Review: Air Serbia Premium Lounge at Belgrade Airport
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Before returning to Helsinki from Belgrade, we could stop by the Air Serbia Premium Lounge at Belgrade Airport. Our experience left us mixed feelings: while the lounge offered diverse services and excellent food, some areas could be enhanced. Explore the complete review and discover what impressed us and where there is room for improvement.
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Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport
Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG), shortly Belgrade Aiport, is the biggest and busiest airport in Serbia. It is named after the famous Serbian-American inventor Nikola Tesla. The airport is the hub of Serbia's flag carrier, Air Serbia. It has two terminals serving 24 airlines including low-cost airline Wizzair which flies to multiple destinations from Belgrade.
Air Serbia Premium Lounge
Air Serbia Premium Lounge is one of the two lounges at Belgrade Aiport. The other one is the Business Club located next to Air Serbia Premium Lounge. Air Serbia Premium Lounge is Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport's first airline-owned and operated lounge. The lounge caters to business class passengers of Air Serbia, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, flydubai, Turkish Airlines and Luxair. Passengers who are Priority Pass or LoungeKey members have access to this lounge as well. It is also possible to buy an inexpensive single visit from Lounge Pass.
Location
Air Serbia Premium Lounge is located inside the security area of Terminal 2. After the passport control, you need to turn right, and the lounge is on the right-hand side of the corridor. Specifically, the lounge is between Gates A4 and A5.
Opening Hours
Air Serbia Premium Lounge is open daily from 5 am to 8 pm.
Our Visit to Air Serbia Premium Lounge
We visited Air Serbia Premium Lounge for the first time in early November 2023 before our flight from Belgrade to Helsinki via Munich. All the experiences of this review are written purely based on this visit.
Arrival
Before our lounge visit, we had encountered online some complaints from previous lounge customers who were using Priority Pass. They had been denied access to Air Serbia Premium Lounge. Once we got to the lounge entrance, a notice on the door stated that the lounge only admits passengers in business class travelling on Air Serbia flights due to filled capacity. However, in this notice, they also urged customers to contact the reception desk for further information.
At the time of the lounge visit, we were using Priority Pass since we were flying in the economy class of Lufthansa. We approached the receptionists and informed them that two of us were using Priority Pass. We immediately got a positive response, saying we were welcome into the lounge. The friendly receptionist checked our boarding passes and Priority Pass cards and let us in.
First Impression
Once we got into the lounge, we were struck by the great interior design and adequate lighting. However, we also immediately noticed how small the lounge was. Fortunately, it was not too busy on our arrival, and we could quickly spot free seats in the middle of the lounge next to the white-painted wooden divider. Some 80's music was playing in the background.
Premises
On our arrival, the lounge was still half empty despite the misleading sign outside. All of the seats had touches of leather and wooden materials. Most of the chairs had shades of blue, while some had orange and grey colours. Even though the lounge premises were not big, the seating plans were wisely planned. In short, the spaces were maximized well. However, due to the lounge's location being on the interior side of the departure corridor, there weren't windows, so there was no tarmac view from the lounge.
Conference Area
At the other side of the lounge's bar, there was an 8-seater conference area with flashy blue leather chairs and two glass tables. A stanchion was placed on its door while a 'reserved' sign was placed on the table. No one was utilizing the room during our visit.
The conference facility needs to be booked 48 hours in advance if you wish to use it in conjunction with your lounge visit by sending an email to the lounge's official email address.
Prayer rooms
The lounge had multi-faith prayer rooms for males and females. This is our first time seeing a dedicated prayer area in an airport lounge.
Food and Drinks
There was a good selection of food items in the Air Serbia Premium Lounge. The buffet included different types of pastries, sandwiches, a salad bar and warm foods. There were also sweets and some fruits.
The warm food included meatloaves, sausages, mashed potatoes, chicken and soup. There was a fruit basket containing green and red apples and some citruses. For desserts, customers could take chocolate muffins and other sweets.
Drinks, including bottled water, were kept in a fridge in the middle of the lounge below the buffet table. However, we didn't see any soft drinks on offer, but maybe they could be ordered from the bar. Hot water for tea could be taken by self-service from the thermos at the food table where the chicken sandwiches and mini hot dogs were. Unique coffees and alcoholic drinks could be ordered from the staff at the bar.
We were glad to be served our cappuccino cups by the friendly staff. One of us ordered a beer from the bar. It was a small disappointment that no local beer was available but only Stella.
Air Serbia Premium Lounge had a full-featured bar.
Showers and Toilets
Air Serbia Premium Lounge had clean toilets. There were automatic hand dryers and disposable hand towels, which were refilled on time. There were two toilet rooms for males.
There was a shower room, at least in the male bathroom. The toiletries and hairdryer were provided, and towels could be requested from the staff at the reception. There was no additional fee for using the shower facilities. Even though we commended the lounge toilets for their cleanliness, the water pressure was weak.
Wi-Fi
For foreign passengers like us, the Wi-Fi service is of utmost importance while travelling to Serbia since the roaming data fees are expensive there. Fortunately, the lounge had reliable Wi-Fi.
The lounge could have more power sockets for easier use of devices.
