Business a.m.
According to this report by Simple Flying, in 2025, seven lounges stood out by transforming the airport from a place of transit into a luxurious destination.
Referring to a ranking by Skytrax, Simple Flying reports that the top rankings are determined by a combination of high-end facilities, exceptional staff service, and a truly effortless and indulgent ground experience, writes Simple Flying.
It writes that the top-ranked lounge, operated by Lufthansa, was a standout from every other lounge in the world for its unique combination of service, comfort, and premium products. The “Porsche Transfer” is its hallmark feature, a private chauffeured transfer in a Mercedes-Benz or Porsche directly from the lounge to the aircraft door. Based on the 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards, here are the top 7 first-class airport lounges globally.
Cathay Pacific
The Pier And The Wing
Ranked #7, Cathay Pacific earned its spot on the list for “The Pier” and “The Wing” combined Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). The lounge is designed to feel like a high-end apartment or a luxury hotel, rather than an airport terminal. These lounges are famous for their Day Suites overlooking the runway and their signature Noodle Bars.
The Pier offers full table service with an extensive à la carte menu in “The Dining Room,” where guests can enjoy gourmet cuisine that includes local and international dishes. “The Wing” is famous for its unique “Cabanas,” which are spacious shower suites with a full bath and lounge space attached that includes a daybed.
There is an on-site Spa which offers complementary treatments that include foot reflexology or head massages. The lounge also provides private “Day Suites” with comfortable daybeds, which are quiet rooms where one can relax in privacy or even nap between long flights. The high quality of staff service, attention to detail, and a focus on subtle luxury are often cited by reviewers and customers as the key differentiators, embodying the high standards of Cathay Pacific hospitality.
Emirates
Dubai International First Class Lounge
The Emirates First Class Lounge at Dubai International (DXB) is famous for its sheer scale, which consumes an entire terminal floor of Concourse A. A major highlight is the ability to board many flights directly from the lounge itself. For travelers booked on flights served by the airlines’ world-leading Airbus A380 “Superjumbo” fleet, there is private boarding access via a dedicated Jet Bridge.
Guests can enjoy all-day à la carte dining with a variety of global cuisines, from a full English breakfast to dishes like 72-hour braised beef short ribs and a range of vegan options. There are also extensive buffet and dessert stations, and a dedicated wine cellar. Access to the lounge is complimentary for Emirates First Class passengers and Skywards Platinum members, with paid access options available for others depending on their ticket and status.
The lounge has shower spas as well as dedicated quiet areas with loungers, pillows, and blankets. Passengers are also offered a complimentary 15-minute spa treatment at the on-site spa. There is also a business center, a children’s playroom, complete with video games. The DXB lounge has its own duty-free shopping outlets with a variety of luxury brands.
Qatar Airways
Al Safwa First Lounge
Inspired by Doha’s Museum of Islamic Art, the Qatar Airways Al Safwa First Lounge at Hamad International Airport (Doha) features soaring sandstone walls and a minimalist design. It displays genuine ancient artifacts and a signature central water feature that reaches up to the high black ceiling, creating a “cathedral-like” atmosphere.
Unlike other hubs, Al Safwa remains uncrowded even during peak hours with strict access policies. It almost exclusively serves passengers in First Class as well as the very top tier of frequent flyers, with eligible Business Class travelers only occasionally able to purchase entry. Dining is one of the main highlights of the Al Safwa First Lounge, with a 250-seat restaurant. 2025 menus featured gourmet items like wagyu beef carpaccio, poached lobster, and traditional Arabic dishes like chicken mandi.
Like Emirates, the lounge has a private security area and boarding gate that is directly accessible from inside the lounge. There is also a duty-free shopping area and a cinematic media room. For longer layovers, the lounge offers 12 private, hotel-style bedrooms with real beds and ensuite bathrooms. The lounge has a spa with nine treatment rooms and a Jacuzzi.
Singapore Airlines
The Private Room
“The Private Room” (TPR) is an exclusive, a “lounge-within-a-lounge” concept, reserved solely for passengers flying in Singapore Airlines Suites or First Class, ensuring a high degree of privacy and free from crowds. Access to the lounge is limited to only the highest-tier travelers. TPR was designed by hospitality design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates, who also designed Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto, Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou and Shangri-La Tokyo, according to Secret Life of Fatbacks.
