Every year I have up to a hundred different flights. Despite this, I have never flown business class in my life, and I have been to airport business lounges twice. I don't see any point in overpaying.

It turns out that you can enter these business lounges completely free of charge. So why not take advantage of this? Now I’ll tell you how.

1 I usually arrive at airports two hours before, or even earlier. Not for the sake of reinsurance, but rather to save time. Let me finish my chores at home an hour earlier and work at the airport. I go through the pre-flight formalities and go to the cafe.

2 In general, it's convenient. I’ll pay even 10 euros for coffee and a sandwich, at least not on a bare bench in the waiting room. But sometimes the cafes are crowded, the airports are small, there are also crowds milling around duty free... how can you concentrate?

I have long heard about the miracles that happen in business lounges. They feed and water there for free, there are no crowds. But the main thing is there is Wi-Fi! Actually, his frequent absence from the cafe is the main inconvenience when waiting for a flight.

3 Most often, VIP/CIP lounges belong to an airline or alliance, and access is available to business class passengers, as well as frequent flyers with “elite” bonus cards. It is possible to accumulate the required number of miles, but this is only if you fly really often, and with the same company. And of course, no one will let you into the S7 hall if this time you are flying Transaero, no matter what card you have.

There is a clever card that allows you to go to such halls, regardless of the company, and without any loyalty programs. Pay the money once a year, buy a Priority Pass, and in almost every airport one of the business lounges with which the system has an agreement will open its doors.

The card has only one drawback - it costs 400 euros per year (the version with unlimited visits to the halls). But there is one way to get it for free!

4 A month ago I opened an account with UniCredit bank with the Prime service package. Together with the MasterCard Black card, they issued just that same Priority pass, which allows you to go to business lounges around the world, plus take one guest with you. You don’t need to be flattered by free cheese, you will have to pay for servicing the bank tariff, but there are a lot of useful things there, and withdrawal of money all over the world without commission, and 10% cashback, and insurance, both medical and for trip cancellation.

5 The girl at the business lounge counter swiped my card, smiled and gave me instructions for accessing the Internet.

6 What is this place like? It seems that in the Soviet interpretation this is called the “extra-comfort waiting room” or the “hall of official delegations.” A separate flight waiting area, where there is no fuss and crowds. In all other respects, they can differ greatly from each other.

7 For example, it is accepted that there should be drinks and snacks for guests, and they will be in any room, the question is which ones. Somewhere they will put a sandwich, somewhere salads. It happens that they don’t skimp on passengers and hire a cook who cooks steaks on demand. But this is only in the Emirates or Singapore, of course.

8 At the international terminal of Turkish Antalya they offered tea, coffee, soda, fresh salads and even a couple of hot dishes.

9 Some people pay for silence. There will be no screaming and running children, one of the main irritants at the airport.

10 Because there is a special playroom for them!

11 A nice bonus from the Turkish mobile operator, the ability to charge your phone if you forgot the charger at home.

12 Of course, there is a departure board. I heard that there are business lounges from where passengers are taken directly to the gate on a separate transport. But not at this time.

13 When I arrived at the landing, there were already crowds of passengers there. Somehow nervous, noisy. Of course, you can sit on a bench nearby for an hour and a half, plugging your ears with music and burying your face in your laptop, but it’s more pleasant to relax in a separate room. Especially when it doesn’t cost any money, and I already use the card. It won't take long to get used to it!

It’s hard to believe, but having visited 120 countries and flown on 110 airlines, I have never been to an airport business lounge, although I have had the opportunity more than once. You understand that blogging involves small privileges in the form of such trifles. But since I always arrive at the airport at last minute, barely having time to reach your gate, there is no time to relax. And even if I didn’t have much time, I usually go to the far end of the airport at the gate, where there is no one, and there I open my laptop in splendid isolation. Last night at St. Petersburg Pulkovo airport two factors came together: incredibly, I arrived at the airport an hour and a half before departure and secondly, I had a business lounge card from Korean Air, with which I am flying to Seoul. At first, out of habit, I moved away from the noise and bustle; I sat down and looked at my watch - it was a full 15 minutes before boarding began. And why am I sitting here next to the toilet, and even with the wi-fi not working? Let's go to the business lounge!

You definitely won’t believe me, but I’ve really never been to such places and didn’t even know that you can eat for free here. And since I arrived in St. Petersburg in the morning from Istanbul and since then have been running around to meetings and haven’t had lunch, the question is quite relevant. The girl looked at me in surprise, “Of course, everything is free.” Can I print out the boarding pass for tomorrow's flight? Of course you can. The girl looked around anxiously, probably thinking that she was being filmed by a hidden camera. But no, I really was in the business lounge for the first time in my life and had no idea what they were doing here.

