‍DALLAS — Miami International Airport (MIA) has welcomed back its Avianca (AV) lounge for the first time since 2020, but with a modern twist—it now operates as a joint venture with TAP Air Portugal (TP), a first for the airlines.

The lounge space was originally AV’s and operated from 2015 to 2020. After a four-year hiatus, Global Lounge completely renovated the lounge from October 2024 through March 2025.

The new lounge includes new amenities and a more gourmet approach to the food offering. AV and TP held a soft opening on March 4 and had a reopening press conference today, Friday 21. Airways had the opportunity to experience the new lounge this week.

A Modern Retreat for Miami Travelers

Spanning 6,559 square feet, the refreshed lounge offers a sleek, modern environment crafted for premium customers. Guests are greeted by neutral tones, tasteful wood paneling, and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows that frame decent views of the jet bridge and downtown Miami.

The facility is designed to be functional yet inviting. The lounge features a quiet room, a family area, a dedicated business center, and a rest area. It can accommodate 387 guests and has a seating capacity of 158.

The quiet room and family rooms are quaint and each has a TV, the former without shwoing the new sound.

Sandra Musibay, the regional airport operation director representing the lounge operator, told us the lounge receives an average of 500 guests daily but that the number of guests should increase after today’s ceremony.

At 10 AM, the lounge was occupied by 50 guests. More passengers began arriving at noon, and by three o'clock, the lounge was packed.

As I passed the reception to leave the lounge, I saw that around half a dozen guests were denied entrance due to the capacity limit.

Access, Amenities

The lounge operates around the clock in Concourse J past security (near Gate J6). Access is complimentary for first and business-class passengers on Star Alliance-operated flights and Star Alliance Gold members. However, only first-class passengers and Gold members are allowed one guest under the same conditions, and there’s no time limit to stay at the lounge.

Priority Pass members can enjoy the space, albeit with a three-hour visit limit, with a “Lounge Pass” that guarantees a seat. A $48 guest pass is available for other travelers, but only if they are flying out of MIA. Pre-booking will also be available until the operator sees the traffic in the coming months.

A diverse culinary offering is included with the access. A self-serve bar boasts an array of beverages, including Portuguese wines and American liquors, alongside a dedicated coffee station where guests can personalize their drinks.

Meals are served in two shifts: breakfast runs from midnight to noon, featuring options like Colombian arepas, scrambled eggs, and pancakes, while lunch and dinner are available from noon to midnight with selections ranging from gluten-free pasta to pork carnitas and assorted salads.

Guest can scan a QR code visible on all table surfaces to order the Colombia-inspired dishes. Since each table has specific QR codes, the staff was quick to bring the food to every guest.

I can't complain about the food; it was tasty, savory, and inspired by AV’s Colombian origins. The tomato soup was on point—I had a bit of a sniffle, and the coffee was good enough for me to have two expressos.

The service was remarkable. The busybody staff constantly replenished the self-service bar and addressed the guests' needs in MIA-style English and Spanish.

One final note is that it was difficult for me to connect to the WiFi during the morning. Still, at around noon, I entered the business center and could connect without any issues—I'm not sure if it was the hour or the fact that I had to be close to the business area.

A Strategic Industry First

This collaborative lounge experience reintroduces a popular amenity at MIA and represents a partnership between AV and TP worth replicating. The MIA lounge expects to receive over 16,500 passengers in 2025. AV has 249 weekly frequencies and 36 routes to US destinations from MIA.

Priority Pass members can redeem miles for tickets with AV to access over 75 destinations in 26 countries and 14,000 destinations from MIA.

The initiative is poised to enhance the travel experience for a wide range of passengers—from business travelers seeking a productive space to families needing a comfortable waiting area—while reinforcing the South Florida hub's commitment to premium service.

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