The dining experience is a major highlight, with a full-service restaurant offering an extensive à la carte menu. Signature dishes like lobster laksa and Wagyu satay, along with barista-made coffee and premium champagne. The dim sum and gourmet burgers are also highly reviewed by travelers who have stopped by the lounge for a bite to eat. Other dishes like seared cod fillet with shellfish sauce, roasted lamb rack, and prawn makhani Indian sets are part of the rotating menu.
The lounge has day rooms with Tempur mattresses and recliners for passengers to rest during long layovers. There are also marble shower suites available for first-class travelers. The staff are consistently praised for their warm, genuine, and proactive service, reportedly addressing guests by name to make the experience more personal.
Air France
La Première Lounge
The Air France La Première Lounge at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is billed as a kind of private sanctuary but features five-star dining that rivals the best restaurants in the city. On top of the elegance and tranquil atmosphere inside the lounge, and its unmatched fine dining, the service is underscored by its privacy and luxury.
The dining program is a core reason for its high ranking, featuring a menu crafted by renowned, multiple Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse and his team. Famed dishes include the signature “coquillettes” with ham and black truffle, foie gras, and seasonal main courses. The menu features a blend of modern and classic French cuisine paired with an exceptional list of French wine and champagne curated by expert sommeliers.
Through a partnership with the French luxury skincare brand Sisley, guests can enjoy a selection of complimentary facial treatments and massages tailored for travelers at the on-site spa. Private suites connected to the lounge are available, featuring a living room, bedroom with a real bed, bathroom, and private patio for ultimate seclusion. The lounge also provides shower suites with luxury products, as well as quiet areas with comfortable recliners for rest.
Upon arrival at the airport, guests are met by a personal concierge who handles all baggage, check-in, and security formalities at a private vestibule. When it is time to board, a dedicated team member escorts passengers and drives them in a Porsche Cayenne Hybrid, directly onto the tarmac. Deplaning at the destination receives the same treatment.
Swiss International Air Lines
Zurich First Class Lounge
The SWISS First Class Lounge at Zurich Airport (ZRH) was ranked as the #2 First Class Lounge in the 2025 Skytrax awards. A spacious 352-square-meter outdoor terrace offers unobstructed, panoramic views of the runways and the distant Swiss Alps. In the winter, guests can even enjoy traditional Swiss fondue and raclette on the terrace.
The lounge is designed with a modern and elegant decor using natural materials to create a calm and relaxing ambience. It is famous for its two private hotel rooms equipped with $40,000 Hästens beds that are hand-made from natural horsehair and flax, according to The Luxury Traveller. It also houses a wine humidor with over 1,000 bottles and offers a five-star à la carte restaurant experience.
The lounge boasts a five-star à la carte restaurant with an open kitchen featuring dishes that focus on regional and seasonal ingredients, along with Swiss classics like Zürcher Geschnetzeltes. The lounge is never busy, and the airline keeps traffic to the most comfortable level with highly exclusive access limitations.
Lufthansa
Frankfurt First Class Terminal
Ranked as the #1 First Class Lounge in 2025, Lufthansa’s lounge at its Frankfurt hub is highlighted by its completely independent First Class Terminal. Guests arrive by car and are greeted immediately by a personal assistant who handles all formalities. The facility offers private security, personal assistants, and chauffeured transfers directly to the aircraft in Porsche or Mercedes luxury cars.
The terminal features both an extensive buffet and an excellent à la carte restaurant with award-winning cuisine, including fine dining options like caviar. The bar is also a major highlight, with a selection of over 130 different varieties of whisky. There are quiet rooms with David’s for rent, office units for business travel, and spacious shower suites. Some have a deep soaking tub, but all have the famous, collectible Lufthansa rubber duckies.
There are no lines or crowds because everything is handled by the staff from check-in to security and immigration. Guests are driven directly across the tarmac to their aircraft for boarding. The primary differentiator that sets the Lufthansa Lounge apart is the exceptional service and unparalleled privacy from the beginning of the process until guests arrive at the airplane for their flight.