Multi-colored chairs and tables, departure board. And I was still worried that I would go into the lounge and miss boarding my flight. And while I was having a snack, I walked outside the lounge twice and looked at the scoreboard. Until the girl suggested that there was exactly the same board here. What an embarrassment for a traveler’s gray hair!

Quite a good buffet, where you can not just “starve a worm”, but have a passable lunch -

Numerous wines and what a shame that I don’t drink alcohol. Juices are another matter, I tried them -

Can I take a bottle of mineral water with me..? Just kidding, I didn’t torment the girl with stupid questions, she clearly decided that she was being played.

I printed out the boarding pass, because as soon as I arrived in Seoul I would have to prepare for the next flight to Osaka, Japan, and there the low-cost airline would cease to be such without a boarding pass.

What can I tell you? The business lounge is definitely a good thing for those who have a long layover, or if you arrive at the airport too early. Or you didn’t have time to grab a bite to eat in the city while rushing to the airport. I liked this particular Korean Air lounge, everything was comfortable, civilized, practical, working wi-fi (there were some problems at the airport itself). My experience with such things is extremely small, but I remember how, in 2012, I found myself in Qatar for 17 hours between Qatar Airways flights and went to the business lounge. What can I tell you? There were a lot of people there, smoky, noisy. Add to this the fact that the noisy Arabs and Indians ate everything edible from the buffet, then... there was no point in paying 25 dollars for this mess. But in St. Petersburg everything is a solid A, so I responsibly recommend it.

And this is what they served on Korean Air on the flight from St. Petersburg to Seoul. I chose Korean food, which turned out to be not at all spicy and even tasty. I remember a trip to Korea a couple of years ago, when my main problem became food. Everything was hellishly spicy and not very tasty, see? No, everything was different on board -

Another unusual thing: in the seat pockets there are stickers “Do not wake up”, “Wake up for a meal” and “Wake up for Duty Free”. You stick a piece of paper on the back of your chair and you can be sure that you won’t be disturbed for no reason -

I arrived in Seoul around two o'clock in the afternoon local time, and walked 15 minutes from the terminal to my hotel. Surprisingly, staying close to the airport costs a modest $40 for an entire room -

Actually, the view from my window of Incheon Seoul International Airport and railway connecting it with the city -

And tomorrow I’m flying from here to Japan, the main thing is not to oversleep. It's going to be a difficult day!

p.s. After the fact, I learned that Korean Air and Asiana offer their passengers free excursions around Seoul and the surrounding area (link). Unfortunately, they all leave only in the first half of the day, so arriving after two, I did not have a chance to catch an excursion.

p.s. 2 Do you know who I thank to get on the Korean Air flight? But thanks these guys.

p.s. 3 Since not all readers have an account in Livejournal, I duplicate all my articles about life and travel in social media, so join us:
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It's no secret that the most unpleasant part of traveling is waiting for the plane, especially when you need to make a transfer and wait about 2-3 hours, sitting at the airport or more. Luckily, most airports around the world have business lounges that allow travelers to turn boring waiting times into pleasure and relaxation. Such VIP lounges are also available at Pulkovo Airport, which will be discussed in more detail in this article.

Description of VIP rooms in Pulkovo

At Pulkovo Airport there are two VIP lounges, which have significantly greater advantages over general waiting rooms. On the third floor there is an area for passengers traveling on domestic flights. For those who are expecting a long international flight, there is a separate VIP lounge on the fourth floor. Finding them will not be difficult, since quite noticeable and understandable signs lead to them. You can get to the business lounges either on foot by stairs or by elevator.

It is worth noting that the rather nice design of the premises contributes to the relaxation of visitors. Dark blue walls mixed with orange accents look very unobtrusive.

Pulkovo Airport

In addition to the business lounges of the airport itself, each floor has a separate lounge area from Aeroflot - Aeroflot Lounge. The following people have the opportunity to visit the VIP lounge at Pulkovo:

• passengers with Aeroflot tickets for business class flights;
• holders of PriorityPass cards (card required);
• participants bonus program Aeroflot Gold and Platinum levels;
• Elite Plus card holders from SkyTeam.

Important! The Pulkovo Business Lounge is also open free of charge for business class passengers flying with other airlines, as well as for Priority Pass card holders.

