Rome Fiumicino Terminal 3 Lounges | Plaza Premium and British Airways
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For passengers departing Rome Fiumicino on a non-Schengen flight, lounge access can make a considerable difference to the time spent before boarding.
This Edit looks at two Terminal 3 lounges: the Plaza Premium Lounge and the British Airways Lounge. Located on the same upper level, almost opposite each other, they offer different facilities and reasons to visit.
Plaza Premium is the larger of the two, with a broad choice of seating, a large buffet and a staffed bar. Paid access makes it an option for passengers without airline status or a premium cabin ticket.
The British Airways Lounge is smaller, with natural light, apron views and familiar BA design. For passengers with eligible lounge access, these are some of its strongest features.
Who this Edit is for
Image: Food and drink at the British Airways lounge. © 2026 Palates & Miles
This Edit is for passengers departing Rome Fiumicino on a non-Schengen flight who are considering lounge access. It is particularly useful for those deciding whether to pay for Plaza Premium, or choosing between lounges available through their credit card benefits, airline status or ticket.
The choice depends on what matters most before your flight: food and drink, facilities, natural light or a comfortable place to sit. We look at what each lounge offers and where it falls short.
The standard
Every recommendation in this Edit is assessed against the same five points: service, design, food and drink, atmosphere and value.
For an airport lounge, value includes the cost of entry, what is provided and how much time you have to use it. We also consider whether seating, food and service make the lounge a worthwhile part of the journey, even when access is already included.
How to structure the visit
The two lounges sit almost opposite each other on the upper level of Terminal 3’s Extra Schengen Departures area. If you have access to both and enough time before boarding, we would start with Plaza Premium.
It is the first stop for a wider selection of hot food, a broader range of drinks available at an additional charge or facilities such as showers. The British Airways Lounge works well afterwards, with a quieter atmosphere, lighter food options and excellent views of the apron and runways.
There is no need to visit both on every journey. If time is limited, choose the lounge that best suits what you need before your flight.
Plaza Premium Lounge
Access, location and first impressions
The Plaza Premium Lounge is accessible through selected airline arrangements, lounge memberships and credit card programmes. Alternatively, direct access can be purchased here before your visit. Walk-in access may also be available, subject to capacity. Booking ahead is advisable if you intend to pay for entry.
During this visit, there was a short queue at reception, which moved quickly. Staff were friendly and welcoming, taking time to explain the facilities and what was included.
The size of the lounge was immediately apparent. Dining, bar and relaxed seating areas are clearly separated, giving guests a choice of where to eat, work or settle down before their flight.
Design and atmosphere
Image: Seating area within Plaza Premium Lounge. © 2026, Palates & Miles
The design is fresh and refined, with a modern bar at the centre and distinct seating areas arranged around it. A good proportion of the relaxed seating benefits from large windows. Views mainly look back towards the terminal facilities, but there is plenty of natural light.
On this visit, the atmosphere was relaxed, with several places to sit away from the busier areas. Some seating was reserved for specific airlines, though this did not affect our ability to find a seat in the general lounge.
We did not experience the lounge at its busiest. The separation between areas worked well during our visit, though how quiet it feels will depend on occupancy during busier periods.
Food and drink
Image: Hot food buffet selection at Plaza Premium. © 2026, Palates & Miles.
Food and drink are a substantial part of the Plaza Premium offering. A dedicated buffet near the entrance serves hot and cold food. During our visit, the hot selection included pasta, meat and vegetarian dishes, alongside a small but sufficient dessert selection.
The staffed bar serves alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. House wines and beers were included, along with tea and coffee. Spirits, cocktails and Champagne were available at an additional charge. There was enough choice within the included selection, with the option to pay for something more specific. A clear beverage menu with prices is available at the bar.
The buffet selection and drinks offering may vary by time of day and season.
Service and practical facilities
Image: Bar with beverage menu at Plaza Premium. © 2026, Palates & Miles
Plaza Premium’s facilities are a reason to consider it. Toilets are located within the lounge, while showers can be reserved at reception on arrival for sessions of up to 30 minutes, subject to availability.
Charging points, flight information screens and Wi-Fi are also available. We found enough charging points for our needs during the visit.
Service was consistent. Used plates and glasses were collected within a reasonable time and bar staff were pleasant, explaining which drinks were included and which carried an additional charge.
P&M note: If you plan to pay for entry, book ahead and check the access conditions for your chosen time. If a shower is a priority, ask about availability and any additional charge at reception as soon as you arrive.
