Avianca VIP Lounge at El Salvador International Airport [Review]

During a recent trip to Bolivia, I connected through El Salvador International Airport in San Salvador (SAL) on Avianca. I don’t hold elite status with Avianca or Star Alliance, but this lounge is part of the Plaza Premium Lounge network. That was good news for me, as I hoped to grab some breakfast during a 2-hour layover from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. (and coming off a flight that didn’t include any free drinks or snacks).

The lounge had some basics and provided a good spot to rest while waiting for flights, but you might not get everything you hoped for. It’s not a lounge I would go out of my way to visit again, but it has some useful features that you might enjoy.

Here’s a look at my visit to the Avianca VIP Lounge at SAL.

Location

The Avianca VIP Lounge is located near gate 8 in the main hallway of the sole terminal at SAL. The large sign on the wall makes it easy to find.

Gaining Access

Business class passengers on Avianca flights get access, as do those with Avianca LifeMiles Diamond elite status. Star Alliance Gold elites also gain access to the Avianca VIP Lounge. And Avianca elites with lower status tiers can redeem their Elite Points for lounge visits.

Signs near the door indicated that the lounge is part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection and accepts visitors from DragonPass. There was no sign outside to indicate its membership in the Plaza Premium Lounge network, but the lounge is listed on the Plaza Premium website. As such, you can use a card that has access to this lounge network, such as The Platinum Card^® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, or the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. Thus, I used my Amex Platinum card to get in.

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

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The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

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Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

80,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

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Card Highlights

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• With American Express Global Lounge Collection^® you can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion^® Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club^® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass™ Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express^® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card^® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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American Express Membership Rewards

ELEVATED OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Welcome Offer

Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

150,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $3,300

Annual Fee

$695

APR

18.49% - 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.

When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on Flights and Prepaid Hotels booked through Amex Travel
• Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection (as of 10/2024). Access is limited to eligible Card Members.
• Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (on up to $2 million per calendar year)

Cons

• High annual fee of $695 (rates & fees)
• Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 10/2024. Access is limited to eligible Card Members.
• Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card^®. Enrollment required. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card^®.
• Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
• NEW! Make the Business Platinum Card^® work even harder for you. Hilton For Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Benefit enrollment required.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points^® on Flights, and Prepaid Hotels Booked through AmexTravel.com
• 1X points on other eligible purchases
• Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR^® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card^®.
• $695 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 18.49% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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American Express Membership Rewards

It’s also possible to pay to visit the lounge. Plaza Premium sells access for $40, but Avianca sells it for just $25. You also have the option to pay 1,800 LifeMiles for entry — a value close to 1.4 cents per mile, which is typical for the value of LifeMiles. This might be the best option for paying to get in.

Hours of Operation

The Avianca VIP Lounge at SAL is open daily until 9 p.m. What time does it open? That depends on who you ask. I saw a sign stating 5:30 a.m. and another stating 6 a.m.

Amex, Plaza Premium, and Avianca provide a mix of 5:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. answers. I figured I’d resolve this by asking a few different employees, but again, there was a discrepancy. Just keep in mind that you may have to wait until 6 a.m. for the doors to open.

First Impressions

The agent who welcomed me to the lounge was friendly and efficient, checking me in quickly and with a smile — once he noticed I was there. However, getting him to stop talking to a friend long enough to acknowledge my presence and check me in took a little effort.

By most standards, the lounge isn’t impressive. I quickly noticed the cafeteria-style seating in most of the lounge, that it didn’t have showers, and that standard lounge etiquette was clearly not a standard practice in this lounge. People were watching videos on their phones without headsets and talking loudly with their friends.

However, I also noticed some surprising perks while walking around: a children’s room and a quiet room. More on those below.

Seating

Most seating in this lounge reminded me of a college cafeteria. Formica tables with plastic chairs serve a very utilitarian purpose, but they don’t scream “comfort” or encourage you to stay for a long time.

The chairs and tables were to the front and the right after passing the reception desk. At the far side and turning back, as if you’re making a U-shape around the reception desk, you’ll find a quiet room. The lights were off, and several people were sleeping here in the recliner chairs.

