Lounge Review: Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 2 Zone A) - Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)

There are four Plaza Premium Lounges in Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) and I visited the one in Terminal 1 (Zone D) back in 2017. Plaza Premium Lounges are fantastic airport lounges in terms of design and I have had great experiences with them in recent years - you can also access them freely (with the ability to bring in an additional guest) with The Platinum Card which makes it well worth its S$1,712 annual fee. When I was flying from Taipei to Singapore on SQ877, I noticed that EVA Air was not operating The Infinity Lounge on my day of departure due to the COVID-19 outbreak and therefore, I decided to check out the Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 2 Zone A (short stroll away from EVA Air's airport lounges) instead.

Find out which credit cards give you complimentary airport lounge access!

Lin Dong Fang Beef Noodles 林東芳牛肉麵
Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)

After realising that The Infinity Lounge was not in operation on the day of visit, I briefly visited The Star (also operated by EVA Air) but have found it extremely mediocre in terms of design and F&B offerings (the latter does not matter as much to me but I really dislike sitting in a dull and dated space). While making my way from The Star to the Plaza Premium Lounge, I passed by the food court and remembered that my favourite beef noodles in Taipei has opened a new store there back in 2019. Since this was a rather short trip and I actually did not manage to head down to the original branch for a delicious bowl of beef noodles, I decided to make a quick pitstop before heading to the lounge. Just like how I have remembered it to be, the noodles from Lin Dong Fang Beef Noodles 林東芳牛肉麵 were delicious and the beef shank (as well as tendon) were done beautifully. If you do not have access to any airport lounges in Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), I highly recommend that you drop by for a bowl of beef noodles prior to the flight.

Once I have dealt with the distraction, I quickly made my way over to the Plaza Premium Lounge which was just a short stroll away from the foodcourt in Zone A. There are various ways to access the Plaza Premium Lounge for free (I have previously compiled a full list of credit cards that will give you access) but The American Express Platinum Card gives you (as well as one supplementary cardholder) a complimentary Priority Pass membership with guesting privileges - you will be able to use that, or simply flash your metal charge card to gain access. Apparently The Platinum Cardgives you guesting privileges for up to 2 guests at selected Plaza Premium Lounge locations so it is worth checking with one of the friendly staff out front if you wish to bring in more than one friend. 

Dining Area
Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 2 Zone A) - Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)

Unlike the Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 1 Zone D, the one here in Terminal 2 Zone A is massive. It spans over 11,000 square feet (or slightly over 1,000 sqm) and at the time of writing, it is opened from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily. From my understanding, the lounge is typically open 24-hours daily but the reduced operation hours come from the whole COVID-19 situation. The Plaza Premium Lounge opens up to the dining area as you walk through the main entrance - I really like the design here and it is fairly consistent to the other lounges around the region that I have visited. There is plenty of space for you to find your spot and different table configurations cater to varying travel group sizes. 

Live Station for Hot Food
Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 2 Zone A) - Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)

Located on the side of the main dining area is where you will find the hot food station - Plaza Premium Lounges are somewhat known for their selection of 'made-to-order' food and this lounge is no exception. However, since I literally just had a bowl of beef noodles from Lin Dong Fang Beef Noodles 林東芳牛肉麵, I have decided to skip it (even though I should have taken a photo of the menu in hindsight) this time. There are also various juices that you will be able to enjoy from the self-serve area as well as a decent coffee machine where you can get a cup of joe before your flight. 

Self Service Area
Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 2 Zone A) - Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)

Situated directly across the hot food station is another self-serve area where you can enjoy fresh fruits, carbonated drinks as well as a small selection of treats. There is also a couple of hot dishes here which change throughout the day - so expect breakfast items if you come in the morning and heavier dishes if you visit for lunch and dinner. 

Private Relaxation Suites
Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 2 Zone A) - Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)

To be honest, I did not realise how big this Plaza Premium Lounge was until I walked past the self-serve area and noticed a small opening leading up to a huge lounge area with private relaxation suites on the side. Before you get too excited, I do believe that the private suites require an additional payment (even if you are accessing this lounge for free with The Platinum Card. Since I only had 20-30 minutes to kill before my flight, I have decided not to check them out this time but apparently each one of these private relaxation suites come equipped with a cosy bed (great for a long layover at the the Taipei Taoyuan International Airport) as well as as private bathroom for you to freshen up. 

Lounge Area
Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 2 Zone A) - Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)

It goes without saying that complimentary WiFi is provided here in the lounge and the speeds were fantastic - great if you are traveling for work or leisure. There were also semi-private seating areas in the lounge and even though they were closed off during my visit, they looked rather comfortable and cozy. The lounge area is located immediately after the dining room and it is huge. More importantly, the entire place feels inviting and plush (the complete opposite of what The Star felt like) so I was glad I actually made a quick stop at this lounge before my flight.

Lounge Area
Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 2 Zone A) - Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)

My short 20-30 minute visit was definitely not sufficient to fully experience what the Plaza Premium Lounge has to offer in this beautiful location. As mentioned earlier, my trip to Taipei was rather short this time due to flight retimings and cancellation (no thanks to the COVID-19 outbreak) but I definitely want to revisit this lounge on my next trip if possible. I had to rush off to the boarding gate for my flight back from Taipei to Singapore on Singapore Airlines but I really enjoyed my stay in this lounge and I would definitely recommend dropping by for a visit when you are departing from the Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE).