Lounge Review: Turkish Airlines Lounge – Washington Dulles (IAD)

A great meal and a great space – beware of the crowds

When: April 24, 2024

Rating: 7/10 – Very fine

Access: Star Alliance Gold Status OR Priority Pass

Time to review one of the most popular lounges accessible to Priority Pass members in the US as well as Star Alliance Gold members: The Turkish Airlines Lounge at Washington Dulles. The lounge is highlighted its luxurious décor and an outstanding Mediterranean buffet – with amazing baklava squared for dessert!

The entry is on Concourse B at IAD. In reality, Concourse A and Concourse B is really just one long terminal concourse divided in two sections. These concourses house most all foreign carriers and US carriers other than United and Air Canada.

 After presenting your travel credentials at reception, you enter the larger main room of the lounge which contains the buffet and a variety of seating for both dining and relaxing. The buffet features a variety of Mediterranean items, chicken dishes, cooked vegetables, tabouleh, hummus, pita, etc. Behind the buffet is the machine for coffee (outstanding Turkish coffee), the dessert bar, and soft drinks in a refrigerator. One wall of the room features television screens, another has floor to ceiling windows with great views of the ramp.

Connected to this room is a narrow corridor which runs aside the floor to ceiling windows offering more great views of the ramp. Off the corridor to the right are two individual bathrooms and a shower suite. Given the crowding, it would be smart to inquire about a shower at reception upon arrival. The corridor ends in a smaller, quieter room with the bar and more seating. Given the crowds, I have often brought my laptop to the bar. The bartenders are very nice and hard-working.

There is also off the main room a VIP room one level above (which I did not have access to).

This lounge is a victim of its own success.  Several foreign carriers (not just Turkish) send their passengers to this lounge. In addition, IAD, as a hub for United, has many Star Alliance Gold passengers, who also have access. As mentioned, Priority Pass members also have access. So, finding a seat or table can be a challenge. In fact, I have walked a bit further down and used the Lufthansa lounge (review coming) to avoid the crowds. Lastly, electrical outlets can be hard to find. Nevertheless, this lounge has one of the tastiest/healthy buffets I have tried in an airport. If you get there when there are few crowds, this lounge would rate much higher.

I rate this lounge 7/10. Best features: The buffet and décor. Flaws: Can get very crowded and finding electrical outlets can be a challenge.