Interestingly, despite Madrid being their hub, Air Europa doesn’t have a lounge of its own at the airport. Instead, they use the airport-operated AENA lounges. As a result, I was directed to use the Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3 before my flight with Air Europa to Barcelona.

AENA Lounge Terminal 2 Madrid

I almost view Madrid Barajas as two separate airports. On the one side you have the architecturally impressive Terminal 4. This is the home of Iberia, and is used by all other oneworld carriers. In addition, airlines such as Emirates and Etihad also use the terminal. Then on the other side, you have the rather less impressive Terminals 1, 2 and 3. Terminal 1 handles flights outside of the Schengen Area, while Terminals 2 and 3 handle flights within Europe. Terminals 2 and 3 are connected – this means there is another lounge you can use as well. This is the Puerta de Alcala lounge – it’s very similar to the Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3, although slightly smaller.

In reality, all lounges operated by AENA are remarkably similar – and I mean this in a good way. In terms of decor, there is very little difference between them. The food and drinks on offer are also virtually identical. You can expect the AENA lounges in Terminals 2 and 3 to feel slightly calmer though. The same cannot be said if you’re travelling through Terminal 4, where the Plaza Mayor lounge is far too small to cope with the number of passengers travelling through the terminal. This is particularly true during the peak summer months.

The Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid is open daily from 4:30 until 21:30.

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Access

The Puerta Del Sol Lounge is fairly easy to find. Head to gate E69, and you’ll see a set of escalators. The lounge is located on the first floor. As is the case with all of AENA’s lounges in Spain, you can gain access with a lounge membership card such as Priority Pass or DragonPass. Alternatively, you can pay for access directly. This, however, will cost you €45,21. I don’t think this represents particularly great value, and of course, you could always sign up for a free DragonPass card, which would bring the entry cost down to Β£24 or approximately €28.

Purta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Space & Interior

This is the biggest of the two lounges available to Schengen passengers in Terminals 2 and 3. The other lounge, Puerta de Alcala, offers the same in terms of food and drink. The space is smaller though and can feel more crowded as a result. This is why I typically prefer the Puerta Del Sol lounge. While the decor and design of the lounge hasn’t changed in at least seven or eight years, everything is fairly well maintained and there is plenty of comfortable seating.

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3 Seating Area

The lounge does have a few different zones, including a television room. I question whether these rooms are the best utilisation of space though. In my experience, it’s unusual to see people using them – and if they are, it’s rarely because they’re opting to watch anything. This was also the case at the SkyTeam lounge in SΓ£o Paulo. I wonder whether it’d be better to redesign these spaces with another use instead.

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid television room

The lounge also features meeting rooms and a ‘relaxation’ area. While the relaxation area does have some chaise longue style seating, the space was fully lit during my early morning visit. It’s also located opposite large internal windows with a view out onto the terminal. As such, I don’t think it’d be a particularly inviting place to take a quick nap if you’re waiting for a connecting flight.

Airport lounge nap area

Although the lounge could benefit from some modernisation and a restyle, it’s a perfectly acceptable space to spend an hour or so before a flight. As you might expect though, it’s somewhat inferior compared to Iberia’s flagship lounges in Madrid Terminal 4. It’s also a little disappointing that Air Europa doesn’t have its own lounge at the airport, although considering their low-cost model (in economy anyway) it perhaps makes sense.

AENA lounge Madrid seating area

Food and Drinks at the Purta Del Sol Lounge Madrid

AENA have done a lot to improve their food and drink offering in recent years. The downside, however, is that the selection available is based around rather rigid meal times. This means if you’re visiting the lounge during lunch or dinner, you’ll typically find a more substantial selection of small tapas plates – some of which are quite creative for an airport lounge.

AENA Lounge Madrid food buffet AENA Lounge Madrid breakfast buffet

However, if you’re visiting outside of these times, or during the morning, the selection is more basic. Unfortunately, it’s largely limited to sandwiches, some unappetising-looking old cuts, yoghurts and pastries. If you’re searching for something a bit healthier, there is a limited selection of fresh fruit as well.

Airport lounge fridges with soft drinks, beer sandwiches and yoghurts.

The drinks selection is self-service, and while nothing fancy, the options are fairly good. As I was visiting during the early morning after landing from Mexico City, I was primarily interested in grabbing a coffee and an orange juice. This said, even during the early morning, a range of wines, beers and spirits were also available.

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3 wine selection. Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3 wine selection.

Conclusions

While unlikely to win a ‘Lounge of the Year’ award, the Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3 is a more than acceptable place to wait before a short-haul flight. The lounge is large, and there’s plenty of seating.

While basic outside of main mealtimes, the food options are fine if you’re just wanting a light snack before boarding. The drinks selection is also good and better than you’ll find at many Priority Pass lounges. While I don’t particularly rate Terminals 1, 2 or 3 at Madrid, the lounge is a much better place to wait than the main terminal.