Lounge directory · SJO · Last reviewed 27 June 2026
San Jose Juan Santamaria Lounges SJO: every lounge and how to get in
Three lounges, all on the upper level, all closed by 8pm. Two take Priority Pass and sell day passes, the third is a bank lounge with narrower access. Here is the full map and the one rule that matters most: get in before the cutoff.
- Lounge verdict
- Decent for a daytime stop, useless after 8pm. All three lounges sit on the upper level above the gates, and two of them, VIP Lounge Costa Rica and VIP Santamaria, take Priority Pass and sell walk up entry. The hard limit is the hour: every SJO lounge closes at 8pm, so evening departures to Europe and late North America red eyes get nothing.
- Best access play
- Priority Pass opens VIP Lounge Costa Rica near gates 18 to 19 and VIP Santamaria above gate 5. Without a card both sell day passes at the door, around 28 to 32 US dollars. VIP Lounge Costa Rica also doubles as the Star Alliance Gold lounge, so Copa and Star flyers are routed there.
- The one thing to know
- The 8pm close is the whole story. Plan to be inside a lounge well before it, because there is no late night alternative airside and the gate seating is thin. If your flight leaves after the lounges shut, build your wait around food and a power outlet instead.
Orientation
How the San Jose lounge map works
The lounge map at SJO is small and stacked. All three lounges sit on the upper level above the gates, reached by stairs or a lift, so there is no zone to get wrong in the single international terminal. The decision is which door your card opens and whether you can reach it before the 8pm close, not which pier you fly from.
VIP Lounge Costa Rica near gates 18 to 19 is the anchor, taking Priority Pass and doubling as the Star Alliance Gold lounge, so Copa Business and Star Gold flyers are directed here. VIP Santamaria above gate 5 is the second Priority Pass option, with airline agreements that lean SkyTeam and oneworld. The BAC Credomatic Lounge near gate 19 is the bank lounge, serving DragonPass and Amex Centurion cardholders from Central America with paid entry for BAC customers. Hours and walk up prices shift, so treat the figures below as verify at booking, and remember the 8pm cutoff applies to all three.
The lounges
Every SJO lounge on the upper level
| Lounge | Location and hours | Access | Walk up | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIP Lounge Costa Rica | Upper level near gates 18 to 19, daily until 8pm | Priority Pass, Star Alliance Gold, Copa and Star Business, MasterCard Black Central America, pay in | From about 32 dollars | The anchor lounge and the Star Alliance Gold door, the default pick |
| VIP Santamaria | Upper level above gate 5, daily until 8pm | Priority Pass, plus Air France, KLM, Iberia, British Airways, Edelweiss and Aeromexico agreements, pay in | From about 28 dollars | The second Priority Pass option, leaning SkyTeam and oneworld |
| BAC Credomatic Lounge | Upper level near gate 19, daily until 8pm | DragonPass, Amex Centurion issued in Central America, BAC cardholders | From about 23 dollars for BAC customers | The bank lounge with the narrowest access, no Priority Pass |
The single most important line in that table is the hours. Every lounge closes at 8pm, so a lounge plan only works if your flight leaves, or your layover falls, inside the day. Priority Pass admission at VIP Lounge Costa Rica is typically allowed from three hours before your scheduled departure, so arriving too early can mean a wait at the door even during opening hours.
On amenities, do not expect a flagship. VIP Lounge Costa Rica is a solid regional lounge rather than a destination one: a coffee and hot tea station, complimentary national beer and wine, soft drinks, and a self service spread of snacks, sandwiches, salad and fresh fruit, plus printers and workstations for anyone working a layover. Children under 10 are admitted free, which helps families. It sits airside after passport control, so plan to clear formalities first, then climb to the upper level.
VIP Santamaria covers similar ground for the SkyTeam and oneworld carriers it has agreements with, and the BAC Credomatic Lounge is the narrowest of the three, built around DragonPass and Central American bank cards rather than the global lounge programs. None of the three is a reason on its own to route through San Jose, but for a daytime connection any of them beats the gate benches, provided you are inside before the 8pm close.
Access decoder
What actually opens these doors
Priority Pass covers VIP Lounge Costa Rica and VIP Santamaria, the two doors most travelers will use without elite status. It does not cover the BAC Credomatic Lounge, which runs on DragonPass and bank cards instead.
Paying at the door works at all three, subject to space. VIP Lounge Costa Rica runs from about 32 US dollars, VIP Santamaria from about 28, and BAC Credomatic from about 23 for BAC customers. Treat prices as verify at booking, since they move with the operator.
American Express Centurion cardholders issued in Central America use the BAC Credomatic Lounge; there is no dedicated Amex Centurion lounge at SJO. Status and class of travel route Star Alliance Gold and Copa Business passengers to VIP Lounge Costa Rica, which doubles as the Star Alliance Gold lounge, and SkyTeam and oneworld premium passengers to VIP Santamaria through its airline agreements. Whichever door you use, the 8pm close is the rule that overrides everything else.
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FAQ
San Jose lounge questions
Which SJO lounges take Priority Pass?
Two: VIP Lounge Costa Rica near gates 18 to 19 and VIP Santamaria above gate 5, both on the upper level. The BAC Credomatic Lounge does not take Priority Pass; it runs on DragonPass and bank cards. All three close at 8pm, so a Priority Pass plan only works for daytime layovers.
What time do the lounges close at San Jose airport?
All three SJO lounges close at 8pm daily. There is no late night lounge airside, so evening departures to Europe and late North America red eyes get no lounge at all. If your flight leaves after the cutoff, plan your wait around the gate seating, food outlets and a power point instead.
Can I pay to get into an SJO lounge without status?
Yes, at all three, subject to space and the 8pm close. VIP Lounge Costa Rica runs from about 32 US dollars, VIP Santamaria from about 28, and BAC Credomatic from about 23 for BAC customers. Treat the prices as verify at booking, since the operators adjust them.
Is there an Amex lounge at San Jose airport?
Amex Centurion cardholders issued in Central America use the BAC Credomatic Lounge near gate 19. There is no dedicated Amex Centurion lounge at SJO. Amex Platinum cardholders should check the current Amex lounge listing before relying on access, since program terms change.
Is there a Star Alliance lounge at SJO?
Yes, in effect. VIP Lounge Costa Rica near gates 18 to 19 doubles as the Star Alliance Gold lounge, so Copa Business class passengers and Star Alliance Gold members are routed there when flying internationally. It also takes Priority Pass and sells paid entry, and like the others it closes at 8pm.
Which lounge is best at SJO?
For most travelers VIP Lounge Costa Rica, the anchor lounge and the Star Alliance Gold door, with the broadest access. If you fly SkyTeam or oneworld, VIP Santamaria above gate 5 may suit your airline agreement better. The BAC Credomatic Lounge is mainly for DragonPass and Central American bank cardholders.
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