There were 4 chairs on each side of the room, and this was a surprising amenity for an otherwise ho-hum lounge visit. If you’re at the airport really early or really late (or have a canceled flight that creates a long connection), this would be your favorite feature in the lounge, I’m sure.

Food and Beverage

Looking at reviews on LoungeBuddy plus seeing what was on other people’s plates in the lounge far exceeds what I could round up. That is, not much.

Buffet

The buffet area was to the left of the main hallway after the reception desk.

The lounge makes only a certain amount of items for breakfast in the morning. When I arrived at 7:30 a.m., a friendly employee at the buffet told me they’d just run out of … pretty much everything. Sandwiches were out, pancakes were out, and the staff in the kitchen were cutting up more fruits to restock.

That was a bit of a surprise, so I figured I’d head to the bathroom, check some emails, and take a few photos. Circling back later, “5 more minutes” was the update. I managed to grab a bread roll while waiting, but I got the same “5 minutes” answer when I made a final check before needing to depart for my boarding gate.

Be prepared that the lounge seems to struggle with keeping the buffet stocked in the mornings. I can’t speak to how it is during other times of the day, but it led to me buying something to eat next to my gate while we were boarding.

Bottom Line:

I saw other people with food, but I couldn’t get any because they’d run out of everything and were making more. Know that this is a possibility if you visit this lounge.

Beverages

Despite the food shortage, there was abundant coffee, hot water for making tea, and orange juice. The same employee who told me the food would be ready in “5 minutes” told me I could have Coke or Sprite if I wanted, and she would grab one from the back.

She said these aren’t typically available during breakfast time, but she felt bad having nothing else to offer.

Amenities

Internet

Signs with the internet password were available throughout the lounge, including at the reception desk, near the buffet, and in the TV room. Speeds were solid, around 35 Mbps downloads, and the signal was reliable.

Children’s Play Room

Past the buffet, there was a children’s playroom. This brightly-colored room had a few toys, a TV with children’s programming, and leather sofas lining the wall — presumably for the parents.

Because there were young children playing here during my visit, I didn’t take photos.

Quiet Room

As mentioned above, there was a quiet room. While much of the lounge felt noisy, with people watching videos or talking on the phone loudly, people respected the concept of a quiet room religiously. I never heard a peep from this corner of the lounge.

TV Room

Past the buffet (to the left of the main hallway), there was a large TV room and relaxation area. This was much more comfortable than the cafeteria seating in the larger room outside.

This room was essentially mirrored from one side to the other, though the TV on the left side was on. The TV being off on the right side was the only difference.

Leather couches lined the wall all the way around this room, and there were a handful of colored footrests.

Workspace

Near the reception desk, a hallway to the left led to a large room with desks, chairs, and dividers on 1 side and bar stools with a counter on the other. Desks had both 3-prong outlets (U.S. plug style) and USB ports for charging your devices.

Bathrooms

Past the workspace, bathrooms were at the end of the hallway. These were fairly standard and did not include showers or any notable features.

Service

Service needs improvement. Yes, the employees were all very friendly when I spoke to them. And I love that a smiling employee offered me a Coke, but that was to make up for the fact that they’d let all the food run out on the buffet. Since food service is part of the overall service, that’s a major negative.

I also have to point out that the employee at the front desk ignored me for a few minutes while cracking jokes with his friend (it didn’t appear this other person worked there) until I finally said, “Excuse me?”

Once I got his attention, he was really friendly. And the same goes for the woman who kept telling me the food would be ready in “5 minutes.” They were friendly, full of smiles, and really nice. However, that’s not all that counts when evaluating service.

Having an empty buffet and ignoring guests who want to check in counts more than some smiles. If the employees could be friendly and keep the buffet stocked as well as not ignore guests, that would be a winning combination.

Final Thoughts

In comparison to other lounges in the world, the Avianca VIP Lounge at SAL isn’t anything special. It has a few positives but also has several negatives. The children’s play area (if you’re traveling with kids) and the sleeping area were highlights among the amenities. The inconsistent service definitely brought down the experience.

If I’d paid to enter the lounge, I’d be really bummed about this experience. Since it didn’t cost me anything extra to enter this lounge, it ranks as just “fair.”