VIP Lounge "Angelo D'Arrigo"

Priority Pass gets you into the Angelo D’Arrigo lounge in T-A

This is Catania’s only lounge, the VIP Lounge “Angelo D’Arrigo” in Terminal A by gates 5–6, open daily from 05:00 to 23:00. Regulars treat it as a backup: somewhere to sit down with a drink on a Priority Pass or paid day pass when the main seating near gate 5 turns chaotic.

Find it after security in T-A, reported as up the stairs to the left near the fast-track entrance, so you’re only a couple of minutes’ walk from gates 5 and 6. Some reviews describe it as landside-ish near security, so leave a 5–10 minute buffer before boarding to deal with any bottlenecks around the checkpoint area.

Space is the main issue: flyers say it’s basically one small room with about 20 seats trying to serve the whole airport. At busy times around the morning bank of departures (07:00–09:00), expect people standing, hovering for seats, and moving bags around to squeeze in.

Seating runs to basic armchairs and small tables, with more complaints about comfort than praise. One FlyerTalk user called the seats uncomfortable and the room “rammed,” and others mention that power outlets are limited, so charge your phone in the main terminal near gate 6 if you need a full battery for a 3‑hour flight.

By most accounts this is effectively a “dry” lounge: think soft drinks and water in a fridge, maybe a machine coffee, and that’s about it. Food usually means packets of crisps or simple snacks, not a meal, so eat in the main terminal first if your flight block is over 2 hours.

Reports mention poor air‑conditioning, especially in summer when Catania regularly hits 30°C and above. Yelp users talk about a covered terrace area and say the bar prices are cheap there, but also note that toilets are outside the lounge, so you’ll be walking back into the public corridor every time.

Access runs on premium cards like Priority Pass plus paid day passes sold at the desk, and one Skytrax review calls paid entry a “terrible rip off” given the snacks and crowding. Most frequent flyers only scan in if their card makes it effectively free, then grab a quick drink and leave if all 20 or so seats are taken.

Tip: If you see a long queue at the lounge door or people standing inside from the escalator, skip it and head for regular seating near gates 5–6 instead; you’ll likely be more comfortable and closer to boarding.