For a fee, travelers with tickets for economy class flights have the opportunity to visit the VIP zones. The cost of staying there will cost them 2,500 rubles if paid from 10 to 17, or 1,700 rubles from 17 to 10. All lounges at the airport are open 24 hours a day.*

Additional information about the operation of business zones, as well as a diagram of their location at Pulkovo Airport, can be found by calling +7 812 337 38 22, or on the official website.

Business Lounge Pulkovo

All business lounges have certain rules that are created for the comfort of the visitors themselves:

• Lounge areas are designed specifically for passengers to relax and unwind between long flights, so you always need to be quiet here. The administration not only can, but is also obliged to remove noisy and rowdy visitors from the business lounge.
• The previous rule applies not only to adults, but also to children. It's not that anyone doesn't like children, it's just that sometimes they don't allow you to relax and focus on the right things. Therefore, visitors with noisy children will also be asked to leave the premises.
• Free alcohol has a detrimental effect on some visitors (in particular Russians). Those who abuse alcohol in the lounge area also run the risk of leaving it early. Passengers who are fairly drunk will definitely not be allowed to enter the establishment.
• The name “business lounge”, by definition, requires visitors to have at least some kind of dress code. Tourists in swimsuits, shorts and flip-flops may simply be refused entry to the establishment.
• Not all lounges allow smoking, so be sure to ask staff about the availability of smoking areas before lighting a cigarette.

Additional Information! Clients who suffer any damage as a result of violation of the business lounge conditions cannot demand compensation from the staff. In such cases, the administration does not bear any responsibility.

Menu, range and services of business lounges in Pulkovo

Entrance to the lounge is available to passengers only after passing through passport and migration control. Smoking is strictly prohibited in business lounges. Prioritty pass Pulkovo allows its clients to relax and unwind by visiting several recreation areas. All rooms are equipped with air conditioning, good upholstered furniture, computer tables with sockets, as well as many other amenities.

Important! The lounge areas are also equipped with everything necessary for people with disabilities. disabilities. Airport staff will always help their visitors in various matters.

Pulkovo Priority Pass business lounges can accommodate up to 50 guests at a time. Free waiting time in lounge areas cannot exceed two hours.

In all VIP rooms you can have lunch and, if you wish, visit the bar, which offers alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. alcoholic drinks. The drinks range includes juices, water, beer, wine, martinis, tea and coffee. With cold appetizers and hot meals you can have a full breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their range is wider: pancakes, porridges, yoghurts, muesli, omelettes, a variety of fresh pastries, cold and hot salads, soups, hot dishes, fish and meat snacks.

Lounge bar

While waiting, you can easily visit the showers located in the business lounges. If you wish, you can use a shower set, which contains all the necessary accessories.

You can sit comfortably on soft sofas and read interesting magazines or newspapers, the choice of which is quite wide.

To find out information about your flight, you won’t need to run to the terminal’s ticket office every time, since there is an information board in each lounge area.

In the conference room, located in the international business area, you can organize a business meeting while waiting. It is equipped with free Wi-fi, as well as everything necessary for business negotiations.

Aeroflot's Lounge area accommodates up to 200 guests. You can stay there for free for four hours. In addition to all the above services, Aeroflot business zones also offer additional types of services, namely:

Those wishing to have privacy are offered separate areas isolated by glass walls. There are televisions around the entire perimeter of the lounge area.

In addition to St. Petersburg, Aeroflot business lounges with large capacity and high quality service are also located at Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport.

Important! It is not possible to pay for services in Pulkovo business lounges in cash. You can pay with a debit or other bank card, as well as by bank transfer to the company’s account, directly inside the hall.

Priority Pass staff in Pulkovo will tell you where the client’s plane is located and how much time will be allotted for landing.

Other information about Priority Pass lounge areas Pulkovo

Priority Pass cardholders can take their friends with them by pre-registering them. The company does not indicate the number of accompanying persons who can enter with the cardholder, but the administration of the business lounge itself has the right to set limits. Today, the number of accompanying persons in the Pulkovo lounge areas is not limited, but if the hall is very busy, not only the accompanying persons, but also the card holder himself may be denied access.

It is worth noting that many people try to borrow Priority Pass cards from their friends in order to visit the lounge for free. However, this is useless, since the card data is personalized, and upon entry, the establishment’s employees carefully check the boarding pass (on which the passenger’s name is present) with the card.

On a note! For children under two years of age, entry to Pulkovo business lounges is absolutely free, but do not forget about the rules of the lounge areas, which were mentioned a little higher (noisy children, along with their parents, have the right to be expelled from the establishment).

