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.
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?
Superb photos and a nice comprehensive review. Are there nap areas, day beds, loungers etc?
Sadly, there are not. Only some couches.
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
Infinitely better than the PP options at the old airport.
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.
The lounge is so big…I strongly doubt they will check. But if they did, you just have to slide your card again.
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!
Based on this has got to be one of the nicest Priority Pass lounges out there. Thanks for the review.
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).
Probably an economics decision with most not knowing what Star Alliance is, let alone reciprocal lounge access.
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.
I don’t know. In my consulting business, the clients insist upon business/first even on the very short flights.
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.
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..
The pide is a nice upgrade to the food.
If I purchase one iGA PAss Plus, would it be possible for my partner to join me and utilize the Lounge facilities together?
One pass per person.
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
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.
Ah, this pass. Yes, you would be able to take one in with you.