Iberia Non-Schengen Sala Miro Barcelona Lounge
The non-Schengen lounge at Barcelona Airport has a huge plus over its Schengen counterpart - it has a pool room, cinema, a better bar, and even a golf driving range.There are three lounges you can access airside at Barcelona, but you need to make a decision about which one to go to before going airside.
None of these lounges are directly run by Iberia: instead, Aena own them, and make a few quid on the side from those who don't have the right frequent flyer card. If you need to, you can access all the lounges by paying a 25 euro fee.
Barcelona Iberia Non-Schengen Sala Miro business class lounge review
Once you've gone through security (or, after going shopping in the main Schengen area and then going back to the other end of security again) to find the lounge go towards area D (left), Head along the balcony, present your passport, and then find McDonalds. In the middle of the burger bar is a small escalator going down. At the bottom is spa, and then if you turn around, is the entrance to the Mira Business Class Lounge.
The Non-Schengen Sala Miro Lounge itself has great views over the main shopping centre, but very poor ones over the airport: it is very hard to see the planes, and you have to nip down to the shops for that.
The Iberia Non-Schengen Sala Miro Lounge itself is pretty similar in furnishings to the Schengen side. There are deep leather armchairs around the sides with power sockets (euro sockets only) in the tables between the chairs.
Right in the middle of the lounge is the sleeping area, with six day beds in the semi darkness: alas it's hard to sleep in here as the noise of the lounge comes through the open portal into the light. There are also showers in the bathrooms behind the bar.
Most passengers don't discover the "fun" area of the lounge. This is to the right of reception, along the balcony, and right again. Here you'll discover two pool tables - with lovely blue baize - and a huge projection TV: just ask reception for the remote, or they can change channels for you. It has Satellite and full surround sound. At the extreme end of this area there is the mini golf driving range: again, ask reception for the equipment. However, when you're in here, chances are you'll have the area to yourself, as few people ever venture into this part of the lounge.
Food
Food is ok. There is cereal and cold croissants in the morning, along with Jam & butter. In the evening there are a few sandwiches, which aren't replaced once they have gone: get them quick.
Throughout the day there are muffins &donuts in the glass cabinet, and of course there is the famous Barcelona savoury mix, which is a few nuts and odd coloured bits of cardboard in a bowl.
Bar
There are two bars in the lounge. There is one long counter, with fridges in the middle of the lounge that have wine in a bucket, and cans of soft drink in an open top fridge. Plus there is a smaller counter at the far end which almost feels like an afterthought. It has spirits on a tray, and sparkling wine. If you want real Champagne you either have to grab a waitress or ask at reception, which can take some considerable time.
There is also a vast display of alcohol on the shelves on the wall. Unlike the other lounge, you can drink this, but it's a tall stretch to get it, and you may struggle to break the seal on the bottles: few people drink the booze from this wall (and if you do, blow the dust off the bottles).
Bathrooms
In Lounge.
Business Facilities
Computers are quite good, with a two new Macs in small work pods close to reception, however it can be very hard to get at a machine. There is a printer, fax, and free wifi.
Access
There are three lounges that Iberia use in the new Barcelona Terminal 1, and they are all such a vast improvement over the old Iberia lounge at el Prat it is impossible to believe that it's gone from being so woeful to a delight: such is the change that has come with the move to Terminal 1 (from the old ABC Terminal, now called Terminal 2).Iberia, along with all oneworld and most other major airlines now have a brand spanking new building to rival that in Madrid.
Along with the usual Schengen lounge for most inter-Europe flights, there is a lounge for the Madrid shuttle, and a non-Schengen lounge, after passport control, instead of hanging around in the old holding pen, but if you have access to the lounge in one side, you can access both the pre and post Schengen sides. This is probably a good bet if your partner plans to do some shopping, as the shops are better in Schengen, while the booze and food is better in the non-Schengen lounge, particularly in the morning, although dining facilities are the one area where it all seems to fall a bit flat. The non-Schengen lounge also has pool tables and a cinema, so if you're in for a real long wait, here is the place to do it.
You need to make a decision about your lounge hopping plans before passport control through. Straight after security, you either take the escalator down to the Schengen area, or you turn left, along a balcony, and present your passport for Non-Schengen: once through, it's hard to get back.
Video: Iberia Non-Schengen Sala Miro Lounge
| Iberia Non-Schengen Sala Miro Lounge | ||
|---|---|---|
Loungeindex
rating:
6 out of
10
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| Location: | Terminal 1, area D, left after Passport Control, stairs by McDonalds | |
| Open hours: | 0700-2200 | |
| Pay Per Access: | 25EUR | |
| Lounge for: | Schengen | |
| Access: | oneworld Emerald & Sapphire. Iberia & BA Business Class. | |