Erste Permier is the main airport lounge in Terminal 2 at Prague Airport ( PRG).

As I live in Prague and usually fly from Terminal 2, I know this lounge inside out and sometimes visit it several times a month.

How do you get into the lounge, and is it worth paying for entry?

Opening hours and location of the lounge

You’ll find the lounge in Terminal 2, which is for all departures to Schengen Area countries.

It is situated on the first floor above Departure Gates ‘D’.

The walking distances to the various parts of the airport are approximately as follows:

• D gates: approx.2–5 minutes
• C gates: approx.5–10 minutes

You can check the exact location of the lounge on the airport map:prg.aero/erste-premier-lounge.

Opening hours are5.00–22.00 every day.

Dedicated security checkpoint

A huge advantage of the Erste Premier lounge (and also the neighbouring FastTrack Lounge) is the dedicated security checkpoint reserved exclusively for passengers entitled to access the lounge.

Officially, only Erste Premier payment cardholders may use this security checkpoint.

The security checkpoint is located on the 3rd floor on the right-hand side of the departure hall in Terminal 2, at the opposite end of the hall to the standard security checkpoint.

Entry – who has access to the lounge

The Erste Premier Lounge is a paid lounge open to passengers on all flights, as well as to business class passengers and holders of higher loyalty programme statuses with certain airlines.

• Paid entry – 860 czk
  • time spent in the lounge is limited to 2 hours
• Free entry for holders of payment cards bearing the Erste Premierlogo
  • unlimited time in the lounge
• Free entry for holders of the following cards:Priority Pass, Lounge Key, Dragon Pass, Revolut with the Ultra plan (getRevolut here)
  • Stay in the lounge limited to 2 hours
• Free entry for passengers travelling in premium classes and members of the following airlines’ loyalty programmes – AirBaltic, Air France, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines,Bulgaria Air, Croatia Airlines,Finnair, Icelandair,Iberia, KLM, KM Malta Airlines, LOT, Lufthansa, Luxair,SAS, Smartwings,Swiss,TAP,TAROM
  • Unlimited lounge access
  • other airlines use the adjacent Menzies Lounge, which is significantly less well-equipped

If you wish to pay for access to the lounge, it is definitely advisable to book your entry online via the official website.

If the lounge is at full capacity, Erste Premier credit cardholders always have priority access. If the lounge is full, even business class passengers may be turned away.

Find out which lounges you have access to if you’re flying in business class, first class or hold a higher status in an airline’s loyalty programme in our guide to Prague Airport.

Official lounge website:prg.aero/erste-premier-lounge.

Space and atmosphere – more people than seats

Although the lounge is the largest in Terminal 2, it is nevertheless relatively cramped and tends to be very crowded at peak times.

Expect the biggest crowds between 5.00–7.00, 10.00–13.00 and 16.00–18.00.

The Erste Premier Lounge has two sections of roughly equal size and virtually identical in layout, divided in the middle by the reception desk and the main entrance.

Along the windows – none of which offer a view of the airport tarmac – there are comfortable armchairs with small tables, which are also suitable for dining.

In the centre of each of the two lounge sections are several more armchairs, though without dining tables.

On the other side, you’ll find a bar table and traditional dining tables with chairs.

Food and drink menu

This lounge is below average in terms of the variety and, in particular, the quality of the food.

The food and drink selection is exactly the same as in the Erste Premier Lounge in Terminal 1.

To the right of the reception desk, you’ll find hot and cold meals and juices, whilst to the left of the reception desk there are alcoholic drinks, soft drinks from the post-mix machine and various crisps and nuts.

The food selection changes throughout the day, and a range of full hot meals is usually available from around 10:00.

There are usually two hot dishes and a soup on offer. However, the meat dishes are often very tough, and on none of my visits did I enjoy the main course.

As for cold dishes, you can choose from three types of cheese, ham and salami, though the selection is strikingly reminiscent of the cheapest products available at the Billa supermarket, which is located in the public area of the airport...

There is also a small selection of fruit and vegetables available, though usually only olives, gherkins, tomatoes and grapes.

The only thing I’d rate as really good are the spreads. I always enjoy them at the Erste Premier Lounge.

Unfortunately, I’m not so keen on the bread, which goes well with the spreads – the bread is often stale and hard.

The sweet options consist of just a few jams, granola, muesli and usually only one type of sweet pastry.

You can help yourself to juice from the bottles in the fridge. However, there’s absolutely no provision for placing the glasses down, so pouring the juice is rather of a faff.

In the second part of the lounge, beer (bottled only) is available, along with a very limited selection of wines and an average selection of liqueurs and spirits.

In both sections of the lounge, you can also use the post-mix machine to dispense drinks such as Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, Fanta or plain sparkling water.

Lounge facilities

As well as food and drink, the Erste Premier Lounge offers a range of other services.

Showers

A shower is available opposite the lounge (approx. 30 metres from the entrance). You must ask for a key at reception to gain access.

There is only one shower available, but as there are no long-haul flights from Terminal 2 at Prague Airport and few passengers are aware of the shower, there are no long queues.

Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi is available.

The internet speed is very good and suitable for streaming and downloading videos.

Charging sockets

Charging sockets for electronic devices are available at most armchairs and all workstations.

All sockets are ‘European’ type F only.

Desks with a computer and printer

In the Erste Premier Lounge, you’ll find several computers connected to a printer, where you can print anything free of charge (black and white only).

However, there are woefully few comfortable workspaces for using your own laptop. To be more precise, there are no dedicated areas suitable for working in peace away from the hustle and bustle of the lounge.

You can work on your laptop at the dining tables, but you won’t find much peace and quiet there.

Children’s play areas

The Erste Premier lounge has a small play area for children aged 3–6.

Conclusion and my review

Objectively speaking, I find it difficult to rate this lounge.

I visit it more often than any other lounge in the world, as Prague Airport is my home base and I fly from Terminal 2 most frequently.

That makes it all the more disappointing that the main lounge at my home airport remains so below average.

Pros

• Various types of seating – suitable for relaxing, getting some quick work done or having a meal
• Fast Wi-Fi
• Paid entry available for all passengers

Cons

• Poor-quality food – below-average, cheap ingredients
• Frequent overcrowding
• No quiet area for working
• Limited selection of alcoholic drinks (particularly beer)

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