Review: the new ITA Airways Runway lounge in Milan Linate airport
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This is our review of the new Runway lounge in Milan Linate, operated by ITA Airways.
Milan Linate airport is a mini secondary hub for ITA Airways, and one of only two airports outside Rome where the airline has an own-brand lounge. The other one is in Catania.
Linate is the smaller, but closer, of the two Milan airports (think of it as their version of London City Airport) and is dominated by business-heavy routes to European destinations. In fact, I believe there are just three gates for non-Schengen departures and zero long haul flights.
Previously called the Piazza della Scala lounge, ITA Airways recently refurbished the space and it is now known as the Runway Lounge.
Where is the Runway lounge?
Milan Linate airport is a bit of a maze, particularly as you leave security and head through the winding duty free shop and then a winding corridor of luxury boutiques. Fortunately signage is good – simply follow the signs for the ITA Airways lounge and you will, eventually, find it.
The final stretch involves heading up this stairs:
There is a lift for those who need it. Simply head towards the window and you should see it:
The lounge is in the Schengen area of the airport. However, the non-Schengen gates (all three of them) are just below. British passport holders are eligible to use the eGates, so it doesn’t take long to pass through.
The lounge is open every day from 6am until 10pm.
ITA Airways Runway lounge access requirements
Access to the Runway lounge is a little complicated as ITA Airways has joined Lufthansa Group but has not yet fully integrated into Star Alliance.
You can use the lounge if you fulfill one of the following criteria:
- You are flying in business/Superior class (but not Superior Classic) on ITA Airways
- You are a Premium or Executive member of the Volare programme and flying on ITA Airways or Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, Swiss, Brussels Airlines, Austrian, Discover Airlines, Air Dolomiti, Edelweiss, Eurowings, Lufthansa City Airlines)
- You are flying in business class on Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, SWISS, Brussels Airlines, Austrian, Discover Airlines, Air Dolomiti, Edelweiss, Eurowings, Lufthansa City Airlines)
- You are a Star Alliance Gold member travelling on Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, Swiss, Brussels Airlines, Austrian, Discover Airlines, Air Dolomiti, Edelweiss, Eurowings, Lufthansa City Airlines)
- You are a Miles & More Senator or HON Circle member flying on ITA or Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, Swiss, Brussels Airlines, Austrian, Discover Airlines, Air Dolomiti, Edelweiss, Eurowings, Lufthansa City Airlines)
- You hold the ITA Airways American Express Platinum Credit Card and are flying on ITA Airways
The full access requirements, including how many guests you can bring, are on the ITA Airways website.
An important gap is that Star Alliance Gold members who do NOT get their status via Miles & More cannot use the lounge when flying on ITA Airways. This will change in 2026 when ITA joins Star Alliance.
The website does not currently reflect a rule change on 1st July. Miles & More Frequent Traveller members can now use the lounge when flying on ITA Airways.
Inside the Runway lounge in Milan
This is a relatively compact lounge at 482 square metres, although the capacity has increased from 52 to 125 seats since the refurbishment. ITA Airways took over an additional 85 square metres during the refurbishment.
The shape of the lounge is broadly the same, with the main area a big squarish space. What is new is a big, fuselage-shaped cut out along the left hand side that is a designated quiet area. There are individual glass booths at the rear whilst by the window you’ll find high-backed armchairs looking out at the view.
The design of the lounge now reflects the rest of the ITA Airways experience, with the cream and navy branding of the airplane cabins.
There’s a range of seating, from high co-working desks to solo low-backed armchairs and a dining area with restaurant style seating:
There also some solo booths:
The views across the airport are great, although the big windows also let in the hot Italian sun and I found the lounge to be on the warmer side.
There are charging ports and sockets dotted around the room – virtually every seat has them.
The buffet is along the right hand wall:
Additional hot food is brought out between 11am and 2pm and 7pm and 9:30pm. For the rest of the time you have access to a good selection of cold food from a DIY salad bar to cold cuts of meat, ham and cheese.
Despite the lack of hot food all day, I thought this was a good offering for a Schengen lounge where almost all passengers are heading to other destinations in Europe.
Despite the relatively small selection, the staff were constantly topping it up and making sure everything was available.
The staffed bar is excellent, half illy coffee bar and half Campari-sponsored alcohol bar. Service was quick with drinks made on the spot. The cocktail menu included drinks such as Aperol Spritz, Campari Spritz, Negroni, Sbagliato, Paloma, Margarita and G&Ts.
The bartenders were exceptionally friendly and – assuming they had the necessary ingredients – happy to make whatever you want.
Conclusion
ITA’s new Runway lounge in Milan Linate is a big upgrade from the previous space and it finally feels like an ITA Airways lounge, rather than a third party lounge that had been taken over.
What stood out to me was the bar service, and especially the friendly bartenders.
Do beware that it fills up quite quickly around 4pm to 5pm, although even then there are some seats still available with some guests preferring to stand and chat.
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