SHEREMETYEVO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (SVO)

In Terminal D of Moscow’s main airport, lounge options include Jazz and Blues (very similar), and another called Classic. I was recommended to try Jazz or Blues.

The lounge is long. If you turn left and walk past the kids’ play area you come to a business work space and a small area called the Mercedes-Benz lounge, which has a couple of tables but nothing else special. In this corner there is the first drinks station where there are several choices of wine and spirits… though if you want a gin and tonic you have to walk to the other end of the lounge to get the tonic.

Around the corner are a couple of massage chairs, and then the main body of the lounge, which has limited seating, and even fewer power points (I sat at the business desks). There’s also a selection of magazines and newspapers.

There is free wifi in the lounge, but because of regulations you have to register a phone to receive an access code via text. Of course if you don’t want to incur a roaming fee – which is why you want the internet – you might struggle to use it.

During the course of the afternoon the lounge became more busy and increasingly noisy, with Skype calls on loudspeaker and a few appallingly behaved children. Flights are called from the lounge, but due to the noise levels it’s best to keep an eye on the screens.

WHO CAN ACCESS?

Anyone travelling business class with Aeroflot, and also Aeroflot Bonus Gold or Platinum cardholders; Elite Plus Bonus cardholders of any SkyTeam Alliance partner airlines; Priority Pass, Diners Club members or those who pay to access.

VERDICT

This is a fine place to spend a few hours, though it does get busy in the evening and it seems the staff have given up trying to police the groups using it.