Editor: Irina

We reveal the cards: how to get into the VIP lounge of the airport legally and almost for free?

Everyone who arrives at the airport with a margin of time knows the feeling when waiting for a flight takes place in the company of Indians sitting in crowds and exclusively on the floor, Chinese munching in unison, and mother Gali loudly chastising her son Ivan for being too active. And, in principle, there is nowhere to go, around - the same doomed passengers.

In these cases, airport business lounges come to the rescue. Halls where you can relax outside the noise and din, and sometimes in your own separate room, away from prying eyes. Many do not even suspect that these places are not only for people marked “business class” on the ticket, but also for ordinary “economists”! We know and use and therefore share with you. 🙂

What is usually in the business lounge of the airport?

Business lounge in Finland (Helsinki)

At the disposal of travelers:

• seating areas with armchairs / sofas
• free wi-fi, the speed of which flies, unlike the general network
• bar/buffet (availability and range of drinks and food vary)
• copiers, telephony and phone charging areas
• TV/press

From the additional and not always present:

• shower cubicles
• slip boxes
• massage chairs
• business meeting areas
• SPA services

Service conditions in the Business Lounge at different airports may vary, and some services are available for a fee.

What does it look like inside?

All VIP lounges at the airport are equipped with comfortable furniture for a good rest. The modern design of the premises invites you to relax in an atmosphere of peace and quiet.

Overview of the VIP lounge in Russia

For passengers with children, there are specially designated rooms where the child can play without disturbing the rest. In business lounges for airline customers, there are dedicated areas where you can work productively without being distracted by the fuss, and have a bite to eat, sometimes even a tight one. 🙂

5 ways to get into the airport business lounge

So how do you get into the business lounge?

1. Most obvious: Access to business lounges opens a flight in business class upon presentation of a boarding pass. The cost of visiting is already included in the "round" amount.
2. For rare travelers: in some lounges, it is theoretically possible to organize a passage to the hall for $25 for several hours. Depends on the staff and the number of applicants, and, in general, not guaranteed, because this is the “grey” way.
3. For avid and conservative tourists: The service is provided by airlines as part of loyalty programs. Aeroflot, S7 Airlines, Lufthansa and other major carriers provide their passengers with access cards to airport business lounges. But from now on, you will have to fly one of them a lot and often, thus “reaching the rank” of a golden mile card. And, of course, being an adherent, for example, of Aeroflot, you can relax only in the lounge of this company.
4. The most "smart": access to the business lounge - incl. and unlimited - one of the "goodies" when applying for a premium bank card! Those. choosing a premium package of services, you become the owner of another Priority Pass card, which grants access to the VIP corners of airports around the world. You pay for the maintenance of a bank card, and the bank pays for the lounges for you (although the number of visits per year may be limited).
5. For the thoughtful: you can find a fellow traveler with a Priority Pass card and go as a guest 🙂

Priority Pass business lounges

Airports in more than 400 cities and 120 countries have Priority Pass business lounges - from modest Samara to luxurious Hong Kong - and access to them is provided by the club card of the same name.

The Priority Pass card in airport business lounges allows you to use the service not only for the owner, but also for his guests (however, it depends on the bank and the service package). You can even expect a “royal” departure by paying for an economy class ticket. The main condition is the presence of a miraculous document.

How to get a Priority Pass card?

Our Priority pass card

1. Without the participation of a bank: a personalized card can be ordered on the official website prioritypass.com/ru/ by paying a fee of $99 (the cost of the card itself). In this case, all visits are paid, $25 each. There are several programs from which the client chooses the appropriate one. For example, unlimited for a year for an additional $399.
2. Through a bank: a business lounge card is issued by large Russian banks to their VIP clients when opening a premium account. When contacting the bank, ask: what package of services should be issued in order to receive a Priority Pass.

Banks offering Priority Pass customers:

- unlimited access to the halls for 2 persons

• Sberbank
• Raiffeisen
• UniCredit Bank
• Promsvyazbank
• Bank of Moscow

- only for the cardholder:

• Citibank (unlimited)
• Russian Standard (unlimited),
• Binbank (unlimited) - our choice
• VTB 24 (8 visits per month)
• Alfa-Bank (4 visits per month)
• Rosbank (12 per year).

