The Dan Lounge located in Terminal 3 at Ben Gurion Airport, permanently closed on December 31, 2025. This lounge had been the only facility at the airport accessible to travelers holding a Priority Pass membership.
Following this closure, there are no Priority Pass–accessible lounges remaining at Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s primary international gateway.
What This Means for Priority Pass Members
Priority Pass was commonly included as a benefit with many premium travel credit cards, providing access to independent airport lounges worldwide. At Ben Gurion Airport, the Dan Lounge had been the sole lounge in the Priority Pass network. Its closure removed all Priority Pass lounge options for passengers departing from or transiting through TLV.
Travelers who regularly relied on Priority Pass for seating, food, work areas, or a quieter pre-flight environment experienced a direct change to the airport experience in Tel Aviv.
Impact on Travel to and From Israel
Ben Gurion Airport served as the main hub for international travel to and from Israel. Many U.S., European, and connecting travelers had depended on Priority Pass access at TLV due to the limited number of alternative lounge options.
With no Priority Pass lounges remaining:
- Travelers were required to plan for extended time in general terminal seating areas.
- Lounge access became limited to airline-operated facilities only.
- Passengers without airline status or premium cabin tickets no longer had a lounge option at the airport.
Airline Lounge Alternatives
Some travelers continued to have access to airline lounges based on ticket class or elite status. This included facilities such as the El Al King David Lounge, which was not affiliated with Priority Pass and was available only to eligible El Al passengers.
Access rules for airline lounges varied by carrier, fare class, and frequent flyer status and were not affected by Priority Pass changes.
Broader Implications for Frequent Travelers
The loss of Priority Pass access at Ben Gurion Airport reduced the overall value of Priority Pass memberships for travelers who frequently flew to and from Israel. For cardholders who selected premium credit cards largely for lounge access benefits, this change required reassessing expectations when traveling through TLV.
Travelers adjusted airport arrival strategies accordingly, particularly during peak travel periods when terminal congestion and limited seating were common.