Many passengers, having thoroughly relaxed in the lounge areas of Pulkovo, often forget their things there. If you find yourself in such a situation, you should not immediately panic. You just need to contact the administration of the business lounge (the phone number can be found on the official website), who will definitely find a way to return forgotten items.

The Pulkovo business lounge will give travelers new sensations and turn long waits into pleasure.

*Prices in the article are current as of September 2018.

It's good when planes fly strictly on schedule. Then it is enough to show up at the airport at the time of check-in for the flight (and for those who managed to do this online, at the time of boarding) and not languish over a long wait. But force majeure circumstances occasionally arise, and you have to wait for a flight for several hours. Then the question arises, how to spend this time more comfortably?

Waiting rooms

Air terminals have publicly accessible departure lounges. But not all of them are convenient for a long stay there. The places in them are usually sedentary, and you won’t be able to truly relax. It will be especially uncomfortable for people with health problems, pregnant women and passengers with children.

To have a snack while the plane is delayed, you will have to leave the waiting room and go in search of a cafe or at least fast food outlets. It is not a fact that during this time your chair will not be occupied, and you will not have to look for a new one.

The common halls of airports are, in fact, a “passage yard” where people are constantly scurrying about and there is a din. Such conditions cannot be called comfortable - neither relax in silence, nor concentrate on reading. And not all waiting rooms have free Wi-Fi.

Another thing is the lounges. Among airport lounges, the business lounge is the most comfortable place to relax. VIP persons who can rightfully use the services of such waiting rooms are business class passengers.

The delights of business lounges

Priority fares for air tickets apply to the creation of amenities not only in the cabin of the aircraft, but also while waiting for the flight in the terminal. Business class passengers can visit special lounges that provide the opportunity to enjoy maximum comfort:

• there are comfortable soft chairs and sofas where you can relax;

• in the prestigious recreation area there is a buffet where cold or hot snacks, aromatic coffee and other drinks (including alcohol) are served, for which you do not have to pay - everything is included in the ticket price;
• being in silence and solitude, you can read entertaining literature or watch TV, which is installed in the business lounge;
• VIP passengers are provided with showers where they can freshen up free of charge;
• some lounges offer the services of a hairdresser, cosmetologist or massage therapist;
• Children have not been forgotten here either - most business lounges have game rooms;
• The lounge will also provide a comfortable stay for nursing and pregnant women.

The prospect of such a break during a long wait attracts many passengers. Business lounge services at the airport may also be available to holders of economy class tickets (subject to availability and availability) if they pay for this service to the lounge administration at the rate established by the specific airport.

Note! One of the options for gaining access to business lounges around the world is to become one of the members of the Priority Pass “club”.

Comfort with Priority Pass

Having economy class tickets in hand, but being the owner of Priority Pass or its electronic version in the smartphone application, passengers begin to enter the lounge area of ​​a number of hubs.

All the delights of such a holiday become available to them. At the same time, the passenger can relax here with his family or invite friends with him (no more than 10 people in total), who will help brighten up the waiting time.

People on a business trip will find it more comfortable to work here. They will be provided with office equipment: a computer (if you don’t have a laptop with you), a copy machine and scanner, and a fax. Free internet is available in all business lounges.

The lounges have a conference room where you can hold a business meeting, negotiations or arrange a meeting with colleagues. To be able to enjoy the benefits of priority lounges, you should inquire about how to obtain a Priority card.

How to apply for a card

The Priority Pass card itself is neither a credit nor a debit card. This is something akin to a club business card confirming participation in the priority recreation program. There are several options for purchasing it:

• Most Russian banks offer it to their clients who are holders of Gold level plastic and above;
• The client can take the initiative by submitting an application for membership in the program to his bank;

Important! Registration of Priority Pass by the bank is free for the client.

• Another option to get a card is to visit the website www.prioritypass.com and apply for its issue; this will already cost money and will cost from 99 €/year. To do this, you need to have a cash account of one of the banks participating in the program, from where annual fees and payments for lounge visits will be withdrawn in the future (if this implies a tariff).

In the future, in order to enter the priority lounge and use its services, it is not necessary to present the card itself - you can download the application to your smartphone from the same website.

How to use the card

When visiting the business lounge, you do not have to pay in cash - at the entrance you scan the code of your Priority Pass card (or application on your smartphone). Next follows the debiting of funds from the main card of the bank client according to the current one in a particular financial institution tariff. Each bank sets its own conditions for using the service, which need to be clarified in advance:

• some cards provide a fixed number of visits to the business lounge by the client himself free of charge;
• other banks reward customers with free unlimited data for a year;
• third option - each visit is paid, with a fixed price of 24 € / person.

