ITA Airways opens a new Milan Linate lounge
Links on Head for Points may support the site by paying a commission. See here for all partner links.
ITA Airways, which is in the process of moving to Star Alliance following an investment by Lufthansa, has opened its fully refurbished flagship lounge at Milan Linate.
The Runway Lounge is a large 482-sq m space where “each detail is designed to turn every moment at the airport – from the designer furnishings to the collaboration with first-rate, all-Italian partners – into an exclusive experience”.
This includes:
- an illycaffè
- a Campari aperitif experience
- furnishings by Poltrona Frau
- lighting by IGuzzini
There are 125 seats spread across three zones dedicated to food, relaxation and business.
The most bizarre area is “an evocative silent room housed in a replica of an airplane cabin, a suggestive scenic touch with which ITA Airways sets out to pay tribute to the world of aviation.” Image above!
The access rules are complicated, because ITA is not currently in an airline alliance. It has left SkyTeam but has not yet joined Star Alliance.
Entry is restricted to:
- Business class passengers on ITA flights (no guests)
- Business class passengers on Lufthansa Group flights (Lufthansa, SWISS, Brussels Airlines, Austrian, Discover Airlines, Air Dolomiti, Edelweiss, Eurowings, Lufthansa City Airlines) (no guests)
- Premium and Executive members of Volare if flying ITA or a Lufthansa Group airline in any class (one adult guest and up to two children)
- Senator or HON Circle members of Miles & More if flying ITA or a Lufthansa Group airline in any class (one adult guest and up to two children, extra guest if HON Circle)
- Star Alliance Gold members if flying on a Lufthansa Group airline in Star Alliance (Lufthansa, SWISS, Brussels Airlines, Austrian) in any class (one guest)
The lounge is open from 6am to 10pm. Hot meals are served from 11am to 2pm and 7pm to 9.30pm. Aperitifs are served from 5pm to 7pm.
You can find out more on the ITA website here.
PS. If you are not a regular Head for Points visitor, why not sign up for our FREE weekly or daily newsletters? They are full of the latest Avios, airline, hotel and credit card points news and will help you travel better. To join our 65,000 free subscribers, click the button below or visit this page of the site to find out more. Thank you.
How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (May 2025)
Here are the six options to get FREE airport lounge access via a UK credit card.
Your best value option (but no points):
The cheapest route to a Priority Pass airport lounge card is via the Lloyds Bank World Elite Mastercard.
The credit card has a fee of £15 per month, and comes with a Priority Pass which gives unlimited free access for the cardholder. If you add a free supplementary cardholder, they will also receive unlimited free access.
Unlike the version of Priority Pass you receive with American Express, the Lloyds Bank version also lets you access £18 airport restaurant credits.
Even better, the credit card has 0% FX fees and comes with 0.5% cashback. Full details are in my Lloyds Bank World Elite Mastercard review.
Lloyds Bank World Elite Mastercard
A Priority Pass, 0% FX fees and up to 1% cashback for £15 per month Read our full review
Lounge access via American Express cards:
The Platinum Card from American Express comes with two free Priority Pass cards, one for you and one for a supplementary cardholder. Each card admits two so a family of four gets in free. You get access to all 1,500 lounges in the Priority Pass network – search it here.
You also get access to Eurostar, Lufthansa and Delta Air Lines lounges. Our in-depth review of The Platinum Card from American Express is here.
You can apply here.
The Platinum Card from American Express
50,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review
The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card is FREE for the first year. It comes with a Priority Pass card loaded with four free visits to any Priority Pass lounge – see the list here.
Additional lounge visits are charged at £24. You get four more free visits for every year you keep the card.
There is no annual fee for Amex Gold in Year 1 and you get a 20,000 points sign-up bonus. Full details are in our American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card review here.
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card
Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review
Lounge access via HSBC Premier credit cards (Premier account holders only):
HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard gets you get a free Priority Pass card, allowing you access to the Priority Pass network. Guests are charged at £24 although it may be cheaper to pay £60 for a supplementary credit card for your partner.
The card has a fee of £290 and there are strict financial requirements to become a HSBC Premier customer. Full details are in my HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard review.
HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard
A good package, but only available to HSBC Premier clients Read our full review
Got a small business?
If you have a small business, consider The American Express Business Platinum Card which has the same lounge benefits as the personal Platinum card:
The American Express Business Platinum Card
50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review
You should also consider the Capital on Tap Pro Visa credit card which has a lower fee and, as well as a Priority Pass for airport lounge access, also comes with Radison Rewards VIP hotel status:
Capital on Tap Pro Visa
10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review
PS. You can find all of HfP’s UK airport lounge reviews – and we’ve been to most of them – indexed here.
Comments (0)