Just lately ( at first of September), I had the possibility to go to the Primeclass lounge within the home terminal of Milas Bodrum airport. With this facility being a significant gateway to Turkey’s southwestern coast and the nice and cozy and sunny trip spots scattered all through, many vacationers from around the globe could discover themselves passing by and utilizing this lounge. Whereas the airport does have a global terminal, these touring on Turkish Airways would extra doubtless be touring by the home facet as they join by Istanbul. Let’s check out what the Primeclass lounge needed to supply.
Packaged facemasks are situated on the lounge entrance. Picture: Chris Loh | Easy Flying
Getting in
My journey companion and I arrived on the airport fairly early to type out a difficulty with check-in and boarding passes. With over two hours earlier than boarding even began, I used to be positively regretting not pre-paying for lounge entry by Turkish Airways, which was said to be US$14 per particular person. Whereas the Turkish Airways lounge was seen, and its exit doorways inside the airside part, its entry appeared to be landside, full with its personal safety checkpoint. Due to this surprising quirk, I made a decision not even to attempt visiting the Turkish Airways lounge to see if it was a chance, as a substitute choosing the shut and handy Primeclass facility.
Whereas this lounge accepts PriorityPass and plenty of credit-card-based lounge passes, I had deserted my American Specific Platinum card in 2020 – a card that supplied limitless lounge entry for the cardholder and a visitor. For the $500+ annual charge, this card was actually a great deal for frequent flyers – however with the pandemic and different life modifications, I made a decision it wouldn’t be value it for me to carry on to the cardboard. So, consequently, I used to be a pay-to-access visitor, shelling out nearly 640 Turkish Lira to enter. On the time of writing, this roughly equates to $36USD, relying in your financial institution/bank card alternate charge.
Visiting on a Friday morning, there have been no lineups and lounge reception was well mannered and attentive.
The lounge additionally has a separate smoking room for many who want it. Picture: Chris Loh | Easy Flying
Area and seating
I might say that this lounge is on the small-medium measurement facet of issues. There are two essential sections: On one facet is a eating space with restaurant-style tables and chairs. On the opposite facet are bigger, cushioned chairs. Cushioning on these seats is relatively stiff and the seatbacks are pretty upright. General, this meant that consolation was “okay” however not nice. No less than you’re much less doubtless to go to sleep and miss a flight proper?
The lounge has lovely lights hanging from the ceilings however through the day, is principally lit by giant quantities of pure gentle coming in by the home windows. Fairly sadly, nevertheless, the home windows face landside, providing views of airport shuttle buses and taxis. With laborious tile flooring, sound within the lounge bounced all through, though this wasn’t an excessive amount of of a difficulty, despite the fact that sounds from the terminal and kitchen crammed the world. On the identical time, music was set at a suitable degree, with the style being fairly “loungey” – not too mushy and sleep-inducing, but additionally not intense upbeat pop or rock music both.
Upon entry there’s a full-service, staffed bar on the appropriate, and a self-serve beverage and low station on the left. Straight forward was the eating space and all of the meals that the lounge needed to supply.
Meals & Beverage
Naturally, this leads us to our second level of assessment: Meals and beverage. The collection of chilly refreshments was okay. It wasn’t as numerous as different lounges however on supply was bottled water, coca cola, and some different candy fizzy drinks in cans. The espresso machine had an out-of-service signal hanging over it, though drop espresso was accessible.
Arriving at round 09:30, the lounge was in “breakfast mode,” serving laborious boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, and a collection of meals that you’d count on as a part of a Turkish breakfast, resembling tomato and cucumber slices, sliced meats, and so on. In terms of scorching meals, the lounge additionally supplied a creamy lentil soup and cheese-filled mushroom caps. Near the bar and reception company will even discover a cooler filled with ice cream bars – a candy deal with to seize on the best way out!
Different factors for consideration
Visiting the amenities, the restrooms have been fairly small and able to dealing with solely two folks at a time. This isn’t too shocking given the scale of the terminal and the scale of the lounge. Fortunately, the restrooms have been stored clear and in good situation.
The bathroom amenities have been small however clear. Picture: Chris Loh | Easy Flying
Wi-fi web appears to be a little bit of a problem at Turkish Airports. Right here and in Istanbul, there may be free Wi-Fi that may be accessed – however solely by receiving a code despatched by SMS to a cell phone. My spouse and I attempted with our respective gadgets and totally different cellphone numbers (I had a US quantity), however no activation codes have been acquired by both of us. I believed web entry might need been simpler inside this lounge but it surely too wanted SMS verification. Thus, my time spent on the lounge was with out wi-fi web – one thing non-Turkish vacationers might have to organize themselves for mentally.
Foreigners could have hassle connecting to the web. Picture: Chris Loh | Easy Flying
One different factor I observed throughout my go to was the shortage of frequent dish clearing. Throughout my first half-hour within the lounge I observed soiled plates and cups throughout a number of tables. Some employees would stroll previous and ignore them, presumably leaving this responsibility to different particular staff. Nevertheless, fairly a little bit of time handed earlier than somebody really got here by to clear tables. I discovered this barely odd given how quiet the lounge was throughout my go to.
It took a while earlier than seeing any cleansing employees move by to gather dishes. Picture: Chris Loh | Easy Flying
Conclusion: Is it value it?
So, having spent about two hours on this little lounge at Bodrum Airport – is it well worth the “worth of admission”? For individuals who have entry by bank cards and lounge passes, I might say “positive, why not!” And for these with none particular memberships, I might say it’s value it if in case you have time to kill on the airport. Maybe getting airside one hour earlier than boarding, a go to to the lounge is probably not value it. Nevertheless, with 90 minutes or extra, I might say the $35-36 entry charge is value it – primarily when you’re coming in with an empty abdomen.
Breakfast meals may be on the easier facet, however hopefully lunch/dinner choices are slightly extra numerous. Sadly, I used to be visiting on the incorrect time to see if meals choice was higher – or at the very least totally different!
I hope you discovered this lounge assessment useful. Have you ever visited this or every other Primeclass lounges earlier than? Share your expertise by leaving a remark!