Newspapers and Magazines
Local travellers who prefer reading news from traditional newspapers will love this lounge as they have a fresh collection of daily local newspapers. In addition, Air Serbia Premium Lounge had magazines, all of which were in Serbian but had no English printed materials.
TVs and Flight Information Screens
There were a few flight information screens inside the lounge. However, two of them were broken during our visit. Two big televisions were placed at the lounge's mid-section, but one was also damaged. Working TVs were playing marketing videos about Serbia. The reserved conference area had its big television.
Luggage Storage
The lounge had complimentary luggage storage, which you could avail of by request from one of their staff.
Family-Friendly Lounge
It is quite literally true that this lounge is a family-friendly lounge. We say so because, during our visit, there was another visitor, a woman with a young girl. She was busy working on her laptop while the child was playing around their seating area in front of us.
There were only two of them sitting in the space that was meant for six guests. No one said anything, even though the child's belongings were all around the area. So, like us, I noticed that the other guests didn't choose to take those empty seats opposite them, which could have been more comfortable. The friendly staff who roamed around at times to collect dirty dishes also didn't comment on the child's scattered shoes and other things in front of those vacant seats. In that sense, the staff wanted every guest to feel at home while in the lounge.
Customer Service
All the staff were friendly, from the reception desks to those working in the bar and food section area. There were enough staff to clear the tables and work at the bar. So while ordering drinks, we didn't have to queue at all. The toilets were also well-maintained by housekeeping staff.
Rating
We give the Air Serbian Premium Lounge a 4-star rating. The varied food buffet and staffed bar are standout features of this lounge. Here, you can savour a wide range of food and premium beverages.
The lounge also has its imperfections, the absence of a tarmac view and its small premises, making it challenging to find a comfortable seating area despite not being at full capacity. The presence of malfunctioning TV and flight information screens is, for us, an indication of poor maintenance. Furthermore, the unwelcoming sign at the lounge door contributed to our less favourable assessment. On our arrival and when we left the lounge, this notice regarding the lounge having reached full capacity even though it wasn't full was permanently there.
On the positive side, the overall experience at the lounge was pleasant, and the customer service we received from the lounge staff was welcoming. We would certainly suggest visiting this pleasant lounge.
How to Access Air Serbia Premium Lounge
There are many excellent ways to access Air Serbia Premium Lounge. If you are flying in the business class, your airline will most likely invite you in.
Priority Pass and LoungeKey members can visit this lounge if there is available space. One of the best ways to secure entry is to pay ahead of your visit for single access from Lounge Pass.
There are many ways to access airport lounges.
- Infrequent travellers may book lounge visits on Lounge Pass.
- Frequent travellers may benefit from a lounge membership. Read our Priority Pass review.
You will find more helpful information from our Airport Lounge Guide.
Common Questions
- Where is the Air Serbia Premium Lounge at Belgrade Airport?
- The lounge is between Gates A4 and A5 on the inner side of the corridor. It is after the passport control.
- Which lounge memberships are accepted in Air Serbia Premium Lounge?
- Priority Pass and LoungeKey memberships are accepted. However, you may be denied access when the lounge is complete. Despite having the notice on the door of the lounge saying it only admits business passengers of Air Serbia due to full capacity, it is still worthwhile asking the reception staff if you're accessing the lounge with a Priority Pass.
- How can I access Air Serbia Premium Lounge?
- You need to be travelling with a business class ticket or be a member of a lounge program.
- Can I pay myself in?
- Yes, you can. You can buy access at Lounge Pass.
- Is Air Serbia Premium Lounge a good lounge?
- Despite being a small lounge and not offering a tarmac view, it has many complimentary amenities like the conference room, shower facilities, food selection, a full bar, prayer rooms and luggage storage rooms.
- Does Air Serbia Premium Lounge offer decent food?
- Yes, it does. There is a cold and warm food buffet and also desserts.
- Does Air Serbia Premium Lounge serve alcohol?
- Yes, it has a full bar where you can order your favourite coffee and alcoholic drinks from their staff.
- Is there Wi-Fi in the lounge?
- Yes, there is, and it works well.
- Are there power sockets in the lounge?
- Yes, there are a few power sockets in the lounge.
- Are there toilets inside the lounge?
- Yes, there are.
- Are there showers inside the lounge?
- Yes, there is a shower room inside the bathroom for each gender. Towels need to be requested from the staff, but toiletries and hairdryers are provided.
Bottom Line
Unlike other Priority Pass members' negative feedback about Air Serbia Premium Lounge and its staff, we have had a pleasant lounge visit. We felt that the staff working in the lounge were polite and friendly. The atmosphere at the lounge during our visit was peaceful, with a few seats available. The availability of adequate staff kept the lounge tidy and in order.
The quality of drinks and food selections were at the level of a premium lounge, even though soft drinks could have been available, too. A full bar with friendly staff adds to a more pleasant lounge experience. Other amenities such as the prayer rooms, conference room, luggage storage rooms and shower facilities make this lounge exceptional compared to other priority pass lounges we have visited.
Have you visited Air Serbia Premium Lounge? How did you like it? Comment below.
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