- Introduction: Zipping To Tokyo Via Mongolia
- Review: American First Class Boeing 737 (MIA-LGA)
- Review: Chase Sapphire Lounge New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
- Review: Chase Sapphire Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Review: VIP ONE Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Review: Primeclass Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Review: Turkish Airlines Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Review: Lufthansa Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Review: Air France Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Review: Air France Business Class Airbus A350 (JFK-CDG)
- Review: Air France HOP Business Class Embraer E190 (CDG-FRA)
- Review: Hyatt Place Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- Review: Primeclass Lounge Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- Review: MIAT Mongolian Airlines Business Class Boeing 787 (FRA-UBN)
- Review: MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar Airport (UBN)
- Review: MIAT Mongolian Airlines Business Class Boeing 737 (UBN-ICN)
- Review: Seoul Incheon Airport Transit Hotel (ICN)
- Review: Oneworld Lounge Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN)
- Review: ZIPAIR Full Flat Business Class Boeing 787 (ICN-NRT)
- Review: Hotel Villa Fontaine Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
- Review: TIAT Lounge Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
- Review: Cathay Pacific Lounge Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
- Review: Japan Airlines First Lounge Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
- Review: Japan Airlines First Class Airbus A350-1000 (HND-JFK)
During my trip to Japan via Mongolia, I had a roughly 90-minute layover at Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. I was arriving from Frankfurt in MIAT’s Boeing 787 business class, and was continuing to Seoul Incheon in MIAT’s Boeing 737 business class.
I spent my brief layover in the Blue Sky Lounge, which is the MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge at the airport. For that matter, it’s the only lounge at the airport. Gosh, this is one quirky lounge. On the one hand, it’s super modern, and quite spacious. On the other hand, it almost feels like a sponsored space, and there are no bathrooms…
In this post:
MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar location
Upon getting off my flight from Frankfurt, I first had to go through a passport check and clear transit security. To my surprise, I seemed to be one of the few people from my flight connecting beyond Ulaanbaatar, so there was no one else at the checkpoint.
I then found myself in the departures area of the terminal. Ulaanbaatar’s new airport only opened in 2021, so I was excited to check out the new terminal. What a beautiful little international hub — the airport has just six gates, so it almost feels like a newly built regional airport, except you have flights that can take you anywhere from Frankfurt to Bangkok.
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Finding the Blue Sky Lounge is easy, as the entrance is right by gate one, so it’s only a very short walk from anywhere in the terminal.
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MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar entry requirements & hours
I’m not sure that the MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar has any published hours, other than that it’s open prior to the departure of any flight departing the airport. As far as entry requirements go, this lounge is open to all MIAT business class passengers.
On top of that, this is the only lounge at the airport, so I believe other airlines use this as a contract lounge as well.
What I find surprising is that this lounge doesn’t belong to Priority Pass. I visited the lounge prior to MIAT’s morning bank of flights, and there literally wasn’t another guest, so you’d think that they’d look to generate some additional revenue.
MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar seating & layout
The MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar is a decent size, at least based on the lack of guests during my visit. The lounge is one large rectangular room, with a partition down the center of it, to create two zones.
One side of the lounge has pairs of chairs arranged in rows, facing one another, as well as a “U” shaped booth area.
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Then the other side of the lounge is a little smaller, with single chairs arranged in rows facing one another, plus a long bench along the walkway.
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Each end of the lounge has a bit more seating, but that’s the extent of the lounge.
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The thing that stood out to me the most about the lounge is how heavily Chinggis Khan Vodka was being promoted. Every seating option had a pillow, with this branding.
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On top of that, there was a display at one end of the lounge further promoting Chinggis Khan Vodka.
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The lounge had Wi-Fi, which was fast and free. I found this to be quite a modern lounge. While it’s simple, it was a treat to be in such an empty space, given how crowded many lounges are nowadays.
MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar food & drinks
The MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar has an interesting food and drink selection. While the rest of the lounge markets Chinggis Khan Vodka, this area markets Altan Gobi Beer.
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The entire selection seems heavily focused on promoting alcohol, with the main fridge exclusively having nicely displayed beer, plus there being shelves for vodka and more.
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The food selection included instant noodles, cereal, nuts, dried fruit, and all kinds of packaged pastries.
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Then there was an area that had some actually good-looking salads, sandwiches, and cake. This is almost what you’d expect to see in an airport store that has fresh food items, so I thought that was fairly impressive.
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There’s also a fridge with some soft drinks, and then the lounge attendant is happy to prepare coffee drinks from the machine.
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MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar bathrooms
The MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar doesn’t have bathrooms or showers. Instead, if you want to use the bathroom, you’ll have to go down the hall, where you’ll find that facility just a short walk away.
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Bottom line
The MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar is a modern space, and at least during my visit, it was totally empty, which was a nice change of pace, given lounge crowding nowadays. The food and drink selection is for the most part basic, though there is a respectable selection of fresh salads, sandwiches, and cakes.
I wouldn’t spend more time in the lounge than you have to, though I must admit that Ulaanbaatar’s new airport (including the lounge) is a massive improvement over the old facility.
What do you make of the MIAT Mongolian Airlines Blue Sky Lounge?
There actually is another lounge at Chingis Khan International Airport. I have used it multiple times.
The other lounge is for business-class and status pax. Entry is on the far left of check-in counters. When exiting, there is a security and a passport control. So the lounge is technically landside and probably not accessible for those rare eligible transit pax.
I am impressed with the range of "Tous Les Jours" sandwiches and pastries and cakes. I honestly will prefer those chilled deli items to those typically cooked hot foods featured in various Asian lounges. Tous Les Jours is a famous Korean bakery chain and they have plenty of coffee shops/deli here in many major US cities. I presume they possibly have a huge presence in Mongolia. But seriously the food looks more inspiring than those served on your flight.
Well I like the Chinggis Khan Vodka pillows!!! I can see how one might wind up in someone's carryon just like the Former PanAm FA told me about the UA Cool gel pillows on a flight DownUnder a couple years ago ;-)
Looks like a night club/lounge on the edge of a not so great neighborhood in like Atlanta or Cleveland trying desperately to be what the owner thinks is Miami Beach.
I would have taken one of those magnificent pillows as a souvenir! (I also would have drank a beer). How fun you got to experience this! I wonder if this is all Chinese funded.
The airport was mostly funded by Japan
Nice pastries and cakes offerings. Quality should be ok, considering it's from Tous les Jours chain from Korea
The lounge looks great. Mongolia's tourist season is highly seasonal though. There may be some business travelers in the winter, but otherwise I think that lounge would stay pretty empty. In August, the airport was packed!
How odd that they have German cornflakes from Edeka in the lounge!
How was the vodka?
Lucky maybe add some more info to what is offered in the airport itself, in terms of food, shopping, etc.
The lounge looks warm and welcoming in a refined sort of way. What a treat to be the only guest there. I guess for such a small airport, the lounge is a little bit of a surprise. The gem next to gate one. Hope the salad was as good as they looked.