[asclepi]

Since most - if not all - airport lounges are behind security, you'd still need a valid boarding pass (and thus a ticket) to be able to reach them. And even if you don't, most lounges require that you present a boarding pass for same day travel together with your paid membership card to get access.

In this case, I assume the goal was to eventually cancel and fully refund the dollars in the ticket so that all lounge access could be had for free.