Which cards get you into a Kathmandu airport lounge, and which lounge to pick
Kathmandu has two Priority Pass lounges, both after immigration. The cards that get you in, the hours, and the lounge anyone can use without a card.
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Kathmandu’s international terminal has two lounges you can enter with a credit card’s lounge membership: the Executive Lounge and the Horizon Lounge by Soaltee. Both are open to Priority Pass members and both sit after immigration but before the final security check. In the US, the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X and Amex Platinum include Priority Pass. In the UK, the Amex Preferred Rewards Gold gives four visits a year. If you have no card, a third lounge outside the secure area is open to anyone, 24 hours a day.
- Two lounges, one network. Priority Pass lists both the Executive Lounge and the Horizon Lounge; LoungeKey and DragonPass are accepted too.
- Clear immigration first, then go up. Both lounges are after passport control and before the final security check.
- Mind the clocks. The Executive Lounge closes at 23:00 and the Horizon Lounge allows two hours.
- No card? The landside Yatra Lounge takes anyone, with or without a ticket.
The two lounges inside the international terminal
The Executive Lounge and the Horizon Lounge by Soaltee are the two lounges on the Priority Pass network at Tribhuvan International Airport. Priority Pass places both after immigration and before the security check. The Executive Lounge is on the second floor; American Express’s directions are to take the stairs or escalator on the right after immigration. It opens 06:00 to 23:00 and admits children under two free. The Horizon Lounge opens 06:00 to 01:00, limits visits to two hours, and admits children under five free, and Mastercard’s lounge finder notes luggage storage, a shoe shine and a prayer room.
| Executive Lounge | Horizon Lounge by Soaltee | |
|---|---|---|
| Hours | 06:00–23:00 daily | 06:00–01:00 daily |
| Where | 2nd floor, after immigration, before security | After immigration, before security |
| Time limit | None listed | 2 hours |
| Children free | Under 2 | Under 5 |
| Guests | Up to 2 per cardholder, charged | No cap listed; charges may apply |
| Networks | Priority Pass, LoungeKey, DragonPass | Priority Pass, LoungeKey |
Which cards get you in
Any card that includes Priority Pass, LoungeKey or DragonPass, as long as you have enrolled before you fly. In the US, the Chase Sapphire Reserve includes Priority Pass alongside its own Sapphire Lounges; the Capital One Venture X includes Priority Pass for the primary cardholder after enrolment; and the Amex Platinum includes Priority Pass once you enrol, though it lost Lufthansa lounges on 1 October, as we reported in Amex Platinum just lost Lufthansa lounges. In the UK, the Amex Preferred Rewards Gold includes four Priority Pass visits a year. In Australia, the CommBank Ultimate card includes two lounge passes a year through Mastercard Travel Pass by DragonPass, which lists the Executive Lounge.
| Card | Market | Lounge access | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | US | Priority Pass | $795 |
| Capital One Venture X | US | Priority Pass (primary cardholder, enrolment) | $395 |
| Amex Platinum | US | Priority Pass (enrolment) | $895 |
| Amex Preferred Rewards Gold | UK | 4 Priority Pass visits a year | £195 (£0 first year) |
| CommBank Ultimate | Australia | 2 passes a year (Mastercard Travel Pass by DragonPass) | $35 a month, waived with $4,000 spend |
Card terms were read on the issuers’ pages on 27 September 2026. Whether a card is worth that fee for one airport is a different question, answered in the best cards for lounge access and our complete guide to travel credit cards.
No card? The lounge anyone can use
The Yatra Lounge & Restro, outside the restricted departure area, is open to everyone, 24 hours a day. The Kathmandu Post reported in January 2026 that it opened in June 2025 and needs no boarding pass, so the relatives seeing you off can use it too. It has a buffet and restaurant menu, recliners, showers, sleeping areas and luggage storage. It is the better choice for a long wait before check-in opens, because the two card lounges are only reachable after immigration. Lounge-pass resellers also sell entry to the Executive Lounge online, so compare that with the walk-in price on the day.
When a lounge is worth it at Kathmandu
For a late-evening long-haul departure or a long delay, yes; for a midday flight, it rarely matters. Kathmandu’s departure hall is busy and seating fills quickly in peak autumn, so a quiet chair, food and Wi-Fi are worth having when you arrive early. Two cautions. Do not linger: the final security check is after the lounges, and queues there can be long. And the domestic terminal, where flights to Lukla, Pokhara and Jomsom leave, has no Priority Pass lounge that we could find, so bring snacks for a weather delay. If you are flying on to Lukla, read our report on Lukla flights via Ramechhap before you plan the morning.
Our Everest Base Camp trek is twelve days at $1,700 USD solo, with airport pickup options, permits, a government-registered guide, a porter, teahouses and meals.
See the Everest Base Camp trekFrequently asked questions
Does Kathmandu airport have a Priority Pass lounge?
Yes, two: the Executive Lounge and the Horizon Lounge by Soaltee, both in the international terminal after immigration and before the security check.
What time does the Kathmandu airport lounge open?
Both open at 06:00. The Executive Lounge closes at 23:00 and the Horizon Lounge at 01:00, according to Priority Pass.
Can I use a lounge at Kathmandu airport without a lounge card?
Yes. The Yatra Lounge & Restro, outside the restricted area, is open to anyone 24 hours a day, and passes for the Executive Lounge can be bought online or at the door.
Is there a lounge in Kathmandu’s domestic terminal?
We found no Priority Pass, LoungeKey or DragonPass lounge in the domestic terminal, which handles flights to Lukla, Pokhara and Jomsom.
Which credit cards give Priority Pass for Kathmandu?
In the US, the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X and Amex Platinum, after enrolment. In the UK, the Amex Preferred Rewards Gold gives four visits a year.
Keep reading
The catch on each lounge card, side by side.
Every way in, from cards to day passes.
Which card to bring, and where it will actually work.
Lounges, sleep pods, showers and leaving the airport.
Sources: Priority Pass, Tribhuvan International Airport lounge pages for the Executive Lounge and the Horizon Lounge by Soaltee; Mastercard airport lounge finder (LoungeKey), Horizon Lounge; American Express, Global Lounge Collection entry for the Executive Lounge; The Kathmandu Post, “The only airport lounge open to everyone”, 5 January 2026; card terms from the issuers’ own pages, 27 September 2026; lounge pages read on 2 October 2026.
Photos via Pexels: Berk Aktas (cover), “Download a pic Donate a buck!”, Leeloo The First, K, aaerux studio.
Written by
Anjali ShresthaPokhara-based, NMA-certified trekking guides. We’ve led 5,000+ treks across the Annapurna and Everest regions since 1998 — every word here comes from the trail. More from this author →
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