Which Airlines Provide Lounge Access With Premium Economy Tickets?

Access to an airport lounge can make a big difference to the travel experience. Space to relax, eat, work, or freshen up before a long flight – not to mention the chance to escape the often packed airport environment – is a big pull for passengers.

Most airlines only offer lounges to business and first class passengers or to those with higher elite status. However, some airlines are realizing the benefits and appeal of including access with premium economy tickets. This is far from standard currently – but a handful of airlines now have a consistent offering. This includes ANA, Japan Airlines, SAS, and LATAM.

Lounge access with airline tickets

Airline lounges started out as an included benefit for invited and VIP passengers. American Airlines has the honor of opening the first lounge in 1939. As aviation expanded over the decades, lounges became more common – usually as an included benefit for premium first class and later business class passengers.

Read more about the history of airline lounges

These days lounge access is nowhere near as simple as being offered to all business or first class passengers. Elite status is of course a common way for travellers to access lounges regardless of class of travel.

There are major exclusions too. In the US, access often works through membership or payment schemes rather than cabin flown or elite status. Many airlines have also started selling business class tickets without lounge access – part of the trend for ‘unbundling.’

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But in some cases, airlines are going to other way and offering more ways to access. Although far from standard, a handful of airlines now offer lounge access to premium economy passengers. In the race to make this cabin more appealing – this has to be a good move.

All Nippon Airways (ANA) – lounge access common with Japanese airlines

Without a doubt, the concept of lounge access for premium economy passengers has taken off most in the Japanese market. Both the main airlines, All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines, now offer this.

ANA provides lounge access to premium economy passengers on all ANA-operated international flights.

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There are ANA lounges at Tokyo Haneda Airport, Tokyo Narita Airport, Kansai Airport, and Honolulu Airport. At most other airports with ANA premium economy service, there will be a third-party lounge for departing premium economy passengers.

Japan Airlines

Japan Airlines follows ANA in offering lounge access on all JAL-operating premium economy flights. Access is given to all JAL-operated lounges in Japan – at Tokyo Narita, Haneda, Nagoya, and Osaka. As with ANA, partner lounge access is also offered (with oneworld lounges in this case) at most international airports.

Note that lounge access is not offered if you are upgrading from economy to premium economy at the airport.

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Japan Airlines certainly has one of the best premium economy products in the sky. It won the Skytrax award for best premium economy in 2024. It stands out with the most spacious seats. Its premium economy seats all offer a 42-inch seat pitch. This makes it the largest in the industry, as the standard premium economy seat pitch is around 38 inches.

SAS – the only European airline to offer it

Lounge access for premium economy passengers is not yet common in Europe. Of course, many frequent travelers will have access with elite status (not the case with most US airlines). One airline that made the move to offer it in SAS. Holders of SAS Plus (premium economy) tickets get lounge access on many routes.

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The access rules for SAS Plus ticket holders depend on the flight route, as follows:

• SAS Plus passengers can access SAS-operated lounges on all flights. These are located at Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Gothenburg, Chicago, and New York Newark airports.
• SAS Plus passengers on flights within Europe can access Skyteam and other partner lounges at many airports.

LATAM – offering access on regional routes

LATAM is the only airline in the Americas to offer lounge access for premium economy passengers. This is valid on regional international flights (not domestic flights) at LATAM lounges in Santiago, Bogotá, Guarulhos, Ezeiza, and Miami airports – plus some other contracted lounges.

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Premium economy is a slightly different offering from LATAM, however. It is only offered in its narrowbody A320 family aircraft on regional flights (where no business class is offered). This is different from LATAM+ offered on its widebody aircraft – this is just a premium seating offering still ticketed in economy class.

Lounge access with other airlines

These are the only airlines that automatically include lounge access with premium economy tickets. With other airlines, you will have to rely on another means if you want lounge access when flying economy or premium economy.

• Elite status is a common route for this. All of the alliance-member airlines offer this for flights on any member of the alliance. Typically, mid and upper elite levels will offer lounge access as a benefit, regardless of cabin flown – but only when flying with an alliance member airline.
• Lounge pass/program memberships. There are several programs available now that offer global lounge access. You can usually choose between pay-as-you-use schemes and limited or unlimited included visits. The big advantage here is that access is offered regardless of the airline flown.
• Some high-end credit cards offer program membership as a benefit.
• Pay-as-you-go access. Many airports offer lounges where you can simply pay on arrival or book through your airline in advance. This makes sense for less frequent travelers or for those who only want access on certain trips. This is rarely offered for the same lounges as you would access with airline tickets – check the details if you want a particular lounge.