Recently, I wrote about how Dallas Fort Worth Airport (DFW) is expected to get a Plaza Premium First Lounge. Understandably, this caused some confusion, since this is a concept that many people aren’t familiar with.
Most frequent travelers are probably familiar with Plaza Premium Lounges, but what are Plaza Premium First Lounges? Let’s go over all the details, including where they’re located, and who is eligible to access them…
In this post:
What makes Plaza Premium First Lounges special?
Plaza Premium Group is one of the largest operators of independent airport lounges, and the company is most commonly known for its standard Plaza Premium Lounges, which are pretty standard contract lounges. They typically have a self-serve buffet, self-serve drinks (and sometimes a bar), and they can get pretty crowded.
Nearly a decade ago, the new Plaza Premium First Lounge concept was launched, though it has expanded slowly. The idea is that these lounges offer an elevated experience over a standard Plaza Premium Lounge. So if you wanted to compare it to to airline operated lounges, think of Plaza Premium Lounges as being like business class lounges, and Plaza Premium First Lounges as being like first class lounges.
Each Plaza Premium First Lounge is different, though here’s what stands out to me most consistently about them:
- Plaza Premium First Lounges are typically less crowded than Plaza Premium Lounges, since fewer people generally have access to them, so you can expect them to not be overcrowded
- Plaza Premium First Lounges have a la carte dining, a proper cocktail selection with drinks prepared by bartenders, barista coffee, and more partnerships with premium brands
- Plaza Premium First Lounges generally have elevated decor, and feel more premium than standard Plaza Premium Lounges
I’ve visited several of these lounges over time, and I do find them to be noticeably nicer than standard Plaza Premium Lounges.
Where are Plaza Premium First Lounges located?
Currently, you’ll find Plaza Premium First Lounges at the following airports:
- Hong Kong (HKG)
- Jakarta (CGK)
- Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
- Macau (MFM)
- Phnom Penh Techo (KTI)
- Vancouver (YVR)
The Plaza Premium First Lounge concept should debut in the United States in 2026, at Dallas Fort Worth Terminal D (DFW) and at New York Kennedy Terminal One (JFK).
Some of the airports that have these lounges might seem pretty random. For example, I recently traveled through Phnom Penh’s Techo Airport, and that’s not exactly a place where you’d necessarily expect to find a Plaza Premium First Lounge.
I suspect the decision regarding where to open these lounges largely just comes down to available real estate at airports. For example, Techo Airport is brand new, and the Plaza Premium and Plaza Premium First Lounges are located in slightly different parts of the terminal, so I suspect Plaza Premium Group decided it made sense to pick up both lounges spaces, and brand them a little differently.
Who gets access to Plaza Premium First Lounges?
How do you get access to Plaza Premium First Lounges? There’s not necessarily one easy answer, though you can primarily get access in one of three ways:
- You can buy access directly, regardless of the airline or class you’re flying; the cost varies based on the exact lounge and how long you plan to stay, but most locations seem to charge around $70-80 for a visit of two hours
- Some airlines will send their premium passengers to the Plaza Premium First Lounge; it’s most commonly available to first class passengers, but some premium airlines even give their business class passengers access to Plaza Premium First Lounges (for example, Qatar Airways sends its premium passengers to the Plaza Premium First Lounge Kuala Lumpur)
- If you have access to the Plaza Premium Lounge, you can typically pay a reasonable upcharge to instead use the Plaza Premium First Lounge; the cost varies based on the exact lounge or how long you’re staying, but typically you can expect for the cost to be fairly reasonable, somewhere around $30 or so for a visit of two hours
Keep in mind that when it comes to accessing standard Plaza Premium Lounges, those can typically be accessed with select credit cards, including the Amex Platinum Card, and in some cases, with Priority Pass.
Personally, I’ve found the upcharge from the standard Plaza Premium Lounge to the Plaza Premium First Lounge to be well worth it at airports where it’s available, thanks to the improved food and drinks, nicer ambiance, etc.
Bottom line
Plaza Premium First Lounges are Plaza Premium Group’s most premium branded lounges. They offer nicer decor, a calmer vibe, and much improved food and drinks. They’re only available at around half a dozen airports, and they’re among the most premium contract lounges that you’ll find.
If you have access to a Plaza Premium Lounge, you typically have the option of paying a premium to instead access a Plaza Premium First Lounge. At airports where that’s available, I find it to be well worth it, assuming you value the added perks.
If you’ve visited a Plaza Premium First Lounge, what was your experience like?
As another data point, VN invited me to use Plaza Premium First at HKG on account of SkyTeam Elite Plus status. Quite generous of them when they could get away with just Plaza Premium.
The PP First Lounge at YVR upcharge was very reasonably priced (30 CAD, $22 USD). First side was much less crowded and the a la carte meals were a huge upgrade over the buffet selections on the regular PP side.
Nice article. Wish it came out 5 days ago. I was in YVR a few days ago and didn't know how the 'First' lounges work and neither does the internet including chatGpt apparently as all my searches came up with either nothing or incorrect info. As most doesn't even know there was a difference between the two. To complicate things, at yvr both lounges are connected so Google maps and many websites (including plaza premium...
Nice article. Wish it came out 5 days ago. I was in YVR a few days ago and didn't know how the 'First' lounges work and neither does the internet including chatGpt apparently as all my searches came up with either nothing or incorrect info. As most doesn't even know there was a difference between the two. To complicate things, at yvr both lounges are connected so Google maps and many websites (including plaza premium lounge's own website) gets the location info wrong. Plaza Premium's site doesn't even mention their First lounges. Chatgpt insists that amex plat let's you have access and quotes that amex platinum grants access to ALL plaza premium lounges. I didn't know that I could have accessed with an upcharge otherwise I would have since the regular plaza premium lounge is small and gets very crowded.
Fascinating. Thanks for this!
The Plaza Premium First lounge in HK has saved me a couple of times, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Until you visited The Pier.
I still don't see what potential airlines at DFW would use this.
Air France, EVA, Emirates, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Aeromexico, Avianca, they all currently contract with Capital One. Emirates and EVA have actually started to use a temporary space that is branded at Plaza Premium, in terminal D, located on top of The Flying Saucer, Subway and Chick-Fil-A.
Korean Air actually also uses the Capital One lounge at DFW despite the existence of a SkyClub, it's quite interesting.
Of those airlines, I believe only Emirates has international first-class.
And, these airlines are prohibited from contracting with this lounge for their J passengers because the lounge has "First" in its name. I understand now.
30USD seems quite fairly priced top up to escape a overcrowded PP lounge.
The Virgin lounge at LAX has a la carte dining. It's open to PP members for an up-charge during non-Virgin-exclusive hours. So, the concept is not unique. Unfortunately, I never have hit the timing right.
Yeah but they greatly reduce the quality and selection of food and booze when it's open to Priority Pass. Same for the Air France lounges in Toronto and Houston.
Oh, so it's just branding. Got it.
No. It offers a la carte dining as opposed to only a buffet. It is as one would experience in airline-operated first class lounges. Maybe not the same quality as some airlines but similar in concept.
It is a la carte, but the food quality and service is nowhere near the level of airline-operated first class lounges.
It is only a la carte in the sense that they have mostly prepared food items that are reheated and brought to you like noodle soup, etc.
I'm personally not impressed by it overall, and I find this is more of a way for Plaza Premium to extract more value without investing that much more into the product.