A Game Room, Library + More: A Look Inside NAIA Terminal 3's Newest Business Class Passenger Lounge

(SPOT.ph) It's better to arrive early at the airport than to frantically scramble through check-in and security. But let's face it, long waits at the airport are not ideal, especially for those with early-morning or late-night flights. And while airport lounges where you could stay and chill before your flight were once easy to find at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, many frequent flyers know by now that some of the go-to spots—including the Cathay Pacific Lounge and the marhaba Lounge—have closed amid the hub’s ongoing renovations.

Lucky for passengers, the First Meridian Lounge, a snazzy new passenger hub at NAIA T3, opened its doors to international passengers in May 2026. Here’s what you need to know before making a mad dash to the newly opened premium lounge on your next trip.

First Meridian Lounge is a premium shared lounge located on Level 4 of NAIA Terminal 3, inside the International Departures area. So, you can only go there after completing your airline check-in, immigration, and final security checks.

The 2,600-square-meter space currently serves eligible premium and business-class passengers of seven international airlines: Thai Airways, Emirates, Japan Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Cathay Pacific, KLM, and Qatar Airways. More carriers are expected to join the newly opened lounge in the coming months.

The lounge is open 24 hours daily, providing eligible premium travelers with access to more spacious common-use spaces for tracking flights, dining, working, and relaxation. As of writing, the lounge only services passengers with eligible Business Class, First Class, or Premium Cabin flights from participating airlines. Travelers with frequent-flyer memberships may also access the lounge if invited by the airline. If you're unsure whether your tickets will get you into the lounge, you can confirm with your airline whether you qualify for access to the First Meridien Lounge before going through immigration.

Unfortunately, walk-ins and lounge access through credit card perks and benefits are not available at this time.

First Meridian Lounge boasts first-class facilities for eligible travelers, so they can enjoy a more comfortable pre-flight wait with premium lounge spaces and expanded amenities. It replaced the beloved Cathay Pacific Lounge and Singapore Airlines’ SilverKris Lounge in line with the New NAIA Infra Corp.’s aim to provide better services throughout the day for a wider range of travelers.

Adventurous foodies are definitely spoiled for options, as the lounge offers a wide selection of local and international food and drinks from its bakery, Halal food section, teppanyaki station, and a full-service bar and wine cellar. If you miss Cathay Pacific Lounge’s famed Noodle Bar, maybe wining and dining in this fancy lounge would be your new pre-flight tradition.

Need to get some work done before your trip? The lounge has workstations equipped with high-speed WiFi and charging areas, as well as private work pods to help keep you focused. There’s also a meeting room for those who need to make work and business calls, and printing and photocopying services for preparing important documents.

But if you’d rather save your energy, there are also sleep pods and private rooms for relaxing or getting some sleep to recharge before flying. There’s also a Library/Quiet Zone where you can catch up on your reading undisturbed instead.

First Meridian Lounge also has shower facilities so you can wash off the grime of the city and freshen up before your flight. Your seatmate doesn’t need to know that the humidity of the city did a number on you, or that you made a sweaty run to the airport straight from the office!

Finally, if you’re flying with children, the lounge also has dedicated amenities to keep them comfortable and entertained. Aside from infant care rooms, there’s also a children’s play room so kids don’t get bored or restless from the long wait. For the young at heart, there’s even a game room with a golf simulator—who says you can’t sneak in some swing practice before your flight?

So, if you’re flying premium with any of the participating carriers, you might as well make the most out of your first- or business class tickets and enjoy a pleasurable wait at the First Meridian Lounge. But if your airline of choice isn’t on the list, you still have the PAGSS Premium Lounge and the A Lounge (which is now also open 24 hours at NAIA T3) as options.

For more information, visit the New NAIA Infra Corp. website.

Also read:
GUIDE: Restaurants and Cafés at NAIA Terminal 3's New Mezzanine Food Hall
Guide: Here Are the Updated Terminal Assignments in NAIA