Ranking
The 12 best airport lounges in South America: 2026
Brazil supplies most of the top twelve, but Buenos Aires' LATAM VIP Lounge, newly photographed, joins the ranking.
By Patrick Karsh, Founder, Lounge Frog ·
Details checked as recently as September 2026.
At a glance
- lounges
- 12
- airports
- 4
1. Star Alliance Lounge
GIG · Terminal 2 · Rio de Janeiro
4.7/5 overall
Rated 4.7/5 across 15 measures. 4 showers. Star Alliance business/first passengers; Star Alliance Gold: 1 guest on a Star Alliance flight the same day.
Get in with: Star Alliance Gold Lounge Access
2. W Premium Lounge – 5th Avenue
GRU · Terminal 3 · São Paulo
4.7/5 overall
Rated 4.7/5 across 15 measures. 2 showers. Amex Platinum cardholders: 1 guest; Centurion members: 2 guests.
Get in with: Centurion Lounge
3. W Premium Lounge – The Pier
GRU · Terminal 3 · São Paulo
4.7/5 overall
Rated 4.7/5 across 15 measures. 4 showers. Maximum 3 hour stay - Access may be restricted due to space constraints - Children under 2 years are admitted free.
Get in with: DragonPass, LoungeKey, Priority Pass
4. American Airlines Admirals Club
GRU · Terminal 3 · São Paulo
4.6/5 overall
Rated 4.6/5 across 14 measures. 2 showers. Members: immediate family or up to 2 guests. Business/first on a qualifying international itinerary: 1 guest.
Get in with: Admirals Club, oneworld Sapphire/Emerald Lounge Access
5. LATAM VIP Lounge (International)
GRU · Terminal 3 · São Paulo
4.6/5 overall
Opened 2015. Rated 4.6/5 across 14 measures. 8 showers. Premium Business passengers; LATAM Pass Black/Black Signature: 1 guest.
Get in with: Priority Pass
6. Nubank Ultravioleta Lounge
GRU · Terminal 3 · São Paulo
4.6/5 overall
Rated 4.6/5 across 14 measures. Nubank Ultravioleta cardholders: 1 guest; walk-up entry sold when space allows.
7. Plaza Premium Lounge (Arrivals)
GIG · Terminal 2 · Rio de Janeiro
4.6/5 overall
Rated 4.6/5 across 15 measures. 4 showers. Maximum 2 hour stay - Children under 2 years are admitted free.
Get in with: DragonPass, LoungeKey, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass
8. Plaza Premium Lounge (Domestic)
GIG · Terminal 2 · Rio de Janeiro
4.6/5 overall
Rated 4.6/5 across 15 measures. 2 showers. Maximum 2 hour stay - Children under 2 years are admitted free.
Get in with: DragonPass, LoungeKey, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass
9. Plaza Premium Lounge (T2)
GRU · Terminal 2 · São Paulo
4.6/5 overall
Rated 4.6/5 across 14 measures. 2 showers. Priority Pass, LoungeKey and DragonPass members: guests per the card's allowance.
Get in with: DragonPass, LoungeKey, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass
10. Aeroportos VIP Club (International)
BSB · Terminal 1 · Brasília
4.5/5 overall
Rated 4.5/5 across 15 measures. 2 showers. Children under 4 years are admitted free - Alcoholic drinks are limited to beer and wine only.
Get in with: DragonPass, LoungeKey, Priority Pass
11. LATAM VIP Lounge
EZE · Departures Terminal · Buenos Aires
4.5/5 overall
Rated 4.5/5 across 15 measures. 2 showers. Premium Business passengers; LATAM Pass Black/Black Signature: 1 guest.
Get in with: DragonPass, LATAM VIP Lounge, oneworld Sapphire/Emerald Lounge Access
12. The Lounge SkyTeam
GRU · Terminal 2 · São Paulo
4.5/5 overall
Rated 4.5/5 across 15 measures. 2 showers. Priority Pass, LoungeKey and DragonPass members: guests per the card's allowance (usually $35 each).
Get in with: LoungeKey, Priority Pass, SkyTeam Elite Plus Lounge Access
The list at a glance
South America's lounge map is dominated by Brazil, but Buenos Aires Ezeiza and other capitals have credible options. This ranking covers the twelve best photographed lounges on the continent, including the LATAM VIP Lounge at Ezeiza, which we photographed this month.
The ranking runs from highest overall score down, with ties broken alphabetically. It covers 12 lounges at 4 airports in 2 countries, every one of them photographed, and it is frozen as published.
The standouts
- Star Alliance Lounge at GIG rates 4.7 overall. It is in Terminal 2, a full bar, 4 shower suites.
- W Premium Lounge – 5th Avenue at GRU rates 4.7 overall. It is in Terminal 3, a full bar, 2 shower suites.
- W Premium Lounge – The Pier at GRU rates 4.7 overall. It is in Terminal 3, a full bar, 4 shower suites.
Between them the 12 lounges offer 34 shower suites, and 1 pour craft cocktails.
How to get in
Star Alliance Lounge admits members of Star Alliance Gold Lounge Access. W Premium Lounge – 5th Avenue admits members of Centurion Lounge. Each lounge page lists every card, membership and status tier that opens the door, plus hours and the nearest gate.
How we score
Scores are editorial, set by the Lounge Frog team on a 1 to 5 scale across up to 15 measures; our methodology explains each one. For the full ranking see the top 100 lounges.
Quick answers
What is the best lounge on this list?
Star Alliance Lounge at GIG, in Terminal 2, rated 4.7/5 overall. Next come W Premium Lounge – 5th Avenue and W Premium Lounge – The Pier.
Which lounge networks get you into these lounges?
Priority Pass opens 7 of the 12; DragonPass opens 6 of the 12; LoungeKey opens 6 of the 12. Each lounge's page lists every program and card that admits you.
Written and checked to our editorial standards. Scores follow our methodology. Something wrong? Tell us from any lounge page.