When visiting airport business lounges using a card received online, slightly different rates apply (they are chosen by the client):

• basic option - 24 € will be debited from the main account (and for guests too) for each visit to the business lounge; This tariff costs 99€ per year;
• the average level, the price of which is 249 € / year, gives the cardholder 10 free visits to the lounge throughout the year, but for each guest you will have to pay 24 €;
• the third tariff is the highest, for 399 € per annum, which allows the client unlimited access to the business lounge throughout the year without payment, but guest visits are paid here too.

Note! The opportunity to enjoy comfort for free many times throughout the year at airports around the world is quite a profitable purchase for those who often use airplanes.

Some nuances

Before ordering a Priority Pass card, you should take into account some of the nuances associated with this program:

• Not all airports in the world (and in Russia as well) participate in the program, so you should first go to the website www.prioritypass.com and carefully study the list of hubs with available prestige lounges;
• Some largest airlines(such as Emirates) have international airports own lounges, and here the Priority Pass program will not be effective;
• Each airport has its own list of amenities for such lounges; It’s better to know in advance what you can expect; to do this, you should visit the website of the hub where you plan to wait for the flight;
• When planning a relaxation in the business lounge, you should take into account the time of day - some lounges are not open at night (for example, in Spain);
• You should also take into account the waiting time for your flight - a standard visit to the business lounge is usually determined by 4 hours; after they expire, the countdown for the next visit begins, which is not very profitable with paid tariffs.

Note! The priority lounge card is linked to your main bank account.

If the Priority Pass tariff involves paying for your own visits, as well as for invited guests, then you need to monitor the availability of funds on the main card. Due to their shortage, the lounge administration has the right to refuse to provide you with comfortable services.

Rules for using business lounges

The lounge is a comfortable area for waiting for a flight. And the conditions here are created not only by the airport administration. It’s not enough just to get into a comfortable zone - visitors must follow the rules of behavior in it:

• the main advantage of these recreation areas is silence; if the company accompanying the visitor becomes noisy, the administration has the right to remove them from the lounge;
• Passengers with small children may be asked to leave the VIP lounge if they cause discomfort to others;
• the availability of free alcohol may affect the inadequacy of some visitors - they will also have to leave the business lounge early;
• the name of the lounge itself determines the dress code in appearance– women in swimsuits, men in shorts and beach slippers have the right not to be allowed into the business lounge;

• Fans of “nicotine sticks” should check whether there is a smoking area before relaxing in the lounge.

Important! Each violation of the rules has its own moral or material consequences. If a Priority card holder who violates the conditions suffers damage, then neither the administration of the business lounge nor the airport operating company will be held responsible for this.

Review of business lounges at major Russian airports

A number of Russian airports participate in the Priority Pass program and provide services to passengers under various conditions. The table below shows short review lounges of some Russian hubs indicating a number of restrictions.

Brief overview of business lounges at a number of Russian airports

Airport name	Lounge location	Opening hours, hours of stay and number of guests	To whom is it available?	Terms and restrictions
Pulkovo-1	Sector V on the 3rd level	Around the clock 3 hours stay no more than 2 invitees	For passengers from domestic and charter flights	The card can be used for 1 child under 2 years old Smokers are not allowed in the lounge
Domodedovo	On the 2nd floor in the departure area	All day long 6 hours visit the number of guests is unlimited		Children under 2 years old - no charge Children under 12 years old – 50% discount There is a games room Transfer delivery to a remote ramp
Vnukovo	In Terminal B, on the 3rd floor in the departure area	Around the clock the number of visitors is unlimited	For passengers on international flights	Preschoolers (under 6 years old) can enter for free There is a games room in the hall There is a duty free area next to the lounge There is a special corner for smokers
Sheremetyevo	On the 2nd tier of Terminal C, gate No. 11 (at the Irish Bar)	Around the clock visiting time – 3 hours	For passengers on international flights	Children under 2 years old are admitted free of charge There is a separate area for smokers
	On the balcony in the left wing of the 3rd floor of Terminal F, at gate No. 3	Around the clock passengers are allowed to visit the lounge 2 hours before departure		Hall with maximum amenities There is a smoking area
	On the 3rd tier of Terminal E, at gate No. 37 (next to passport control)	Around the clock Duration of visit – 3 hours		Children under 12 years old are admitted free of charge There is a play area and a room for the mother of the child There are special rooms for smokers

Business lounges are an opportunity to brighten up the hours while waiting for a plane with maximum comfort, which you should not refuse.

