Lounges at Vienna International Airport (VIE)
Vienna International Airport has two kinds of lounge: pay-per-entry lounges that anyone can walk into – the SKY Lounge in Terminal 3 and the VIENNA Lounge in Terminal 1 – and the Austrian Airlines and Star Alliance lounges, which are tied to your ticket class or frequent-flyer status. Because VIE is a compact, connected airport, all of them sit landside of passport control on the upper levels, and a free shuttle links the Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 lounge areas. If you are holding an Economy ticket and simply want somewhere quiet to wait, you can buy your way into either contract lounge on the day. The prices and hours below are current for July 2026; the official Vienna Airport lounges page is the binding source.
Lounges at a glance (July 2026)
| Lounge | Where | Hours | Walk-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| SKY Lounge | Terminal 3, Level 2 – gates F/G | 04:30–23:00 daily | €49 adult / €27 child |
| VIENNA Lounge | Terminal 1, Level 2 – gates C/D | 04:30–22:00 daily | €59 adult / €31 child |
| Austrian Business Lounge | Terminal 3, Levels 2/3 – gates F/G | approx. 05:00–23:00 | approx. €39–59 |
| Austrian Senator Lounge | Terminal 3, Levels 2/3 – gates F/G | approx. 05:00–23:00 | Star Alliance Gold only |
| Austrian HON Circle Lounge | Terminal 3, Levels 2/3 – gates F/G | approx. 05:00–23:00 | HON Circle & First Class only |
| Austrian Business Lounge (T1) | Terminal 1, Level 1 – gates D (non-Schengen) | 07:30–19:00 | approx. €39–59 |
Prices and hours as published for July 2026. Airline lounge hours vary by season and by the Schengen / non-Schengen side; the official Vienna Airport and Austrian Airlines pages are the binding sources.
SKY Lounge – Terminal 3
The SKY Lounge is the airport’s own lounge in Terminal 3 on Level 2, past the security check but before passport control, which is what makes it so useful: it serves the F and G gates and you can reach the C and D gates afterwards by the free inter-terminal shuttle. It opens daily from 04:30 to 23:00, making it the better choice for early-morning and late-evening departures. Walk-in entry is €49 for an adult and €27 for a child aged 4–14 for a stay of up to three hours. It is barrier-free, and you need a valid boarding pass for a flight departing within the next 3.5 hours.
The SKY Lounge is also the contract lounge used by a number of airlines that do not run their own facility at VIE, so business and first class passengers on Qatar Airways, All Nippon Airways, Brussels Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines are typically directed here, along with eligible Star Alliance Gold members and several SkyTeam carriers.
VIENNA Lounge – Terminal 1
The VIENNA Lounge – which older guides still call the Jet Lounge – sits in Terminal 1 on Level 2, again after security and in front of passport control. It covers the C and D gates, with the shuttle available if you are actually departing from F or G. Hours are 04:30 to 22:00 daily and walk-in entry costs €59 for an adult and €31 for a child aged 4–14, also for up to three hours. It is the more expensive of the two contract lounges, and the more highly rated: it was named Europe Lounge of the Year at the 2026 Priority Pass Excellence Awards.
Austrian Airlines & Star Alliance lounges
Austrian Airlines runs the airline lounges at its home hub, clustered in Terminal 3 on Levels 2 and 3 with separate Schengen and non-Schengen sides serving the F and G gates, plus a smaller Business Lounge in Terminal 1 on Level 1 for non-Schengen departures from the D gates.
- HON Circle Lounge: the most exclusive tier, open to Miles & More HON Circle members and Lufthansa Group First Class passengers only. Not available to buy.
- Senator Lounge: for Star Alliance Gold members travelling on any Star Alliance airline, and for Miles & More Senator card holders. Not available to buy.
- Austrian Business Lounge: for Business Class passengers on Austrian and partner airlines. This is the one Austrian lounge that usually sells day passes, typically in the €39–59 range when space allows.
- Austrian Business Lounge, Terminal 1: a smaller non-Schengen lounge on Level 1 by the D gates, open roughly 07:30–19:00 – check before relying on it for an early or late flight.
How to get in
There are four realistic routes into a lounge at Vienna, and it is worth knowing which one applies to you before you reach the door.
- Buy at the door. The SKY and VIENNA lounges sell entry to anyone with a boarding pass, whatever the class of ticket – €49 and €59 respectively for three hours. This is the simplest option and needs no membership.
- Priority Pass. Both contract lounges accept Priority Pass; the Austrian Airlines lounges do not. This is the main reason Priority Pass holders end up in the SKY or VIENNA lounge rather than an airline one.
- Premium payment cards. Mastercard LoungeKey, American Express Platinum and Diners Club generally admit cardholders to the contract lounges. Terms vary by card issuer, so check your own card’s conditions.
- Ticket class or status. Business and First Class passengers, Star Alliance Gold members and Miles & More Senator / HON Circle card holders use the corresponding Austrian lounge free of charge.
Entry to the contract lounges is granted at most 3.5 hours before departure, and the standard stay is three hours. On peak summer mornings both lounges can reach capacity, so allow a little slack rather than treating a lounge as guaranteed.
Which lounge should you choose?
For most travellers the answer is decided by the gate on your boarding pass. Departing from F or G, the SKY Lounge in Terminal 3 is the obvious pick – it is closer, it is ten euro cheaper, and it stays open an hour later. Departing from C or D, the VIENNA Lounge in Terminal 1 is the one on your side of the airport, and the better product if you do not mind the extra cost.
The shuttle does connect the two areas, so a preference can override geography if you have time. If you are flying Austrian in Business, or hold Star Alliance Gold, use the Austrian lounges in Terminal 3 instead – you already have access and they sit right by the F and G gates. For a very early departure, note that both contract lounges open at 04:30 while the Austrian Terminal 1 lounge does not open until 07:30.
What to expect inside
The VIE lounges follow the standard European hub pattern: a hot and cold buffet, complimentary soft drinks, beer, wine and spirits, barista or machine coffee, fast Wi-Fi, ample power sockets, newspapers and magazines, and quiet zones with proper armchairs. The larger Terminal 3 lounges add shower facilities and dedicated work areas; the contract lounges are barrier-free and have space for families. Views over the apron are a genuine feature of the upper-level lounges if you like watching aircraft.
If you would rather not pay for a lounge, remember that VIE’s public areas are comfortable by European standards, with free Wi-Fi throughout, plenty of seating and a wide food court – see our guide to a layover at Vienna Airport for how to spend a longer wait, and the terminals guide for where everything sits.
