It was my first time flying international from the vastly improved Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to check out and review the Plaza Premium Lounge, especially that there isn’t a review of it yet online. Having tried out its lounges abroad, I’ve grown fond of Plaza Premium Lounge—the world’s largest independent airport lounge network—so I was truly looking forward for my flight to Kuala Lumpur.
I arrived plenty early for my flight, giving me a couple of hours to stay at the lounge. And so after all the formalities, I walked past the duty free shops, and I easily found the Plaza Premium Lounge. Do note though that the international concourse of Mactan-Cebu—in the interim, at least—is quite small, so it didn’t take long for me get to the lounge.
Plaza Premium Lounge is the only lounge in the international concourse of MCIA, and it serves the premium passengers of all airlines, including our flag carrier, Philippine Airlines. As an independent lounge, however, they likewise welcome paying guests, as well as those with access through credit cards and Priority Pass.
My first impression was that the lounge looked like a scaled-down version of the Plaza Premium Lounge in other airports abroad—the ambient lighting, the furnishing, the relaxing colors, and the overall feel, really—so I liked the place easily.
Seating was abundant—expertly fitted into the lounge were a lounging area, a dining area, and a long, communal high table with power points.
I was first seated in the dining area, and since I was famished, I immediately went for the buffet. Their hot meal service runs all day, but since it was early in the morning at the time, breakfast was being offered. The spread consisted of a couple of hot items, noodles, rice, and surprisingly, a live egg station. Aside from these, there were all-day hors d’oeuvres, which included delicious mozzarella sticks with pesto.
The bar, on the other hand, was manned, and drinks can easily be requested. There were the usual hot and cold drinks, as well as a selection of liquor and beer.
Service was topnotch—all of the staff were excellent in taking care of their guests’ needs. Now that I think about it, it’s actually a blessing that the lounge is small, since it allows the staff to provide personalized and attentive service.
After breakfast, I spent my remaining time at the lounge working at the communal table, and thankfully, the wi-fi was fast enough. Before long, I was approached by one of the staff that it was time to board—which was way better than getting a loud boarding call over the PA.
In all, I loved the lounge more than enough for me to conclude that it’s the best independent lounge in the Philippines. It’s clearly a testament to why Plaza Premium Lounge received the 2017 SKYTRAX World’s Best Independent Airport Lounge Award. MCIA is so fortunate to have it in its premises, and I do hope they have it in the upcoming terminal.
PLAZA PREMIUM LOUNGE
International Departures, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Philippines
Telephone: +63 32 342 0717
Email: philippines@plaza-network.com
Website: www.plaza-network.com/location_detail?city=Cebu
Social Media: Facebook and Instagram
