Port Elizabeth Airport Lounges
Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport · Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Chief Dawid Stuurman International (PLZ), in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), is a compact single-terminal airport with two lounges. The Bidvest Premier Lounge sits airside on DragonPass and Priority Pass, while South African Airways' remodeled lounge serves SAA premium passengers, Star Alliance Gold members and eligible Discovery and Investec cardholders.
Content updated June 25, 2026
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The bookable lounge at PLZ — or browse the full directory below.
Sourced, never sponsored.
This guide is compiled from airline, alliance and lounge-operator sources plus published access rules from Priority Pass and DragonPass — we haven't independently visited every Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport lounge yet. Nothing here is a paid placement, and the guide is updated as lounges open, close, renovate or change access policies. Read more about how we verify lounge data.
Last updated June 25, 2026
Where we'd actually go.
Bidvest Premier Lounge
The Bidvest Premier Lounge is the most widely reachable option at PLZ — it sits airside in the Main Terminal and welcomes DragonPass and Priority Pass members, with a relaxed contemporary space, complimentary snacks and a full bar. The default choice for most travellers leaving Port Elizabeth.
South African Airways The Lounge
South African Airways' lounge, known simply as The Lounge, was remodeled in 2024 in partnership with Discovery. It serves SAA premium and Star Alliance Gold passengers plus eligible Discovery Bank and Investec cardholders, and adds a hot buffet alongside the bar.
Bidvest Premier Lounge
If you carry Priority Pass or DragonPass, the Bidvest Premier Lounge is your route in at PLZ — it's the only lounge here on those networks, sitting airside after passport control and security with apron views and a calm, low-noise setting.
Every lounge. 2 bookable right now.
The Bidvest Premier Lounge sits airside in the Main Terminal at Chief Dawid Stuurman International (PLZ), up on level 1 after passport control and security. It's the most widely reachable…
Known simply as The Lounge, South African Airways' lounge at Chief Dawid Stuurman International (PLZ) was remodeled in 2024 in partnership with Discovery. It welcomes SAA premium and Star…
Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport lounges by terminal.
Main Terminal
Chief Dawid Stuurman International runs from a single passenger terminal, so both lounges are in the same building. The Bidvest Premier Lounge is airside, up on level 1 after passport control and security, reachable on DragonPass and Priority Pass. The South African Airways lounge serves SAA premium and Star Alliance Gold passengers along with eligible bank cardholders.
- —Single-terminal airport — both lounges are in the same building
- —Bidvest Premier Lounge is airside on DragonPass and Priority Pass
- —South African Airways' lounge covers SAA premium and Star Alliance Gold
- —Discovery Bank and Investec cardholders can use the SAA lounge regardless of airline
How to get into lounges at PLZ.
Port Elizabeth keeps it simple — two lounges, two access routes. The Bidvest Premier Lounge runs on lounge-membership networks (DragonPass and Priority Pass), while the South African Airways lounge is an airline-and-cardholder lounge, opening to SAA premium passengers, Star Alliance Gold members and eligible Discovery Bank and Investec cardholders. Check which lounge matches your card or ticket before you fly.
Priority Pass
Priority Pass is accepted at the Bidvest Premier Lounge, the airside option in the Main Terminal. It's the single most useful membership at PLZ, since the Bidvest lounge is the only one on the Priority Pass network here.
Priority PassDragonPass
DragonPass also opens the Bidvest Premier Lounge. If you hold both DragonPass and Priority Pass, either works — both lead to the same airside lounge after passport control and security.
DragonPassAirline & alliance status
South African Airways' lounge welcomes SAA premium-cabin passengers and Star Alliance Gold members. If you're flying SAA in a premium cabin or hold Star Alliance Gold, this is your lounge at Port Elizabeth.
Star AllianceBank cardholders
The South African Airways lounge, remodeled in 2024 with Discovery, also admits eligible Discovery Bank (Platinum, Black and Purple) and Investec (Visa Infinite, Platinum, Business and Youth) cardholders — and cardholders can visit no matter which airline they're flying.
Walk-in entry
If you don't hold a qualifying membership, card or ticket, the Bidvest Premier Lounge can be reached as a paid visit through the DragonPass or Priority Pass apps at the per-guest walk-in rate. Booking ahead is the safest way to confirm a spot.
Know before you go.
Two lounges, two routes
- —The Bidvest Premier Lounge runs on DragonPass and Priority Pass; the SAA lounge runs on airline status and bank cards — match your access to the right one.
- —If you carry Priority Pass or DragonPass but no SAA ticket or qualifying bank card, Bidvest is your lounge here.
- —Discovery Bank and Investec cardholders can use the SAA lounge even when flying another airline.
Clear security first
- —The Bidvest Premier Lounge is airside — go through passport control and security, then follow the signs up to level 1.
- —Port Elizabeth is a compact terminal, so the walk from security to the lounge is short.
- —Allow a little buffer at peak times even at a small airport, so you don't cut your lounge visit short.
Mind the hours
- —The Bidvest Premier Lounge opens early (around 05:30 on weekdays) and closes in the early evening, so it suits morning and afternoon departures more than late-night flights.
- —Sunday hours start a little later than the weekday opening.
- —If your flight is outside lounge hours, plan to use the terminal's general seating and cafés instead.
What to expect inside
- —Bidvest offers a calm, low-noise space with apron views, complimentary snacks and finger food, and a bar with soft drinks, house wine, beer and spirits.
- —The SAA lounge was refreshed in 2024 and adds a hot buffet alongside the bar.
- —Both lounges are comfortable spots to settle before a flight rather than large, amenity-heavy hub lounges.
Frequently asked, frequently answered.
We track two lounges at Chief Dawid Stuurman International (PLZ) in Port Elizabeth. Both are in the single passenger terminal: the Bidvest Premier Lounge, which is airside on DragonPass and Priority Pass, and the South African Airways lounge for SAA premium and Star Alliance Gold passengers and eligible bank cardholders.
Yes. Priority Pass is accepted at the Bidvest Premier Lounge, which sits airside in the Main Terminal after passport control and security. It's the only lounge on the Priority Pass network at PLZ, and DragonPass works there too.
The Bidvest Premier Lounge is airside in the Main Terminal. After you clear passport control and the security check, follow the signs up to level 1 to reach it. It's reachable on DragonPass and Priority Pass.
Yes. South African Airways runs a lounge, known as The Lounge, which was remodeled in 2024 in partnership with Discovery. It serves SAA premium and Star Alliance Gold passengers, plus eligible Discovery Bank and Investec cardholders.
Yes. The South African Airways lounge admits eligible Discovery Bank (Platinum, Black and Purple) and Investec (Visa Infinite, Platinum, Business and Youth) cardholders, and cardholders can visit no matter which airline they're flying.
Yes. The Bidvest Premier Lounge is open to DragonPass and Priority Pass members and can be reached as a paid visit through those apps at the per-guest walk-in rate, so you don't need airline status to get in.
The Bidvest Premier Lounge opens early — around 05:30 Monday to Saturday and 07:00 on Sunday — and closes in the early evening. It suits morning and afternoon departures more than late-night flights, so check your flight time against the hours.
Yes. The Bidvest Premier Lounge offers complimentary snacks and finger food with a bar serving soft drinks, house wine, beer and spirits. The South African Airways lounge adds a hot buffet alongside its bar.