Card reviews

Priority Pass holders unanimously leave positive reviews about the card. Well, who doesn't like to wait out the docking on a soft sofa with a glass of wine? 🙂 Our review is absolutely enthusiastic. We travel often, transfers are long, we can look into 3 different lounges a day - everywhere there is free access, but the “stuffing” is different. By the way, a significant plus is that you don’t have to spend money on food and water. We all know how much it costs at the airport!

Service in all business halls is established at the highest level. The list of airports available to Priority Pass card holders is easy to find on the official website, all information is provided in Russian, and for convenience on the road, you can download the smartphone version.

Business lounges in Sheremetyevo

Space Business Lounge at Sheremetyevo Airport (more comfortable than in the Gallery Lounge)

There are business lounges in Sheremetyevo in every terminal. When planning a trip, you can familiarize yourself with the conditions for receiving guests in the Business Lounge on the website of the air gates of the capital and choose the appropriate hall in advance. Prices in recreation areas and the range of services are different, but for children under 12 the ticket price is 2 times lower than for adults, kids under 2 years old are served free of charge.

Business lounges accept Priority Pass holders and other passengers around the clock. Travelers departing from Sheremetyevo via Terminal D can use the comfort zones in other terminals. There is no entrance fee if you have a Gold or Platinum Aeroflot Bonus, Diners Club or Elite Plus card from any SkyTeam airline. The MasterCard Business Lounge in Sheremetyevo is located in Terminal E, only cardholders and their companions can use the service.

Business lounges in Domodedovo

Departing through Domodedovo Airport - the Business Lounge service is available to all passengers, regardless of flight class. If you have not acquired a Priority Pass - there are other ways to expect a flight with comfort. Entrance to Domodedovo business lounges can be paid at the reception after passing through passport and customs control. In total, the airport has 11 business class recreation areas, most of which are owned by air carriers.

Business Lounge S7 at Domodedovo Airport (we advise you to choose it)

9 airlines offer their passengers to spend time in comfort, including S7 Airlines business lounges in Domodedovo. Unfortunately, Aeroflot's business lounges in Moscow are only in Sheremetyevo, and in Domodedovo, passengers of the largest Russian air carrier will have to use the Business Lounge on general terms. The Priority Pass business lounge is located in the gallery on the second floor, but sometimes there are no empty seats in it.

Business lounges in Vnukovo

Business lounge in Vnukovo - Rachmaninov Lounge

Several halls are also available in Vnukovo. The main thing that distinguishes the airport is the location of one of them BEFORE the control zone. Although it’s impossible to enter like this “from the street”, employees check the boarding pass.

We were in two business halls of Vnukovo:

• business lounge- the one before control. It is located near the Mu-Mu cafe and is available to passengers of both international and domestic flights. This is a standard hall, without secluded areas, but you can massage yourself in a chair for free. There is a set of hot dishes (meat, garnish), snacks, drinks
• Rachmaninov Lounge- after control, available only for domestic departures. Recently opened and quite nice. It is objectively quieter and better here due to the fact that you can sit in separate "booths" for 2-4 people. Food is about the same + there is a shower

Other Vnukovo business lounges: Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky and Top Lounge. The last two are for international flights.

Aeroflot business lounges

Aeroflot business lounges are located at 48 airports in Russia and 86 in other countries. This list includes the capitals of states, as well as airports in tourist centers and popular resorts. From Russia, Aeroflot planes can comfortably take off from large resort towns, regional and regional centers. There are six business lounges in Moscow Sheremetyevo and two in St. Petersburg: one each at Pulkovo Airport and Pulkovo-1.

Access to the Aeroflot Business Lounge is open to:

• business class travelers;
• owners of Aeroflot Bonus (Gold and Platinum cards);
• Priority Pass;
• Elite Plus SkyTeam;
• Dining Club.

You can stay in the comfort zone for no more than four hours before departure, for transit travelers and those waiting for a transfer, the time spent in the waiting room is not limited. If you have Aeroflot Bonus or Elite Plus, you can invite one guest to the hall.

Our review of business lounges: a collection of memorable

"Business lounge" in the 8th terminal of the Kennedy airport in New York

It seems that the moment has come when the next business lounge in 99% of cases automatically falls into the “standard” category. There are comfortable sofas, food and coffee too - that means everything is in order. Therefore, here we will talk about 1% of "non-standard" halls that surprised, disappointed or caused a desire to escape back to the common area.

