Review: Sala VIP Puerta Del Sol Madrid T3

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Previous posts in this series:

• Introduction
• Review: Iberia A320 Economy Class (LHR-MAD)
• Review: Sala VIP Puerta Del Sol Madrid T3
• Review: Air France A320 Business Class (MAD-CDG)
• Review: Air France 777-300ER Business Class (CDG-JFK)
• Review: Marriott Courtyard Chelsea NYC
• Review: Delta Sky Club New York JFK
• Review: Delta One 767 (JFK-MAD)
• Review: Iberia Velazquez Lounge T4S (OneWorld) – updated for a more recent review

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My flight from London landed at Madrid Airport’s Terminal 4 but, as I was connecting to a non-Iberia/oneworld flight, I had to catch a bus to Terminal 3.

The buses that connect the various terminals at Madrid Barajas Airport depart from directly outside Terminal 4 and I had just a short wait before I was on the 10 minute ride to T3.

There was no one in line at the Air France/SkyTeam priority check-in desks so, after I confirmed that I only needed the one boarding pass for all of my flights (I’d never seen three flights on one boarding pass before)…..

…I was soon on my way to the priority security lane:

Priority Security Lane at Madrid Terminal 3

The security line had just 3 people in it and it couldn’t have taken longer than 2-3 minutes to get through – that’s the sort of speed I like!

The Puerta Del Sol Lounge is next to Gate 69 in Terminal 3 and is a good 7-10 minute walk from where you exit airport security. The most obvious access to the lounge is via the staircase that faces you as you walk past gate 69…..

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

….but there’s also an elevator just past the stairs:

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

The entrance to the lounge is nondescript….

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

…and, once through the automatic doors, the reception desk is directly ahead.

The Puerta Del Sol lounge is open from 04:30 to 23:00 7 days a week and caters to both SkyTeam and Star Alliance flyers departing from Terminal 3. It’s also a Priority Pass lounge so, if you don’t have status and you’re not traveling in a premium cabin that’s another way to get access.

The lounge is built around the central stairs that lead up from the departures level so if you walk around it you’re essentially walking in a circle.

To the right of the reception desk is where the food and drinks are set out across two buffet tables (one small, one large) and a chiller cabinet.

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

On my visit the smaller of the buffet tables housed salad items as well as sodas, water and alcoholic drinks:

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

The chiller cabinet offered a mixture of items…..

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

…including more sodas, baguette sandwiches….

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

…..smaller individually packed sandwiches…..

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

…..and small tubs of fruit salad:

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

The larger of the two buffet tables had coffee machines at either end…..

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

…..a selection of tea bags for those who don’t like coffee….

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

…and a selection of hot and cold food in the middle:

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

The hot food items were rice and pasta-based:

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

While on the cold food front there were yet more sandwiches……

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

….as well as a selection of pastries and rolls:

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

On either side of the longer buffet table is where the lounge has the dining tables and chairs…..

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

…and just past these tables and chairs is where the lounge opens up to its largest seating area:

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

The armchairs here are comfortable and, just as importantly, are well served by power outlets located between each seat:

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

The power outlets are European spec. so, if you’re visiting from anywhere outside of continental Europe, you’ll need and adapter.

Around the outside of this large seating area are the floor to ceiling windows that let in a good amount of light and which have comfortable seats with great views of the airport apron:

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

The one negative to these seats is that there aren’t any power outlets close enough to allow you to recharge your devices as you relax.

If you follow the lounge around from the main seating area there are more armchairs and swivel-seats….

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

…and this area looks out over the airport concourse below:

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

Next to this seating area is a glass-walled TV viewing room with more comfortable armchairs:

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

While the last part of the lounge (effectively behind the check-in desk) holds a little surprise – indoor sun loungers 🙂

Puerta Del Sol Lounge Madrid Terminal 3

Verdict

This was a very nice 3rd party lounge. The staff were very friendly, the complimentary wi-fi was a good speed and the space was bright and airy.

The choice of cold food was pretty good but the hot choices could have been better and more plentiful….but that’s about all the criticism I have for this lounge.

The lounge checked all the main boxes for me – it had a feeling of space, it wasn’t overcrowded, there were plenty of power outlets, the wi-fi was good and the staff were friendly. I’d happily return.

Next Up: Review – Air France A320 Business Class (MAD-CDG)