Review: Plumeria Lounge Honolulu, a Priority Pass Lounge (2024)

The Plumeria Lounge at Honolulu International Airport is Hawaiian Airlines’ premier lounge. It’s open to premium cabin passengers flying internationally in business class; first-class passengers flying to east coast destinations such as Boston, New York and Orlando; and Pualani Platinum members flying internationally in any class of service. This is their flagship lounge reserved for their most valuable customers and it’s supposed to offer the best of what Hawaiian Airlines has to offer. And luckily for the rest of us, the Plumeria Lounge also doubles as a contract lounge for Priority Pass members so anyone with a premium travel credit card can also relax in a private space away from the masses, regardless of which airline or class of service you’re flying.

But before you get too excited, I should warn you that this isn’t the most amazing lounge. As a top-tier business class lounge, the Plumeria Lounge fails to deliver a premium class experience and you would be very disappointed if you paid thousands of dollars for a first/business class ticket and be relegated to this lounge. But as a contract lounge for the rest of us, it’s not bad as it does offer a decent place to rest and relax before your flight and some small bites to keep those stomach growls away.

The Plumeria Lounge is located at Honolulu Airport’s Terminal 1. After the security checkpoint, take the nearest escalator/elevator up to the third floor and follow the signs to the Wiki Wiki Shuttle pickup area. The lounge is open daily from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Day passes can also be purchased for $40 per person but I don’t recommend you pay this much for access. You would be much better off using that money to go buy yourself a nice meal and a drink at one of the nearby restaurants.

Note: During my visit in February 2022, facemasks were required to be worn at all times, except when actively eating or drinking, and I had to show proof of a Covid-19 vaccination (or negative Covid test) before being allowed into the lounge. However, on March 26, 2022, Hawaii loosened its Covid entry and mask requirements so I’m not sure if proof of vaccination or the use of face masks is still required or not. I would assume not but if anyone who has visited recently can provide us with an update, I would appreciate it. Update: According to a reader, it looks like proof of vaccination is no longer needed. Thank you, Russ!

As you enter the lounge, directly behind the check-in desk is a small room with several tables and chairs. This is the only partitioned area of the lounge so if want a smaller, more private area to sit and relax, this would be it.

The main seating area of the lounge is one large room. There are no dividers or architecture to separate the individual seating areas so the space does appear more open and inviting but also more busy and loud with noise coming from everywhere.

There are some dining room tables located to the right of the lounge and a long bar table located to the left, along the windows. Electrical outlets were scattered throughout the lounge but the majority of them were located by the long bar table.

For food, there was a very small selection of turkey and cheese sandwiches, mushroom sliders, instant noodle soups, chips and other snacks such as granola bars and fruit snacks. For a business class lounge, this was one of the most disappointing lounges I have ever visited. I would be so upset if I paid thousands of dollars for this visit.

Drinks included a soda machine, some small bottles of POG juice, water and coffee.

Alcoholic drinks were limited to a very small selection of beer (Maui Brewing Company, Heinekin) and two types of wine (chardonnay and cabernet). No other spirits or alcoholic drinks were provided or offered.

WiFi was provided throughout the lounge but no other amenities such as showers, day rooms, etc. were provided. If you have been out exploring all day and were hoping to freshen up before your flight, think again. The best you can do is give yourself a sink shower.

Plumeria Lounge Honolulu Bottom Line

Overall, the Hawaiian Airlines Plumeria Lounge is not bad for a contract lounge but it’s a shame as a premium cabin lounge for business class passengers. For the majority of us visiting this lounge, it will be perfectly fine. We didn’t pay thousands of dollars for a business class ticket and it offered us a decent place to relax before our flight. But for the small percentage of people who gained access to the Plumeria Lounge via a business class ticket, I would be so upset by this experience.

The Plumeria Lounge failed to deliver a premium class experience and it did nothing to highlight any of the amazing things about Hawaii or Hawaiian Airlines. The space was small and dated. The food and beverage options were very lacking, to say the least, and the amenities left a lot to be desired. If you can get in for “free,” great. But in my opinion, this lounge is not worth a $20, much less a $40, entry fee.

What are your thoughts? Have you visited the Hawaiian Airlines Plumeria Lounge? If so, please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below. Thanks for reading!