✓ New York, JFK Terminal 8- Bobby Van's Steakhouse: an unusual interpretation of the concept of a business lounge 🙂 This is a restaurant where the priority pass holder is given a bonus $28. They can be spent on anything from the menu - steaks, burgers, salads, beer. If you go beyond the limit, you pay extra by cash or card. Swipe by guest priority - plus another $28. For $56 we got a burger (huge ones), soup and two bottles of water. But ... it was tasteless 🙁 And, of course, it was not possible to sit quietly there.

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There are several types of airport lounges. The first is the usual zone in which all passengers from economy to business class are located. The second is the lounge zone, you can enter it with a special card or guests with a high class of service on the plane.

Business lounges give passengers additional privileges. In them VIP-clients have a rest, work and quietly dine. Every avid traveler should know how to get to the business lounge at the airport. To do this, you need to buy a business class ticket or become a member of the international Priority Pass program.

Services

The best lounges in the world offer passengers an excellent opportunity to visit the lounge area with the Priority Pass card.Members of the international program can use the premium service while waiting for departure.

Priority Pass business lounges at airports offer the following privileges and services:

1. Passengers relax on comfortable armchairs and sofas. Lounge areas provide slip boxes. This option is paid separately and is not available in all rooms of increased comfort.
2. Free press and newspapers are freely available. There are magazines in national and English languages.
3. Meals in the halls are free. Most of the time it's a buffet. Some lounges offer a restaurant menu, food is delivered.
4. Coffee, tea, water and carbonated soft drinks are free. Alcohol is sold only to persons over 18 years of age, and it is paid. You can only take local beer or wine for free.
5. Before departure, you can freshen up in the shower room and put your thoughts in order. But the shower is not always free, and you will also have to pay for bathing accessories.
6. Most lounge areas offer conference rooms if you need to hold business meetings that were not previously planned. The meeting room is always provided for a fee. In rare cases, business class passengers can use it for free. It all depends on the hall administrator, who sets the restrictions.

Particular comfort in the business lounge is felt when there are connecting flights and it is necessary to wait a long time for the next boarding of the aircraft.

Travelers also have at their disposal a toilet, a flight display, a TV, a telephone, copiers and areas for charging electronic gadgets.

Economy class

Access to the airport's business lounges when flying in economy class is possible.How to get to the business lounge?

To do this, you must become a member of the international Priority Pass program.

If you travel frequently and use regular lounges, apply for a Priority Pass card sooner and enjoy additional benefits.

Economy class passengers have two options for accessing the airport lounges. Namely - to issue a card included in the premium package, or to register on the official website of the company.

Registration of a package of services in the bank

It is better to get access to business lounges through a financial institution. It provides not only the opportunity to use all premium services, but also additional benefits.

Such as an insurance policy, participation in loyalty programs, getting discounts in some stores, the ability to earn miles and exchange them for high-class flights or passes to lounges of increased comfort.

To gain access to the business lounges, you will need to comply with certain conditions that the financial institution will require. By Priority Pass, passengers who have paid for the annual service can go to the lounges.

Also, these conditions may be different. For example, maintaining an average monthly balance on all card accounts of a package of services in the amount of 2 million rubles. or spending on a card in the amount of 50 thousand rubles + the average monthly balance should be 500,000 rubles.

The conditions in each bank are different, so read them carefully and choose the best option for yourself. How much the service costs, you should check with the employees of the organization itself.

The card, which is issued by the issuing bank, as part of a service package, can be debit and credit. Credit is issued only to solvent customers who are already 18-21 years old.

The Priority Pass club card itself is issued free of charge. For its reissue in case of loss, theft, damage or expiration of the period of validity, no funds will be charged.

To visit the business lounge, only a club membership card is presented, a payment product is not needed. If the client has 2 to 8 visits per month, but not all passes are used, they are not carried over to the next month.

Neither the airport terminal nor the Priority Pass program is responsible for the number of lounge passes issued by the bank. Therefore, all such issues should be resolved with the financial institution.

The Priority Pass card can be obtained when registering a service package or connecting premium cards of the Mastercard / Visa system in such Russian banks: VTB 24, Rosbank, Binbank, Alfa, Raiffeisen, Promsvyaz, Unicredit, Sberbank and many others.

