MileValue is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Note: Some of the offers mentioned below may have changed or are no longer be available. You can view current offers here.


In May, I visited the Sala VIP Pau Casals at Barcelona Airport. In August, I visited the very similar Sala VIP Miro. Here’s what you can expect from these Priority Pass lounges that you can enter for free with a Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Citi Prestige, or American Express Platinum Card.

The Sala VIP Pau Casals is available to passengers flying within the Schengen Area, and the Sala VIP Miro is after passport control for passengers leaving the Schengen Area.

Both offer a comfortable place to sit, free wifi, enough food for a meal, and free alcohol. Additionally, the Sala VIP Pau Casals offers day beds for naps.

screen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-39-39-pm

The lounges have a similar motif with lots of wood, leather, and glass.

screen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-39-17-pm screen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-39-24-pm

I was in the Sala VIP Pau Casals before a 7 AM flight, and it offered breakfast options…
screen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-39-46-pm screen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-39-58-pm screen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-40-05-pm …like toast…screen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-40-13-pm …breads, jams, cheese, cold cuts…screen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-40-19-pm …pastries…screen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-40-33-pm …cereals…screen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-40-39-pm ….yogurt…screen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-40-51-pm …and juice.

screen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-40-56-pm I was in the Sala VIP Miro before a 9 PM flight, and I had a dinner of cold cut sandwiches and Spanish tortilla.screen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-41-04-pmAt dinner time, there are pastries…
screen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-41-31-pmtortilla (Spanish potato omelet)…screen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-41-35-pm …chips and olives…screen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-41-41-pm …salami, ham, prosciutto, and cheese sandwiches…screen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-41-54-pm screen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-41-59-pm…cut up fruit, and pasta salad.

screen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-42-18-pmThere is also a selection of juices…screen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-42-08-pm

…wine…

screen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-41-10-pmscreen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-41-17-pm…and liquor.screen-shot-2016-09-10-at-8-41-24-pmIn both lounges, I passed the time before my flight more comfortably than I would have at the gate while working on the free wifi. At both lounges, I ate and drank my fill, saving the cost of a meal.

These lounge experiences were average. They are far worse than the best International First Class lounges like the Etihad Lounge in Abu Dhabi, but they are better than standard domestic airline lounges like United Clubs and certainly better than waiting at the gate.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Just getting started in the world of points and miles? The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best card for you to start with.

With a bonus of 60,000 points after $4,000 spend in the first 3 months, 5x points on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal and 3x points on restaurants, streaming services, and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), this card truly cannot be beat for getting started!


Editorial Disclaimer: The editorial content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the credit card issuers, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuers.

The comments section below is not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all questions are answered.