Having just landed on a British Airways flight from Buenos Aires, but needing to get to SΓ£o Paulo for an onward flight with Aeromexico, I had a few hours to spare at Rio de Janeiro GaleΓ£o airport. Fortunately, I was able to access the Crowne Plaza domestic lounge terminal 2 with my Amex Platinum card.
I first visited Brazil around ten years ago. Rio was the first city I visited, having travelled with Iberia from Madrid. At the time, the airport was being renovated in advance of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. For my return flight to Madrid, there wasn’t even a lounge available for international departures, never mind domestic ones. Over the last few years though, things have changed. Even in many interior cities with domestic airports, such as GoiΓ’nia, lounges have recently opened, and the airport experience has improved. In this review, I’ll share more about my experience at the domestic Plaza Premium Lounge Rio Terminal 2.Β
Plaza Premium Lounge Rio T2 Access
Unlike in Europe, where airline status such as oneworld Sapphire results in lounge access being included whenever you fly, things are slightly different in Brazil. Brazil’s largest airline, LATAM, does not offer lounge access on any domestic flights. Although they have their own lounge in SΓ£o Paulo, it’s only available if you’re travelling internationally. This means if you’re travelling with LATAM, even with top tier status, lounge access isn’t included in your fare.
In this respect, GOL is a slightly better option. Gold GOL Smiles members and above do receive free lounge access where GOL has its own lounge facility – although they only have lounges in either Rio or SΓ£o Paulo. Since none of Brazil’s airlines are in an airline alliance such as SkyTeam, oneworld or Star Alliance, the easiest way to gain access to a lounge is if you hold a Priority Pass or DragonPass card.
Unfortunately, Plaza Premium doesn’t have an agreement with Priority Pass in South America. They do, however, accept DragonPass. As we’ve previously reported, you can obtain a free DragonPass. This means you’d pay a flat fee of Β£24 (approx β¬28/$30) to enter. You can also pay directly for access on Plaza Premium’s website, but it’ll cost BRL 195 (approx β¬33/Β£28/$36) for a three-hour stay.
If you have an Amex Platinum card, however, you can gain access to any Plaza Premium lounge, and this is how I was able to enter.
Plaza Premium Lounge Rio T2 Space & Interior
Although this is a domestic lounge, the space itself is large. Indeed, there are several different zones and areas. Although the lounge was busy throughout my stay, it didn’t feel crowded.
Unfortunately, the Plaza Premium lounge doesn’t benefit from any natural light – so this isn’t the best place to be if you enjoy planespotting. However, I was impressed by the overall design of the space.
True to its name, the lounge has a premium feel and considering most people are unlikely to spend more than an hour or so in the lounge, it’s a pleasant space to wait before a flight.
It’s worth mentioning that this isn’t a lounge short on power plugs. Indeed, quite the opposite. Most tables have integrated power plugs, meaning it’s easy to stay connected or to charge devices between flights. Wifi also worked well.
Food and Drinks at the Plaza Premium Lounge Rio T2
I don’t typically have high expectations for food and drinks from non-airline branded lounges. This is because the selection usually isn’t very good. But of course, there are exceptions to every rule. The Plaza Premium Lounge Rio T2 happens to be one of these exceptions. I was very pleasantly surprised, particularly by the food being served.
There were lots of different options to choose from and overall, the quality was good. I liked the focus on fresh ingredients, and while it can be hard to find more healthy options at lounges, it wasn’t a difficult task here. As well as hot dishes like ratatouille and an Asian chicken dish, there was a selection of different salads, fruits and sweet items.
Drinks-wise, there’s a fully-staffed bar. This served a range of basic alcohols and soft drinks. Wines were also available, although the quality wasn’t great.
Conclusions
Overall, I was impressed by the Plaza Premium Lounge T2. The space felt far more impressive than I’d expected, especially considering this is a domestic lounge. It was a comfortable place to wait between flights, and although there aren’t any views, the space is well-designed and has a good ambience.
If you’re wanting to grab something to eat before your flight, this lounge is a particularly good option. The quality and selection of food was superior to most airport lounges, and it wasn’t difficult to find something to eat. The drinks selection was less impressive but fine enough.
If you have an airport lounge card or Amex Platinum, I’d recommend a visit.
