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Home » Reviews » Lounge Reviews » Review: Pearl Lounge Alexandria (HBE)
EgyptLounge ReviewsPriority Pass

Review: Pearl Lounge Alexandria (HBE)

Matthew Klint Posted onMarch 10, 2023November 13, 2023 4 Comments

a sign on a building

I arrived early for my Turkish Airlines flight from Alexandria to Istanbul, which left me time to review the Pearl Lounge at Borg El Arab International Airport, also part of the Priority Pass network.

Pearl Lounge Alexandria Review (HBE)

Let me brief and blunt: your time is better spent arriving at the airport closer to departure and avoiding this lounge. Oh, the staff was lovely and it beats the terminal area. But this was one of the oldest lounges I have ever visited.

But first, the basics. It is a 24/7 lounge located airside (post-security screening) on the second floor, opposite the departure gates (HBE is a very small airport). Since this lounge is beyond passport control, it is only accessible for international departures.

a building with a glass door

a sign outside of a building

This serves as the lounge for premium cabin passengers as well as a number of lounge memberships. If you do not have access, you can purchase access for 35USD. Totally not worthwhile!

a sign on a counter

What I found so odd was the food.

a buffet with food on the counter

a buffet line of food on a counter

a table with baskets of food and utensils

There were some questionable-looking rice and vegetables:

food in a container on a table

and some “meat” and chicken:

food in a container with a lid

There were pastries, breads, cookies, and cake.

a group of food on a counter

But what I found odd was the selection of canned goods…in an airport lounge.

a display case with food on top of it

a display case with food on it

It’s the first time in my life I’ve ever seen cans of baked beans and cartons of rice in an airport lounge (there were instant noodles and yogurt and cheese as well).

Drinks included coffee, tea, juice, soda, and water. There was no alcohol (it was Ramadan, though).

a coffee machine and a coffee machine on a counter

a refrigerator with drinks and cans

The seating area was divided into a dining area, smoking area, and non-smoking area. The seats were comfortable, but the power outlets (on the wall only) were few and far between. Internet worked very poorly.

a room with a table and chairs and a tv

a hallway with a blue rug and a chair

a room with chairs and tables

a room with blue chairs and tables

a room with chairs and tables

a room with chairs and a television

a room with chairs and a table

The restrooms had a nasty stench (of a sewer).

a bathroom with a white sign on the wall

a bathroom with sinks and urinals

CONCLUSION

While I appreciated that there was a lounge, this is not a lounge I look forward to returning to. The food looked like it had sat out for hours and even if fresh, did not look appetizing. The canned beans and packaged ice were altogether strange. But the staff was gracious and kind (and a bit desperate…which I will lay out in a bit).

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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4 Comments

  1. AJ Reply
    March 10, 2023 at 10:35 am

    “meat”? Scary.

  2. CR- Reply
    March 10, 2023 at 11:43 am

    I’m curious how long you stayed there? It didn’t look at all relaxing. It’s nice to hear about such an obscure place.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      March 10, 2023 at 5:39 pm

      One hour.

  3. Quo Vadis Reply
    March 11, 2023 at 1:18 am

    Any clue what the mystery meat was? Sounds like the old quip that you shouldn’t ask how sausage is made.

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