Plaza Premium Lounge

Gate 16 in T1 hides REC’s rebranded “VIP room” as a Plaza Premium

This Plaza Premium Lounge sits airside in the International Terminal near Gate 16 in T1 and is basically the old generic VIP lounge with new signage. It runs 24 hours a day, which is rare at REC, so it ends up as the default waiting room for late-night and early-morning departures.

Access works on pay-per-use and various lounge programs, with walk-up pricing around USD 62.26 / BRL 350 per person. That’s a stiff fee in Brazil pricing terms, so it only pencils out if you value the quieter space, Wi‑Fi, and basic food more than the main terminal benches and snack bars.

The lounge is clearly marked as Plaza Premium by International Gate 16, after security, so you do not need to leave airside or re-clear. It serves international passengers only, so if you are on a domestic hop in T1 you are out of luck here and stuck with the regular gate seating and cafés.

Food reviews point to average buffet-style options that match “old-school VIP room” standards, not a flagship spread; think snacks and light meals rather than a full hot restaurant menu, even though the branding says Plaza Premium. Given the BRL 350 door price, plan on eating something here, but don’t go in expecting a restaurant-quality main course.

The space includes showers, which matter a lot on overnight connections after long-haul flights, but there is no dedicated rest zone or sleep pod despite the 24-hour schedule. You get regular lounge armchairs and some quieter corners, yet serious sleep still means a neck pillow and low expectations rather than a proper lie‑flat spot.

Service runs around the clock, so you can get in at 02:00 just as easily as 14:00, with staff selling day passes at the desk. If you hold a prepaid lounge membership, have the app or card ready; individual networks are not clearly listed online, and at BRL 350 walk-up, you do not want surprises after you’ve showered and eaten.

Tip: if your international layover at REC is under 90 minutes gate-to-gate, skip the USD 62.26 pass and stay near Gate 16 in the terminal; the lounge only starts to make sense on longer waits or when you badly need that shower.