I noticed on the Priority Pass app that there was an arrivals lounge in Malta. It turned out that the La Valette Club “VIP” arrivals lounge in Malta International Airport (MLA) was a very pleasant surprise and a concept I wish we would see in more places.
VIP Arrivals Lounge Malta (MLA) – La Valette Club / Priority Pass
While the Priority Pass website suggests that reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance via email or telephone, when I emailed the lounge I promptly received a reply back that reservations were no longer needed (or accepted). Instead, access to the lounge is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. After arriving from Zurich On Air Malta, we found the small VIP lounge in the baggage claim area. The lounge is open 24/7.
The concept was simple: a small lounge about the size of my living room with a couple of clusters of couches and a bar with water, soft drinks, coffee, tea, beer, wine, and spirits. Light snacks including biscuits, crackers, and nuts were also available.
So simple, but to step in from the rather warm baggage claim area into the cool air-conditioned lounge while we waited for our bags was wonderful. Air Malta offers only buy onboard beverages in economy class, so my family also enjoyed hydrating.
We ordered a Lyft from the lounge and did not exit until it arrived. We simply had to walk out, turn left, exit the terminal, and there was our driver waiting for us. The whole process was so easy.
CONCLUSION
The La Valette Club “VIP” arrivals lounge is a great Priority Pass lounge that is simply yet practical and helpful. Malta Airport is small and easily navigable, but I appreciated this little lounges.
This is the sort of concept I would love to see at more airports and was great appreciated by family.
Nifty little lounge. Classy. We have five days to kill in southern Europe next year (late April) and can pick a spot. Malta is one of the possibilities and we’re looking forward to your observations.
PVR has one of these and I love it. Certainly you didn’t request a Lyft in Malta did you? I wasn’t aware they’d moved out of North America.
Sorry, meant Bolt.
The Airside one is quite nice too – I imagine you’ll review that one also.
We really liked it – a very solid lounge.
Really convenient, I wish more airports offered these in the international baggage claim areas.
Looking in particular at you Delta/ATL. Given all the nasty things you announced this week maybe you want to do something nice for your loyal flyers…just saying…