliance
Oneworld does not currently participate in this ranking, since it has no owned lounge; the challenge between Star Alliance and Skyteam is won by the former.
The Star Alliance lounge in Los Angeles is really beautiful. It even has a terrace with a barbecue and fireplace, a great view and plenty of space for all the guests. It clearly surpasses the domestic competition and even the Skyteam competition, although I haven't had a chance to visit the one in Istanbul yet.
The best official lounge
Here the title goes by detachment to the Turkish Airlines lounge in Istanbul. There are two, one dedicated to business class passengers and the other to Gold status holders, but both are beautiful.
They are the only ones that can hold a candle to what Saudia in Jeddah offers; probably if I had visited these two lounges at different times they might have been even higher in the rankings. Honorable mention in this ranking to American Airlines, which with its Flagship lounge in New York., now renamed Greenwich Lounge.
The best official lounge (away)
Being strong at home is important, but being number one on the road is a much more difficult game.
This title definitely goes to the Qatar business lounge in Singapore. Not only is this room beautiful, but the restaurant inside would not disfigure any city in the world. On top of that impeccable service and 5-star hotel-like attention to detail. This lounge beats that of Air New Zealand to Sydeny and of Delta to Tokyo Haneda which They deserve honorable mention, however.
The best Centurion Lounge in the world
The year 2023 will mark the debut of several new Centurion Lounge. In the meantime, I have to say that of all the ones I have visited in the past 12 months. the best one remains the one at London Heathrow.
Quality of the food proposal and decor make it better even than the one in New York, among others honorable mention for that at the T1 of the Mexico City airport.
The best first-class lounge
By aesthetics, however, the victory goes to the Concorde Room at London Heathrow which is nicer than the passenger lounge in La Premiere. Air France's first class, however, trumps everything else: service, exclusivity and gastronomic offerings. Remaining behind in the rankings are Saudia's Alfursan and American Airlines' Flagship Lounges.
The worst lounges of my 2022
There are rankings of the best, but it is also fair to remember the bad experiences.
The worst lounge in Italy is the Monteverdi Hall in Malpensa. Dirty, crowded, dark, and with food offerings not worthy for Italy's second largest airport.
Things are not only bad in Italy, even in Centurion lounges it is possible to find yourself bad. It happened to me in Phoenix, USA. A lounge that looked like an abandoned kinder garden. Disappointment also in the Plaza Premium house with thea lounge in Jeddah that looks like a studio apartment.
Appointment next week with TFC Best, Will be the turn of the best hotels in our 2022.