Self-registration

Also, economy class passengers can get admission to the airport business lounges by registering in the program on their own.

Becoming a member of the club is easy and simple. You need to go through a simple registration, choose a suitable tariff plan, pay for the service and receive a Priority Pass card by mail in a month.

Business Class

The third way to gain access to the lounge areas of the air port is to buy a ticket with a high class of service on the plane.

A visit to the lounge area is free, the cost is already included in the amount paid for the ticket. Additional fees may apply to accompanying persons.

Preferred Client

The airport lounge also allows passengers to travel to other countries with the help of Star Alliance, SkyTeam and Oneworld.

These airlines give you the opportunity to visit lounge areas for free, you just need to issue a plastic card that gives you the right to receive privileged service at the airport terminal.

These cards accumulate miles that can be spent not only on a pass to the lounge area, but also on other good services. For example, to upgrade the class of service on an airplane, to check in at business class counters (no queues).

Companion

You can get free access to the airport lounge with the right companion.

To visit the lounge area, you can ask the companion if he has a Priority Pass card. Some banks allow access to business lounges not only to holders for free, but also to one accompanying person or the person with whom he is flying.

To visit the lounges, the holder just needs to present a Priority Pass card and mention his companion. This applies not only at Sheremetyevo Airport, but all over the world.

If the cardholder was free of charge, plus $ 27 was charged for the satellite, you should contact the issuing bank's hotline and resolve this issue amicably. The hall staff are not qualified enough to help you with this.

There are many ways to visit the lounge areas of airport terminals for free. Choose the most convenient for you and use it, enjoying the comfort and aromatic coffee alone in a large airport.

Priority Pass bank cards - everyone who owns it can freely enter all VIP lounges in more than a thousand airports around the world, in addition, thanks to this feature, you can use various business services in establishments that participate in this program. Currently, there are many Russian organizations that provide this opportunity for their clients, but this article lists only seven of them.

What is Priority Pass

A card that allows its owner to visit all first class lounges. But for each visit to such halls you will have to pay, which depends on the tariff. In addition, you will have to pay an additional amount of $100 to $400 for annual service. But, also, some organizations have special conditions under which you can get the service absolutely free.

Conditions for obtaining Priority pass in banks

Each bank has its own characteristics in providing such cards, so we will tell you in more detail about each of the seven best representatives in Russia.

Sberbank

Anyone can purchase a Priority Pass card at Sberbank. But basically, only rich and financially independent clients use this function.

The layout goes like this:

• First you need to go to any of the branches of Sberbank, or go to their official website.
• There you need to apply for a Premium level, there are two types of products of this level in the given organization: World MasterCard Black Edition and Visa Platinum.
• After completing the application, you can additionally order the Priority Pass connection.
• As soon as the Premium card is issued to the client, he will additionally be provided with a special plastic card that has the Priority Pass function.

VTB 24

To receive a Priority Pass at VTB 24, the client needs to order the activation of the Privilege package.

You can do this in the following way:

• Go to the official website, or visit their branch.
• Write an application for registration of the package of services "Privilege".
• Choose the type of bank card you need, among which there are - debit and credit.
• Wait for a decision from an employee of the organization (usually a decision is made within a few minutes).
• Upon approval of the application for receipt, it is necessary to pay a service fee.
• The card is issued when ready and looks like a personalized plastic, with a special security chip. After that, you will be able to use all the bonuses of this service package.

Tinkoff bank

Signing up for the Priority Pass option, which will allow you to access business lounges in Tinkoff, is easy.

To do this, you must perform the following steps:

• Go to the official website of the bank.
• Select an S7 Airlines black edition card and click the "Issue" button.
• After that, it remains only to fill in all the data and send it to the bank.
• In a few minutes you will receive a response from an employee of the organization.
• If the application is approved, within a certain period the card will be delivered directly to the address you specify, after which you can use the connected services.

Alfa Bank

Alfa Bank offers customers several ways to receive a card with the Priority Pass option:

• Is free— free receipt of this option is carried out as a bonus in addition to some types of premium banking services.
• Package Maximum— this package has various attractive bonuses, among which is also the acquisition of membership in the Priority Pass system. To issue such a package, you must order a banking product not lower than the Platinum level.

