Recently, I reviewed the Pagstop lounge at the international terminal 1 at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport – and it wasn’t great. As a Priority Pass member, you also have the option to visit the Miascor lounge, located near gate 9. Let’s see how inviting that lounge is!
In addition to Priority Pass members, the Miascor lounge is available to premium class passengers of United, Malaysia, Brunei and Asiana Airlines. The reception had the standard hand-held terminal for sign-in with Priority Pass, but oddly also wanted to have a signature on a paper receipt labeled “passenger receipt”… Once past the reception, you enter a nicely laid out buffet which had some sandwiches and hot food choices as well as soft drinks, coffee/tea and alcoholic drinks available. At this morning hour, I was grateful for the espresso machine to make a proper coffee to go with some fresh sandwiches. Coffee and snacks tasted good, but they are small. If you are hungry, I’d suggest to stop by one of the terminal’s new coffee shops (Starbucks anyone?), but you can make do. While the lounge does have air conditioning, it didn’t seem to work too well and there were fans placed around the lounge. Unfortunately, the Miascor lounge also has not been renovated and it shows in the old furniture. The free wifi at the lounge was working fine.
Overall, of the two lounges in terminal 1, the Miascor lounge is the better one: It is larger, has a nicer layout and better furniture, as well as a better selection and quality of food and drinks to offer. If you are a Priority Pass member, you should choose Miascor over the Pagstop lounge. It provides a decent space to wait for your flight, have a drink and snack and check your email. It is expected to be closed for renovation sometime soon – and the renovation is a much needed upgrade to the lounge and terminal!