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Cozy chairs, free food, alcoholic drinks and even champagne. You can get all this for free, even if you only fly a couple of times a year. So how can you get free lounge access?

Gift from a friend

You most likely have a friend who flies very often (yes, such people exist). Whether he does this for work or just a fan of aviation does not matter. Another thing is important - if he reaches the highest status in the loyalty program, then with some airlines he receives a card of a lower level as a bonus. It is not so cool, but still, most often it gives access to business lounges (for example, Platinum at Aeroflot-Bonus gives a Gold level card as a gift, members of the Gold level of the British Airways Executive Club loyalty program can receive two level cards if certain conditions are met Silver and Gold level card). Of course, many people sell such cards (I’ve seen prices ranging from 20,000 to 45,000 rubles, although the big question is whether it’s legal), but what kind of friends are they if they can’t give you such an accepted and sweet little thing, say, for your birthday ?

Ask for it

Another banal method that works. Yes, many frequent flyers travel alone, but they can use their card to trick a guest. Why not take advantage of this? No, this is not a call to stand in front of the business lounge with a “Please let me in” sign (although this method probably works), but a recommendation to look for someone who can let you into the lounge at right time. Read the specialized thread on the Vinsky forum or FlyTalk by TravelRadar. Yes, sometimes you have to arrive at the airport a little earlier, but is the opportunity to get into the business lounge for free worth it?

Business lounge at Nizhny Novgorod airport.

Bank card

Okay, you have no friends and communication is not your thing? Then everything is simple - some banks also give cards (or Lounge Key) in addition to their bank cards, which allow you to visit business lounges. But this is not always free, plus you have to pay for the bank cards themselves. But there is one interesting banking product that is not only free, but also allows you to visit business lounges.

I'm talking about VTB Bank and the Privilege package. There's a lot there, but here's what you need to know: there is a "Travel" option - after spending 55,000 per month on a bank card, you will not only get the opportunity to visit business lounges up to eight times in the next month for free, but also the card will be serviced for you for free. Sounds cool? Undoubtedly! What are the pitfalls? It is one, but significant: from April 1, the free threshold will be increased to 100,000 rubles, and the number of free visits will be reduced to two per month. But even despite this, the card can be beneficial. Although, I am sure that among the readers there will be few who are willing to spend at least 100,000 rubles every month using a bank card.

UPG 22/03: An alternative solution may be the Otkritie Bank Universal Card. IN tariff plan“Premium” it can also be free, provided that you receive at least 200,000 rubles per month into your account and spend more than 50,000 rubles. Having fulfilled this condition, you will receive not only free plastic from the bank, but also a Priority Pass with unlimited access for owners and guests for the next month. As you can see, this offer can be even more profitable if you have the opportunity to transfer at least 200,000 rubles to your card account every month (or keep at least 600,000 rubles in all bank accounts).

Business lounge at Ufa airport.

Flex tariff

You've probably read about a case in Asia when one passenger bought a first class ticket, came to the lounge, ate and drank there, after which he changed the date of the ticket and repeated this simple trick for a long time. Then he was caught and that's a completely different story. However, the point is that practically no one (except the carrier, conscience and common sense) is stopping you from using the same method of getting into the hall.

How does it all work? In business class (in first class too, but less frequently) there are fares that can be returned without penalty even after the plane has departed and you have not arrived at the boarding point (this is called No Show). You can buy such a ticket, use it to get into the business lounge, and then fly on another flight or get back to the city (some European airports have this option), and then get the full price of the ticket back. Ideally, if you buy such a ticket with a credit card, then you don’t even lose anything, managing to return the funds before the end of the grace period.

S7 Airlines business lounge at Domodedovo airport.

Of course, if you don’t spend 55,000 or 100,000 rubles with a bank card, then this method of “freezing” tens of thousands of rubles on a credit card will seem like something out of the realm of the impossible and unthinkable, and even smacks of fraud. But these are the rules, and if you use them, then no one bothers you to enjoy the hospitality of the next lounge completely free of charge. Although, remember that that guy from Asia was punished? Here. Therefore, know that this method exists, but do not use it!

As you can see, these are very simple (in my opinion) ways to get into the business lounge for free. In some cases, they don't require much effort and can come in handy, especially if you only fly a few times a year. Use it!