On our quest to airport lounge hop at Rio de Janeiro Airport (GIG), the third lounge we visited was the Plaza Premium Lounge (having already visited the Admirals Club and the GOL Premium Lounge).
Like the GOL lounge, there are two airside Plaza Premium lounges at GIG – one for domestic flights and another for international. We visited the latter. There is also a third Plaza Premium lounge landside.
Also, like the GOL lounge, the Plaza Premium lounges are included in the Priority Pass network of lounges.
Basics:
Opening Hours 03:00 – 02:00 daily.
Location Airside – 3rd Floor, South Pier. International flights only.
This lounge is open 23 hours per day! That is certainly a bonus, not all flights out of Rio leave at 11:30 pm, like our AA flight to JFK.
As described on the Plaza Premium website:
This 14,000 square foot lounge is located in the South Pier, a new extension of the airport. Travellers can enjoy an array of fantastic services and facilities, including comfortable seating, a wide selection of food and beverage, shower facilities, complimentary Wi-Fi, workstations, TV channels and international newspapers and magazines. VIP rooms are also available for travellers who need a little more privacy.
The area was decorated nicely, although a little darker than I prefer.
There were various seating areas, and a bar in the middle of the room.
There were food stations on two sides of the room. One side had hot prepared dishes.
On the other side, there were some small sandwiches and snack items. There was also an assortment of fresh fruit and salad items (YAY!!).
All in all, it was fine. Any of the three lounges would have been acceptable – when you start visiting hopping between three lounges of similar caliber, you can get over-critical. True, I liked the Admirals Club the best, but each had their pluses and their minuses. When you are dealing with lounges at this level, what is important is a free, convenient place to rest, to use the wi-fi and charge your devices, to use a clean bathroom and eat some food and have something to drink. Anything else is gravy, am I wrong?
The face of a traveler after visiting three airport lounges
And so ended my visit to three airport lounges at GIG Rio Airport.
A New York frequent flyer who elegantly combines her passions for worldwide travel, running a gazillion marathons all over the globe and staying fit ... without sacrificing her fancy for good wine and food.
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