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Home  >  istanbul • Lounge Reviews  >  Review: IGA Lounge Istanbul
istanbulLounge Reviews

Review: IGA Lounge Istanbul

Matthew Klint Posted onMarch 13, 2023March 12, 2023 20 Comments

The IGA Lounge in Istanbul remains an excellent Priority Pass lounge, with a wide selection of food and drinks as well as plenty of space to spread out.

IGA Lounge Istanbul Review

My comprehensive review from 2019 (below) is still relevant. However, I wanted to update the review to include pictures of my more recent visit to the IGA Lounge.

Barista-made coffee is still available. This is recommended (though I find the Turkish Airlines lounges has slightly better coffee).

Avoid the coffee machines.

Food choices included both individually-portioned “tapas style” food choices and the more traditional communal buffet style (large containers of food with tongs). I’d imagine as we move further from the pandemic, we will see less individually-portioned dishes.

This lounge now has a pide station, which is a literal copycat move of what Turkish Airlines offers (but a welcomed one).

Overall, this lounge has weathered the pandemic and held up well.

Phone room in IGA Lounge Istanbul (IST)

My original review of the IGA Lounge Istanbul, published on November 13, 2019, appears below.


The new IGA Lounge in Istanbul is a worthy competitor to the Turkish Airlines lounge and a wonderful addition to the Priority Pass portfolio.

IGA Lounge Istanbul Entrance Requirements

I had the chance to visit this lounge for a couple hours before my British Airways flight to London. It serves as the lounge for many carriers in IST, even some Star Alliance members that would ostensibly use the Turkish Airlines lounge. To reach the lounge, just follow the signs (bear left) after passport control and security.

Once inside, just scan your business class boarding pass to gain access. Priority Pass members need to check-in at the front desk.

What Time Does The IGA Lounge Open?

The lounge is open 24/7.

IGA Lounge Istanbul Seating

Spread out over a huge space with soaring ceilings, the lounge has seating for hundreds of passengers. Couches, chairs, and tables offer a mix of seating. While there is no sleeping room, I noticed several people dozing on couches in the early morning hours. Power plugs are located throughout the lounge, though U.S. passengers will want to bring their adaptor along.

Conference rooms are located in the rear of the lounge:

IGA Lounge Istanbul Dining

In the center of the lounge is a buffet are offering self-serve food and drinks. I was disappointed with the selection when comparing it to the Turkish Airlines lounge, but there were still many choices available of hot and cold food items.

Since I was there during the breakfast window, I tried a few items. Only the eggs were actually served at a hot temperature.

IGA Lounge Istanbul Beverages

I was excited to see a “proper” manual coffee machine at the bar. There, the barista made a nice cappuccino, which always makes me smile.

The bar also offers beer, wine, and hard liquor.

There is a self-serve beverage station with water, juice, and soft drinks near the buffet:

and a couple other self-serve drink stations in the lounge.

IGA Lounge Istanbul Restrooms

Restrooms are located in the middle of the lounge. Looks for the gold doors. With attendants on duty, the restrooms are kept clean.

IGA Lounge Istanbul Showers

Inside the gender-designated restrooms, shower suites (without toilets) are available.

IGA Lounge Istanbul Massage

Toward the end of my stay, I noticed a massage chair had been set up. It appears free neck and shoulder treatments are offered on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 9:00AM.

IGA Lounge Istanbul Children’s Room

A children’s play room features a large space for children to run around or watch a movie.

IGA Lounge Istanbul Smoking

Smoking is not allowed indoors, but a large screened-in patio offers ample space to vape or smoke a cigarette.

IGA Lounge Istanbul Duty Free

Near the entrance, the lounge has its own duty free shop.

IGA Lounge Istanbul Luggage Storage

Also near the entrance is a luggage storage area in case you don’t want to deal with your bags while in the lounge (or even if you go into the city during a very long layover). Lockers are password protected.

IGA Lounge Now A Priority Pass Lounge

Priority Pass recently announced that IGA is now a part of its lounge network. This marks the first Priority Pass lounge in Istanbul’s new airport and as far as Priority Pass lounges go, a great one.

CONCLUSION

This is a solid lounge and helpful addition to IST. While not as nice as the Turkish Lounge, it’s worth a visit before your flight.

Have you visited the IGA Lounge? Did you like it?

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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20 Comments

  1. Gio Reply
    November 13, 2019 at 9:53 am

    Superb photos and a nice comprehensive review. Are there nap areas, day beds, loungers etc?

    • Matthew Reply
      November 13, 2019 at 10:00 am

      Sadly, there are not. Only some couches.

    • Mircea Cune Reply
      December 19, 2019 at 7:51 pm

      The worst lounge o have been until now, and i ve been in a few. Just a nap
      area for such a big lounge with only 7 day beds and 200 normal chairs. Landed there a bit after midnight, waiting for my morning flight, no food available except lentil soup and sandwiches. Few turkish delights, noisy as fuck as you could here all the outside people passing by, kids screaming, not 1 single closed room where you can chill. Very poor

  2. Andy Reply
    November 13, 2019 at 5:08 pm

    Infinitely better than the PP options at the old airport.