Opening

Is free

Otkritie offers customers free registration of the Priority Pass service, subject to the following conditions:

• Over the past month, the amount of 600 thousand rubles remained on the client's bank account.
• Over the past month, the client had an amount of at least 300 thousand rubles, but at the same time, the monthly turnover of funds is at least 45 thousand rubles per month.

If at least one of the above conditions is met, then the client can write an application for the free provision of the Priority Pass option.

Paid

• Also, anyone can apply for this service, but for this you will have to pay a certain amount of money.
• An application for a card is made on the official website, or in any of the departments of the organization.

Binbank

You can issue a card with the Priority Pass service at the bank as follows:

• Go to the official website of the bank, or come to any branch.
• Write an application for the provision of a "Premium" package to you.
• Make an initial fee for the maintenance of the feature.
• After that, the client will be provided with a Premium level card for use.

Rosbank

Only platinum cards have the Priority Pass service in this bank.

For registration, you must perform the following steps:

• Go to the official site. You can also go to the bank branch.
• Write an application for a platinum card.
• Wait for the decision of the employee of the organization.
• Upon receipt of consent to issue, it is necessary to pay an annual service fee.
• As soon as the plastic is released, it will immediately be provided for the personal use of the client.

Benefits of service with Priority Pass

• In more than a thousand airports around the world, there are VIP lounges, access to which is available only to members of the Priority Pass club. In such halls, you can relax after the flight. In addition, VIP visitors will be offered free snacks and drinks.
• Each room is equipped with free wi-fi.
• Many branches also have special rooms for business negotiations in a calm and quiet environment.
• Premium technical support service available 24/7. Technical service staff will help resolve issues related to Priority Pass. In addition, the support team communicates in different languages.

Video about the possibilities of the Priority Pass card:

Business lounges usually have comfortable armchairs and sofas, free Wi-Fi, work and leisure areas, a buffet with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, free magazines and newspapers, and some rooms have shower rooms. But most importantly, it is much quieter there than in a crowded airport terminal.

How to get to the business lounge

1. Buy a ticket

The easiest way is to purchase a first or business class ticket. Usually, such tickets give unlimited access to the lounge with which the airline cooperates, but there may be exceptions, check this information before buying a ticket.

It does not matter if the ticket was purchased with cash or bonus miles. You can save on special promotions - Aeroflot, for example, sells tickets for Light Award miles every month. To receive them, you need to subscribe to the airline's newsletter.

If you upgrade your ticket from economy or premium economy to business for money or miles (airlines have such options, from 4,000 rubles or 6,000 miles), then most often you do not get access to the lounge.

2. Pay per visit

Many business lounges sell access. The price is different, depending on many factors, including the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe hall, the time of visit. Usually the cost varies from 10 to 200 euros. There are also special services, for example, , which will allow you to pre-purchase access to a particular business lounge for a fixed amount. Often such a purchase can be cheaper than paying for a visit directly to the hall.

3. Get elite status with an airline

Carriers reward frequent flyers (or those who make a profit) with elite cards, which, among other things, give access to business lounges, including with a guest. If you have a special status, you can get into the business lounge even if you are flying in economy class. It is especially convenient if you are an elite member of the loyalty programs of an airline that is part of one of the three large aviation alliances -, And . Then, with rare exceptions, you have the opportunity to visit business lounges when flying with any carrier from your alliance.

By the way, to get an elite card, it is not necessary to fly thousands of kilometers. For example, Platinum level members of the Aeroflot-Bonus loyalty program can give anyone a Gold level card for one year. It remains only to find such a generous passenger among his friends.

4. Ask

If you have well-developed communication skills and you are not afraid to communicate with strangers, then you can ask someone to go to the business hall. There is no scam here, you just need to find a passenger with a gold or platinum card who is traveling alone and who has the right to invite one guest with him. If you are afraid to communicate in reality, then you can find those who offer access to business lounges on special And .

5. Buy a "subscription"

There are programs that work like gym memberships, only instead of fitness - lounges. There are a lot of such programs, but the main two are: Priority Pass and Lounge Key (the first one has a little more halls available for visiting). Their principle is simple: you get a card with unlimited or a certain number of visits per year. The cost of the Priority Pass card for the year is from 99 to 399 euros (depending on the number of visits). If you exceed the limit of visits to the halls, you will have to pay 24 euros per visit.

