The 4 best Star Alliance Lounges, ranked: 2026

Who gets into a Star Alliance Lounge

Star Alliance runs a handful of lounges under its own name at airports where no member airline has a room of its own. Business and first class passengers on any Star Alliance flight get in, and Star Alliance Gold members get in with one guest when flying a Star Alliance airline the same day. A few of these lounges also sell entry through Priority Pass or DragonPass, with blackout hours at peak times. This list covers only lounges branded Star Alliance Lounge, not the Lufthansa, United or Air Canada rooms you can also use with Gold status.

We ranked every open Star Alliance Lounge with a photo on file. Rio, Guangzhou, Rome and Los Angeles are all rated 4.5 or higher but have no photo yet, so they are not here. The former São Paulo lounge now carries a bank's name and is out too. That leaves four.

1. Star Alliance Lounge (T1 Schengen/Landside), Paris

The original Paris lounge sits on level 10 of the Terminal 1 central building, and it is landside, before the satellite security checkpoints. Since the non-Schengen lounge opened in 2023 it serves Schengen departures from gates 50 to 78 and anyone with a lounge membership from any gate. It holds 220, has two shower suites on the lower level and an outdoor patio, and it scores five for food, service, quiet, seating and views. Because it is landside, leave time to clear security and reach your satellite.

2. Star Alliance Lounge, Amsterdam

The Amsterdam lounge is Airline Lounge 27, up on Level 3 of the Schengen area next to Aspire Lounge 26. It opened in 2019, holds 150 and has a full bar but no showers. Food, coffee, service, quiet, seating and views score five, and day passes are sold when there is space. Hours are 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. For a Schengen hop on Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian or SAS, it is the best room in that part of Schiphol.

3. Star Alliance Lounge (T1 Non-Schengen), Paris

The non-Schengen Paris lounge opened in October 2023 and has won Skytrax's alliance lounge award three years running. It is in the duty free zone after passport control, up the elevator near the YSL store, and serves gates 10 to 38. There are 300 seats, four showers and a full bar, with fives for coffee, cleanliness, views, Wi-Fi and workspace. United Club All Access members and Maple Leaf Club members flying Star Alliance also get in. It ranks below its older sibling on our scores because quiet, seating and service sit at four.

4. Star Alliance Lounge, Buenos Aires

The Buenos Aires lounge is on Level 2 opposite gate 9 at Ezeiza, open 24 hours with 200 seats, two showers and a full bar. Food, coffee, service, seating and crowding score five. It is the one lounge here that leans on card access: Priority Pass, LoungeKey and DragonPass members get in with a three-hour limit, but not between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., when the evening long-haul bank leaves and the room is kept for Star Alliance flyers.

Which one to pick on a connection

In Paris the choice is made by your gate. Non-Schengen flights from gates 10 to 38 use the new airside lounge. Schengen flights use the landside original, which is the better room but needs a time buffer for security. In Amsterdam, Schengen is the only option under this brand, so a non-Schengen Star Alliance flight means using the airline's own lounge instead. In Buenos Aires, if you are on a card rather than status, arrive before 6 p.m. or after 10 p.m.

Access and method

Entry rules are on the Star Alliance Gold lounge access program page. Scores follow our methodology.