  3. Yuriy Reply
    November 19, 2019 at 12:16 pm

    Thank you for the review.
    I need to stay in the airport for about 8 hours (night hours). Priority Pass website shows 3 hours max stay. Do you know if they really count your hours?
    Thanks.

    • Matthew Reply
      November 19, 2019 at 1:06 pm

      The lounge is so big…I strongly doubt they will check. But if they did, you just have to slide your card again.

  4. Inessa Reply
    February 7, 2020 at 6:54 am

    TERRIBLE SERVICE!!!!! Payed for Meet&Greet transfer service over 1000 EURO: for fast-track, buggy and IGA lounge, but the representative of the IGA didn’t take passengers to lounge! They had to wait at the departure gates without food and drinks, despite the fact that there was a baby among them and elderly disabled woman. And IGA Service refuses to compensate unused services! SCAMERS!

  5. BoardingAreaFlukie Reply
    March 13, 2023 at 4:37 pm

    Based on this has got to be one of the nicest Priority Pass lounges out there. Thanks for the review.

  6. PM Reply
    March 13, 2023 at 7:18 pm

    Looking at the original review, I am surprised to see that Aegean and Asiana actually chose to send their pax away from the TK lounges! Not sure about OZ, but Aegean definitely codeshare on the IST-ATH flights (I think IST-SKG too, albeit that’s only operated by Turkish).

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      March 13, 2023 at 7:46 pm

      Probably an economics decision with most not knowing what Star Alliance is, let alone reciprocal lounge access.

      • PM Reply
        March 13, 2023 at 8:32 pm

        I get it in terms of the general public, but do you reckon that’s true for business class pax too?

        IST-ATH is barely an hour’s flight, I suspect most people who aren’t old-school business owners of the sort that delegates travel arrangements to their secretary would either book the cheapest option or whatever flight time is most convenient as thrown up by the OTA/airline website without even thinking about travel classes etc.

        • Matthew Klint Reply
          March 13, 2023 at 10:59 pm

          I don’t know. In my consulting business, the clients insist upon business/first even on the very short flights.

  7. Quo Vadis Reply
    March 13, 2023 at 9:32 pm

    Wife and I stayed there (at IGA Lounge) for ~6 hours during a long layover in Istanbul in January. It was moderately crowded when we were there yet still had plenty of additional seating, as this Priority Pass lounge is huge. Food selection and variety was pretty good, and we found a pair of semi-secluded lounge chairs to kick back and rest/eat/nap in. Using the Wi-Fi there required getting separate slips of paper with unique usernames/passcodes for each of us and took multiple attempts to log into as we fiddled with Turkish/English instruction menus on the login page(s).

    Overall, this is a good/large lounge located in the middle of IST airport and if you connect through there on Turkish Airlines, you’ll find IGA Lounge a good place to rest and recharge.

  8. Jonathan Reply
    March 14, 2023 at 12:50 am

    I remember the food being terrible, it doesnt look like its improved. I slept in one of the phone rooms but overnight ppl sleep allover the sofas. Its kinda nasty..

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      March 14, 2023 at 4:18 am

      The pide is a nice upgrade to the food.

  9. Mahtab Reply
    May 22, 2023 at 3:15 pm

    If I purchase one iGA PAss Plus, would it be possible for my partner to join me and utilize the Lounge facilities together?

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      May 22, 2023 at 3:22 pm

      One pass per person.

      • Mahtab Reply
        May 22, 2023 at 3:28 pm

        even for : iGA PASS PLUS

        This is the conditions and mentioned +1 guest

        iGA PASS PLUS
        Valid For 1 Year

        €329.00
        +TAX
        More detail
        iGA PASS PLUS
        Fast Track (+1 Guest)
        iGA PASS PLUS
        Priority Check-in (+1 Guest)
        iGA PASS PLUS
        Lounge (+1 Guest)
        iGA PASS PLUS
        Buggy (+1 Guest)
        iGA PASS PLUS
        Pop Up Lounge (+1 Guest)
        unifree
        10% discount at Unifree

        • Mahtab Reply
          May 22, 2023 at 3:30 pm

          Owners of the iGA Pass Plus and iGA Pass Extra packages have 1 guest right in addition to themselves. iGA Pass Premium members have 2 guests right in addition to themselves.

          For the members of iGA Pass Plus and iGA Pass Extra packages the children between ages 0-12, and for the owners of the iGA Pass Premium package, kids between ages 0-18 are not subtracted from their guest rights.

        • Matthew Klint Reply
          May 22, 2023 at 5:50 pm

          Ah, this pass. Yes, you would be able to take one in with you.

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