But another charm of such programs is that many banks give cards / in addition to their premium products. And there are a lot of such products, but you should pay attention to those provided by Sberbank and VTB24. In the first case, the Premier service package gives unlimited access to Priority Pass, but you will have to pay 2,500 rubles a month for using the bank’s services, and secondly, you can use the card for free if you spend a certain amount per month, but there is a limit on the number of business visits. halls per month - no more than 8 times.

6. Go through the bank card

Surprisingly, MasterCard has its own business lounges in six European cities. There is also a business lounge in Moscow, at Sheremetyevo Airport. Holders of World Elite Mastercard cards can get there for free, and holders of World Mastercard Black Edition must pay 20–30 euros for access. By the way, MasterCard is not the only payment system that gives premium card holders access to their own business lounges. American Express has a similar program in the US, and Visa gives some cardholders access to various business lounges at airports in India.

The universal and convenient Priority Pass Sberbank card is a unique product that offers users an advantageous opportunity to use comfortable lounges absolutely free of charge at more than 900 airports located in 120 countries of the world.

Page content

The recipient of the Priority Pass card becomes a client using the "" package of services, and it can be used regardless of the class of the ticket, which is a significant advantage for both tourists and those who often travel on business.

Membership in the "Priority Pass" is a bonus from the bank, which you can get quickly - within a few days. Together with the card, the client receives an information brochure, which describes all the benefits.

What is Priority Pass

Priority Pass from Sberbank is a card that provides special benefits to frequent-flying clients of a financial institution. The card user can spend free time in special waiting rooms at airports, use comfortable seating areas, showers, the Internet, sometimes massage chairs, eat food and drinks. Each hall separately offers its services, which may differ depending on the host country.

Comfortable recreation areas are:

1. Free food and drinks, including alcohol.
2. Free access to the Internet.
3. Ability to charge a laptop, tablet computer or smartphone.
4. Round the clock service that works without interruption.
5. Quality services regardless of ticket class.

There are several ways to find the location of the waiting room and learn about all the rules for visiting it:

• by visiting the official website www.prioritypass.com
• by downloading a special application for iOS , Android or BlackBerry .

You can get a convenient card that allows you to visit numerous waiting rooms in many countries of the world without being tied to other banking services, but Sberbank of Russia offers the most favorable conditions today.

According to the reviews and information for customers presented on the official website, if you are flying with your whole family, then it will be enough to issue a Sberbank Premier package in one copy.

Conditions on the Priority Pass card from Sberbank

A Priority Pass card is issued free of charge to users of the Sberbank Premier service package. Cost of service and conditions for obtaining:

• Always free if your accounts have an amount of at least 2.5 million rubles.
• Paid (2500 rubles per month), if your accounts do not have 2.5 million rubles. and more. But the first two months are free.

The Priority Pass card from Sberbank is issued taking into account unlimited visits to the waiting rooms, and the service applies not only to you, but also to your companions.

Important! The number of guests may be limited by the rules of a particular business lounge (usually from 3 to 8-9 people).

It is important for Priority Pass card users to know:

1. Lounge attendants are not required to tell their patrons when they need to prepare for boarding. Therefore, experts advise not to forget about this fact and monitor the time yourself.
2. At some airports, the lounges are located before passport control, so if you get your stamp on the document, you will not be able to go back. Access to comfortable rooms will be closed.
3. The client may be denied access to a special room due to inappropriate appearance. This does not mean that you have to dress in expensive boutiques and use exclusive perfumes before entering the business lounge. Restrictions apply only to extreme cases. For example, if you have been traveling around Europe on foot for more than two weeks without being able to use the shower and now you want to relax in the VIP area intended for airport passengers.
4. More than two lounges can operate at the same airport, and you can visit them all.

The Priority Pass card is not a payment product that proves the solvency of its owner. Using it in this way can be regarded as a separate type of fraud.

List of airports available to Priority Pass cardholders

You can find out the list of all airports where comfortable lounges are available to passengers using a special application. Download a convenient program to your smartphone and get not only a list of airports, but also the conditions for visiting business lounges. We have provided links to applications above.