A Lounge Key and Priority Pass lounge for Istanbul airport

Updated May 31, 2024
istanbul airport inside
To the point Istanbul Airport has a new lounge accessible to Lounge Key and Priority Pass members! Find out about credit cards to access them.

Istanbul Airport

Istanbul’s new airport was inaugurated earlier this year. I recently had the opportunity to transit through this airport while travelling in business class on Turkish Airlines between Istanbul and Kuala Lumpur.

Because I was travelling in business class, I had access to Turkish Airlines lounges:

Turkish Airlines Business Lounge IST 43
Turkish Airlines Business Lounge - Istanbul

However, passengers with access to Lounge Key and Priority Pass lounges had no option in Istanbul (IST) until now.

IGA Lounge in Istanbul

From now on, Lounge Key and Priority Pass members will be able to access the IGA Lounge.

This lounge was previously only available to passengers of specific airlines.

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IGA Lounge - Istanbul
IST9 10449
IGA Lounge - Istanbul
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IGA Lounge - Istanbul
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IGA Lounge - Istanbul

This lounge has a very large area (nearly 50,000 sq ft (4,645.15 m²)) and features:

  • An all-you-can-eat buffet
  • Showers
  • A children’s playroom
  • A pool table
  • Business center
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IGA Lounge - Istanbul
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IGA Lounge - Istanbul
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IGA Lounge - Istanbul
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IGA Lounge - Istanbul

Conditions

Priority Pass members can stay in that lounge for 3 hours.

Children under the age of 2 are admitted free of charge.

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IGA Lounge - Istanbul
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IGA Lounge - Istanbul
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Credit cards offering Priority Pass

There are several credit cards offering Priority Pass memberships. However, the difference will be on the number of free passes included each year in addition to the subscription.

CIBC Aventura cards for example, offer four free annual passes.

At this annual fee level, the card with the most passes to airport lounges is the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* card! With that card, you will get six free annual passes to Priority Pass airport lounges.

In addition, this card currently offers a great welcome bonus. And it’s one of the few cards that doesn’t charge any conversion fees for foreign currency transactions.

If you want more lounge passes, Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card offers ten free accesses to Priority Pass airport lounges each year.

This card currently offers a welcome bonus of 30,000 points and you can earn:

  • 4 points per Dollar in Gas Station
  • 4 points per Dollar in Grocery stores
  • 4 points per Dollar in Restaurants
  • 4 Points per Dollar in Entertainment

But if you’re a frequent flyer, it’s best to head to one of these cards offering free unlimited access to Priority Pass airport lounges!

Our choice is the Platinum Card® from American Express, which includes:

  • A 200 $ annual travel credit
  • Unlimited access to many airport lounges (Priority Pass, Centurion…)
  • 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar in restaurants
  • 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar for travel
  • Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status
  • Hilton Honors Gold Status
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Credit Cards offering Lounge Key access

Lounge Key is an airport lounge program owned by Mastercard.

Most World Elite Level Mastercard cards therefore offer a Lounge Key membership. However, like Priority Pass, the difference will be the number of free passes you get per year.

For example, cards such as the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® or theBMO® CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®* card offer a Lounge Key membership. But access to the lounges has to be paid.

So it’s better to get these cards instead:

Our favourite will be the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard:

  • First year free
  • 4 annual complimentary passes to VIP airport lounges
  • A 35,000 points welcome bonus
  • 3 points/dollar for travel, restaurant and entertainment purchases
  • 2 points/dollar everywhere else (including Costco)
  • Premium travel insurance

Conclusion

This is great news to see Istanbul Airport offering an airport lounge accessible to Lounge Key and Priority Pass members!

Source: CAPA

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Jean-Maximilien Voisine

Jean-Maximilien Voisine

Jean-Maximilien Voisine
Jean-Maximilien, President and Founder of Milesopedia, is a recognized expert in rewards programs, credit cards, and travel in Canada and France. Approaching forty and a father of two, he has travelled to over 100 countries, half of them with his children and his wife, Audrey. Specializing in top loyalty programs like Aeroplan, American Express Membership Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy, he guides travellers to maximize their benefits across North America and Europe.
All posts by Jean-Maximilien Voisine

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