Lounge Access in Moscow?
 

Am flying JFK-SVO on Monday with 3-hr layover from DL to Aeroflot. Is there any lounge access in the new Aeroflot terminal in Moscow? I am DL Gold (nearing but not quite Plat), Lifetime SkyClub (WorldClub) member, flying U fare.

Any help will be appreciated.

P.S. Final destination will be St. Petersburg. On the return I will have a 4 hr layover changing between Aeroflot and DL. Any access in the DL terminal?

I would say no because on the Aeroflot website it says just Skyteam Elite Plus or Aeroflot Bonus Gold. But just go and ask and see what happens.

Delta747

Looking on the Delta.com SkyClub locations page (which does list partner lounges a SC member can access), there is nothing for Moscow. You can try, but don't expect anything.

I was at SVO D last Sunday, there are two lounges in the new terminal
Jazz and Klassika.

But they are for business class and ST Elite Plus

The lounges are very nice.

Bummer...but that's what I expected. I won't be Sky Team Elite for another 4,000 MQM, which is what I will have on my arrival back in ATL. Thanks so much for the feedback from everyone.

Sky Team Clubs
 

Good luck to you. Not only will you need to be a PM or DM, but you will need your card.

The lounge is for SkyTeam Elite Plus, not SkyTeam Elite. As the poster above said, this means PM or DM only, so not all Medallions are granted access.

FWIW, if you make PM on the flight to Moscow, you will not get a status boost as "you've begun travel" (what crap). Also, for all future travel, you'll need to delete and re-enter your SM number for the new status to show (also crap).

BUT, the real reason to post this: email DL customer service, complain your new status is not showing, hence no lounge. DL reservations CANNOT do this, you must email corporate (what stupidity in DL IT systems). But, usually in 24/48 hrs, they will manually re-enter and upgrade your status, allowing you lounge access, even though you don't have a pm card (some times).

Dave

I have seen signs in some of the SVO lounges in Terminal F -- I can't speak to the new ones in Terminal D -- allowing purchased access for 1500 RUB (~$50), in case it's worth it to you. Totally not worth it for the Terminal F lounges; could be alright for the Terminal D lounges depending on your budget. They're much, much nicer than the old lounges, but I wouldn't call them world-class or anything. Also beware that Terminal D is still very much undergoing construction and thus opportunities for shopping etc. are quite limited.

In your shoes I personally would follow the signs to the AeroExpress (train to Moscow), which will lead you right to the Starbucks (near entrance to the AE train platforms). (Unfortunately you'll probably have to make this call before you decide to proceed to the Terminal D lounges, as I don't think you can easily pass back out security.) They have comfy seats though I'm not sure about wi-fi.

Whatever you do, do not eat at the Hippopotamus restaurant in Terminal D. It is execrable. There is a TGIF in Terminal D that's acceptable (it's standard TGIF fare, same the world over) and does, I believe, have free wi-fi.

Not that this will help the OP, but this isn't true at SVO in my experience. Lounge access is not granted by flashing one's card, but by presenting a voucher that is given out by the airline at check-in. Flying DL (and even SU, I believe), they should be able to see your status in their system without having to see your card.

SkyMilesInsider has addressed this specifically. Removal and replacement of FF number is no longer required.

As for no status change on an open itineary - that's the first time I have heard it.

Can someone tell me which lounge DL uses for a BE ticket and give more information about the lounge?

Since SU is a SkyTeam partner, you can use any of their lounges with a same day BE flight on Delta.

Thanks, but are there advantages of one over the other?

DL now flies from SVO-2-D which is the larger of the two new terminals. There are three lounges there and you will receive a paper invitation at check-in allowing you to use any of them. I have been to two of them and they are essentially the same. None of them is a lounge that you will tell your grandchildren about, but all of them are comfy, not overcrowded, and with free wifi, as well as clean bathrooms and a shower. Food is along the lines of Russian-style open-faced sandwiches and the like, but you'll be fed well enough in BE anyway. As for drinks I seem to recall gin, vodka, cognac, beer, and of course water, fruit juices and sodas, plus a decent capuccino machine. Other than the Moscow Times all of the reading material is in Russian (but if you do read Russian, it's a nice selection.)

In short, it's a perfectly fine place to spend 30-45 minutes before the flight, but I wouldn't show up especially early just for the sake of the lounge.

Very helpful, thanks.

I am in a remote part of Moscow and I have asked to leave very early due to the rush traffic that was horrible even on Saturday when I arrived. It would be nice to have a little something decent to eat as the BE meal will not be underway until around 2 pm or so.

When I flew DL SVO-ATL in April, I flew Y and was not provided with an invitation automatically by the DL TA. I was also unaware that I should have asked for an invitation. So, when I showed up in the SU lounge, I had to wait several minutes before I was granted access, as the lounge dragons had to make a couple phone calls. They did not accept my GM card, nor my SkyClub card as appropriate credentials. They had to verify with DL that I was allowed in. As a BE pax, you'll probably be provided with the invitation automatically, but ask for one if they don't provide one automatically.

Other than that, the lounge was comfortable, relaxing, and have an airport taxiway/runway design on the ceiling.

Have you considered taking the Aeroexpress train? Depending where you are coming from in Moscow, it can be faster, and has the added virtue of being predictable in terms of your arrival time (assuming of course that you get to Belorussky train station in time to catch your intended train...)

@ Dilemma, my SO is a DL Gold and also faced trouble getting an invitation recently when flying AF to CDG. Escalating to the on-site supervisor did not help (in fact, he was rude as opposed to merely clueless). As a native Russian speaker she was able to escalate to SU's help line and eventually a pass was ordered for her with apologies, but it was a major hassle.

I think I am in Porechnaya and have spent hours riding on the trains (and changed trains often) getting to all my appointments (always with a local). My host was 1 1/2 hour late picking me up because it took over 2 1/2 hours to reach the airport and that was Saturday around 4 pm.

One challenge about going to the airport is that I have not only a rollaboard but a large suitcase to carry several books and a lot of dress clothes (also for Sweden my first stop on this trip).

I say they let everyone in and serve free Borscht... that way they can be as American and rock n roll and blue jeans ...

I just wanted to report that I used Jazz this morning and was very happy with the lounge including food offerings.

Aeroflot
 

The Aeroflot website has updated the Lounge access to reflect the Sky Team elite plus for lounge access regardless of the class one is flying in.

which is good as I just got to GM on Delta so will be using the lounge in April.