Lounges at Malaga Airport: which one to choose in Terminal 3
Both lounges in Malaga's Terminal 3 answer different needs, not the same logic: one welcomes almost anyone with one of the main lounge programmes, the other remains reserved for those flying to non-Schengen destinations and only opens for part of the day. Here is how to find your way.
The VIP Costa del Sol, run by Aena, is located before passport control in Terminal 3: a position that makes it usable both by those boarding a Schengen flight and by those departing for a non-Schengen destination, without needing to guess in advance which lounge to choose based on their route. It is linked to Priority Pass, LoungeKey and DragonPass, as well as Diners Club and American Express Platinum cards, and remains open even to transit passengers and those departing from the airport's other terminals, not just Terminal 3. Anyone without any of these programmes, or who simply prefers to pay, can still enter on site or by booking in advance online on the Aena website, with a bar service included in the price.
First floor of the non-Schengen boarding area, next to gates C30-C31
It opens only between 11:00 and 19:00, much more limited hours than the VIP Costa del Sol lounge.
Hours
11:00-19:00
Reserved for passengers flying to non-Schengen destinations; paid access on site or by booking on the Aena website (serviziovip.aena.es), maximum stay 4 hours before departure. It is not included in the Priority Pass, LoungeKey or DragonPass programmes.
Run by the airportT3 · All flightsPriority Pass
VIP Costa del Sol
Second floor, after the security checks and before passport control, next to gate D, above the shopping area
Being located before passport control, this main lounge of Malaga airport, run by Aena, welcomes both passengers with a Schengen flight and those with a non-Schengen flight.
Hours
05:30-22:30
Entry with Priority Pass, LoungeKey, DragonPass, Diners Club and American Express Platinum card, as well as for some Business passengers of partner airlines; otherwise paid on site or by booking on the Aena website. Maximum stay 4 hours before departure (3 hours from 18 December to 8 January), also accessible to transit passengers and those departing from Terminals 2 and 3.
Bar
No lounges match this filter.
The stay limit applies to both lounges and is tighter during the end-of-year holiday period, a detail worth remembering if you are planning a long stop before the flight rather than a simple break between a coffee and boarding.
The Relax & Go follows the opposite logic: it is reserved only for those flying to non-Schengen destinations and does not fall under any of the programmes accepted by the Aena lounge, so access is always paid, either on site or through the same online booking. The most obvious difference compared to the Costa del Sol is the opening hours: it opens mid-morning and closes well before an evening flight, so it is not an option for those departing very early in the morning or very late at night, however small and quieter it may be during the hours it is operating.
For anyone who already has entry included in a lounge programme or a premium credit card, the choice is almost automatic: the Costa del Sol is the only one of the two that recognises them, whatever the flight time. The Relax & Go instead remains for those who prefer a smaller setting during the central hours of the day, provided their flight falls within that time window and they are willing to pay the entry fee anyway.
Ultimately, in Malaga the decision comes down to two questions: are you flying Schengen or non-Schengen, and do you already have access through Priority Pass, LoungeKey, DragonPass or a premium card? Anyone answering yes to the second has the Costa del Sol as the more convenient choice, whatever their destination. Anyone instead flying only to the non-Schengen area and without these programmes can turn to the Relax & Go, remembering however that it is open only for part of the day and always requires a payment.
