Milan has two airports, we have already compared Milan Malpensa (MPX) Vs. Linate (LIN), now we review the very best airport lounges at Linate if you are traveling with lounge access or have a Priority Pass. Milan Linate Airport offers four airport lounges, two of which are part of a Milan Airport frequent flyer scheme, a British Airways lounge, and an Alitalia lounge.
Milan Linate Airport is so close to the city center of Milan that only a limited number of flights are allowed daily, restricted to domestic flights or international flights within the EU only.
The following airlines fly out of Milan Linate Airport, Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Air Baltic, Air Berlin, Air Canada, Air France, Air Italy, Air Malta, Alitalia, Alitalia Express, American Airlines, Blue Air, Blue Panorama, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, Delta Airlines, EasyJet, Etihad Airways, Iberia, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, LuxAir, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Silver Air, TAP Air Portugal, United Airlines and Vueling Airlines.
Once you arrive at either airport in Milan, we have reviewed the best hotel executive club lounges in Milan.
Free Airport Lounge Access
If you have not paid for Business Class or First Class, you can access lounges at this airport for a fee or for free if you have a Priority Pass. Get an unlimited Priority Pass with the Amex Platinum card, or you can also access most Priority Pass lounges for free using the free American Express Gold with its two free Lounge Club passes. To get extra referral points and advice on these free-lounge-access cards and more, have a read of our best credit cards for luxury travel.
1. Milan Linate British Airways Lounge
This lounge is a smart rectangular room with coffee machines and a dining area on one side and sofa seating and partitions on the other side. There are no windows or views in this lounge.
The great thing about this lounge is that it has just had a major refresh! Improvements include catering and bespoke furniture and lighting. The lounge reopened 25th Oct 2019 and includes a new look reception, a brighter environment, new seating, and powered hub tables for “perfect working conditions”.
Enhanced dining options include the introduction of hot dishes such as scrambled eggs in the mornings as well as the usual sandwiches, small salads, pizza slices, filled croissants, cakes, and yogurt. Snacks throughout the day are fresh fruit, biscuits, crisps, and nuts. There is also a bar area in the lounge where you can pick up alcoholic drinks.
Brand new British-made Boss armchairs, specifically designed for British Airways, are complemented by relaxing, decorative lighting by UK-based Tyson lighting. Adapting the lounge design to the location, high-quality Italian finishes are used, including terrazzo stone flooring and Carrara marble.
The terminal itself is pretty drab and dated, so this lounge is a luxurious rest bite and much better than sitting at your departure gate in an otherwise uninteresting terminal.
Another advantage of flying out of Linate is that it is close to central Milan. On a Friday afternoon, or at any rush hour, a taxi ride to Malpensa can take up to 3 hours. This is why many travelers prefer to fly out of Linate.
The disadvantage of this lounge is that the bathrooms are outside the lounge, airport-operated, and not part of the lounge.
2. Casa Alitalia
Casa Alitalia is found in the Level 1 boarding area and can be accessed by Business Class passengers flying on Alitalia. The seating is mainly yellow and white single sofa seats, and the look is Italian chic. There are windows to one side, but there is a fogged design on them, so you can see the tops of the planes but not much else. The buffet area has pastries and cold sandwiches as well as pasta and soft and alcoholic drinks, including Prosecco. There’s also a good coffee machine. This lounge is really nice, but it can get very crowded, which is a disadvantage.
If you regularly fly out of Milan Linate and Milan Malpensa Airports, you can join the Milan airports’ ViaMilano frequent flyer airport program and become a Club SEA member. This will give you access to Club SEA amenities, including priority access when transiting security and entrance to both Via Milano lounges at Milan Linate Airport.
3. Sala Piranesi Lounge
Sala Piranesi Lounge is located landside in the departure hall next to one of the check-in areas currently used by Alitalia. Passengers can head for the lounge, check-in their luggage in the lounge without stress, and get their boarding pass and a drink and snack before going airside. This is one of the two Via Milano lounges, so you will have access if you are a Club SEA member. You can also access this lounge if you have a Priority Pass.
This nice-looking lounge serves buffet sandwiches, croissants with ham and cheese, and various desserts, cakes, and pastries under glass bowls. There are also a few hot dishes, along with an à la carte menu. There is also wine on offer, various beers in a fridge, soft drinks, a good selection of spirits, a coffee machine, and tea. The Sala Piranesi is a non-smoking lounge.
4. Sala Leonardo Lounge
The Sala Leonardo Lounge is located airside in the Schengen transit hall. It is one of the two Via Milano lounges, so if you are a Club SEA member, you will have access. You can also access this lounge if you are flying European Business Class on Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, Air Italy, and Air Malta, or if you have a Priority Pass.
The lounge is small with big windows (not looking out to the planes). There are brown leather armchairs and tables divided into different seating areas as well as a buffet area. At times, this lounge can be very crowded.
There are snacks and drinks in the lounge, including sandwiches, yogurts, fresh fruits, pastries, and cakes. This lounge is fairly basic but does the job and is worth visiting if you can get in for free with your flight ticket or Priority Pass.
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