British Airways Lounge
Access, location and first impressions
Image: Bar area in the British Airways Lounge. © 2026, Palates & Miles
The British Airways Lounge is located opposite Plaza Premium on the upper level of the non-Schengen extra departures area. Access is available to eligible British Airways and oneworld passengers through their cabin of travel or frequent-flyer status. Entry cannot be purchased, so check your eligibility before visiting.
Reception is small but functional. Beyond it, the bar is immediately ahead, with the buffet behind and tables nearby for dining. To the right, relaxed seating runs alongside floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the apron and runway. There is also a small business area with desks.
During this visit, the lounge was busy with passengers waiting for departures to London, though there were still plenty of seats available. The layout separates dining from the main seating area, giving guests room to eat or relax.
Design and atmosphere
Image: Table seating in the British Airways Lounge. © 2026, Palates & Miles
The design is recognisably British Airways, with some of the British quirkiness found in its other lounges. Natural light is one of its strongest features, keeping the seating areas bright and preventing the smaller space from feeling enclosed.
The furniture showed some wear but remained comfortable and in decent condition. The lounge was clean, with staff regularly collecting used dishes and glassware.
Seats near the windows were popular for plane spotting. As the lounge emptied later in the evening, more of these became available. The overall atmosphere felt cosier than Plaza Premium, partly because of its size but also because the furniture and layout made it a more relaxing place to sit.
Food and drink
Image: Cold food buffet in the British Airways Lounge. © 2026, Palates & Miles
Food is served from a hot and cold buffet. There were fewer hot dishes than at Plaza Premium, but the cold selection stood out for its freshness and local character.
The staffed bar was a particular strength. The range of included alcoholic drinks was considerably broader than at Plaza Premium. Prosecco and wine were available to pour yourself, while cocktails, including a Negroni, could be ordered from the bar staff at no additional charge.
Coffee was also prepared to order using the bar’s coffee machine. Together, the staffed drinks service and broader included selection made the bar one of the strongest features of this lounge.
P&M note: If you have access to both lounges and would like a cocktail or a glass of sparkling wine, British Airways is the better stop. These were included during our visit, while Plaza Premium charged separately for cocktails and spirits.
Service and practical facilities
The British Airways Lounge has no internal toilets or showers. Public toilets are around a two-minute walk outside the lounge and are shared with the rest of the concourse. This is worth knowing if you plan to spend some time here. Carry your boarding pass when stepping out so you can show it on your return.
It was a minor inconvenience during our visit. Staff were particularly welcoming and jovial, with a more relaxed approach than we experienced at Plaza Premium.
P&M note: Charging points are available throughout the lounge, so you do not need a seat in the business area to use a laptop. During our visit, there were also quieter places to work within the main seating area.
How to plan the visit
Passport control is an important consideration when departing Rome Fiumicino on a non-Schengen flight. After security, you still need to clear the border checks before reaching these lounges. Waiting times can vary depending on your passport, the checks required and how busy the airport is. For passengers covered by the Entry/Exit System (EES), biometric checks may also affect the time needed.
Allow extra time and keep your lounge plans flexible. You may intend to visit both, but choose just one if queues leave you with less time than expected. Check your gate location and allow enough time to reach it before boarding begins.
If visiting both, start with Plaza Premium before moving to British Airways. Plaza Premium is the better option for a more substantial hot meal, while the included drinks at British Airways make it a pleasant stop for a digestivo afterwards.
Access rules, opening hours and paid-entry arrangements can change. Confirm these before travelling, particularly if you are relying on a credit card benefit, cabin entitlement or airline status.
P&M notes
Choose Plaza Premium if facilities are a priority. It has toilets within the lounge and showers available to reserve, while British Airways has neither.
The included drinks selection and apron views are British Airways’ strongest draws. Its cold buffet also makes it a good option for a lighter meal.
Check your gate before moving to a second lounge. The distance may affect how much time you can comfortably spend there.
Confirm access to each lounge before arriving. If you intend to pay for Plaza Premium, booking ahead is advisable. Check the conditions attached to your booking.
Final thoughts
Rome Fiumicino Terminal 3 offers a variety of lounge options, so it is worth knowing what each provides before choosing where to spend your time. Just because your ticket or credit card gives you access to one lounge does not mean it is your only option.
Of the two, Plaza Premium has the wider range of facilities, making it a good choice if a broader hot food selection, dedicated toilets and showers matter to you. The British Airways Lounge offers a more relaxed environment with excellent views of the apron and runways.
You should not feel the need to move between lounges for the sake of it. Knowing what both offer before you visit will help you choose whichever suits your needs best.
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The Plaza Premium and British Airways lounges at Rome Fiumicino Terminal 3 sit almost opposite each other but offer different experiences. We visit both, looking at the food, drinks, service and facilities to help you decide which best suits your needs before a flight.