While the Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt may currently be closed due to a lack of demand, IntelliNews reports that Lufthansa may set up a “First Class Corona Lounge” in Moscow …
We’ve heard of the concept of vaccine tourism, but that could be taken to a new extreme with this concept. In short, Lufthansa is reportedly in talks with the Russian Foreign Ministry about the concept of arranging special flights to and from Moscow so that people can get the Sputnik V vaccine as vaccines are slow to be introduced in Germany:
- Lufthansa and the Russian Foreign Ministry could team up to offer regular connections between Frankfurt Airport and Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport. Finally, service could also be added from Vienna Airport and Zurich Airport
- For around 1,000 euros, Lufthansa would sell packages containing two return flights between Frankfurt and Moscow and vaccines. The Sputnick V vaccine is one of the cheapest in the world
- Passengers would not even enter Russia, but a special transit lounge would be set up where passengers would spend a few hours getting vaccinated and being watched before returning to Germany
- However, the Russian Foreign Ministry must be on board the concept, as special transit visas would have to be arranged. Nor is this a traditional transit visa in the sense that you come and go from the same place (usually international transit refers to situations where you are traveling between two countries via a third country).
Only time will tell if these negotiations will work out, although it is sure to be a unique concept.
Lufthansa could offer direct vaccination flights to Moscow
Bottom line
There is no denying that vaccine tourism will be widespread in the coming weeks and months, especially among the rich and in countries where vaccine distribution is not doing well.
While we’ve seen the advent of vaccine tourism, this is on an entirely different level. The suggestion is that Lufthansa sell packages that include two return flights on the same day to Moscow a few weeks apart to get vaccinated and that people wouldn’t even leave the airport.
I’m curious to see if something like this actually happens, and if so, what kind of public response we see to it, given how sensitive vaccine prioritization seems to be.
What do you think of Lufthansa’s Moscow vaccination flight concept?
(Tip of the hat closed @noguidebooks)
