In January, we already took you to the Lufthansa First Class Lounge in the satellite terminal in Munich on our way in the Allegris First Class Suite to New York. Back then, the First Class Lounge in the main terminal was closed for renovations, so now, five months later and shortly after its reopening, we were in Munich again.
Whether the complete renovation of the Lufthansa First Class Lounge in the main terminal was worth it, and whether it now surpasses the lounge in the satellite terminal, is what we’ll explore in this review.
Table of Contents
Location
As a First Class traveller or HON Circle member, you have a choice of two different First Class Lounges in Munich. The Lufthansa First Class Lounge in the main terminal can be accessed from both the Schengen (G gates) and non-Schengen areas (H gates). Access is located at gates G/H21. From the Schengen area, you can take either the stairs or the elevator up to the fifth floor.
If you are already in the non-Schengen area, you can enter the lounge directly (after passport control) without changing floors. Both entrances have a “Lufthansa First Class” sign next to the door as well as overhead signs pointing to the lounge.
Access
Access to Lufthansa lounges before departure is standardised, whether in Frankfurt, Munich, or outstations. With a Lufthansa/Swiss First Class ticket on the same day and under the same booking code, you get entry to Lufthansa First Class Lounges. A First Class ticket from a Star Alliance partner generally does not grant access. The only exception is Air China, whose guests are allowed into the First Class Lounges in Munich or Frankfurt (but not the FCT).
Additionally, Lufthansa’s most loyal status holders, HON Circle members, get access to the First Class Lounge with a ticket from any Star Alliance or Lufthansa Group airline, regardless of travel class. This applies even if arriving in Munich without a connecting flight.
First Class guests of Lufthansa and Swiss who arrive the same day on a First Class flight into Frankfurt, Munich, or Zurich also get access to the Lufthansa First Class Lounge in Munich. For lounge access after such an inbound flight (here arriving from Frankfurt or Zurich), it must be on the same ticket number, meaning in the same booking.
Finally, holders of an American Express Centurion credit card receive access if they have a Lufthansa, Austrian, or Swiss ticket on the same day, regardless of travel class. However, no guests are included.
Facilities
The Lufthansa First Class Lounge in the main terminal differs noticeably from its sister lounge in the satellite terminal. Besides the somewhat more modern design, it unfortunately lacks views and proper relaxation rooms. However, the design language retains a similar colour scheme to the existing lounges.
You’ll find many brown and cream tones throughout. A nod to the newest Allegris First Class product is visible only in the restaurant area wall panels, which strongly resemble the exterior of the Allegris First Suites.
In addition to the aforementioned restaurant area on the left after entering, there is, of course, also a bar, featuring a glass wine cooler as an eye-catcher. Between these, as well as on the right side of the lounge, are numerous comfortable armchairs and seating areas.
There are also armchairs with accompanying footstools in the rear part of the lounge. These seem to be among the few pieces of furniture carried over from the old lounge and are also known from the satellite terminal lounge. Since there are no dedicated relaxation rooms here (unlike the satellite terminal lounge), these are the “most comfortable” option for a short nap. For longer stays in Munich, it may thus be advisable to switch terminals and lounges to sleep.
Overall, there are plenty of seats, and the new armchairs in particular were very comfortable and well-cushioned. Thanks to the carpets in the seating areas, noise levels are low, making quiet conversation easy.
Work Rooms
Following the main corridor past the restaurant area, there are four spacious work rooms on the left. These have office chairs, appropriate lighting, and ample surface space for documents and luggage.
There are also three EU power outlets. Given the international clientele, it might have been wise to install at least one international socket as well. At least one work room has a PC for those needing a larger screen or quick internet access without their own laptop.
The internet, as in other Lufthansa lounges, is provided by Telekom and works flawlessly. Additionally, the rooms offer a LAN connection if you have your own cable. Compared to the satellite lounge, there are significantly fewer work rooms here, so they may occasionally all be occupied.
Showers & Toilets
Behind the work rooms, a hallway leads left to the toilets, showers, and bathtub. As in the FCT or satellite terminal, there is a bathtub in one of the bathrooms if you feel like a soak. Otherwise, the facilities are similar to other Lufthansa First Class Lounges.
During my visit, all the facilities I checked were spotless and fully functional. Amenities such as shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel were provided, as were ample fluffy towels and bath mats.
As is standard in Lufthansa First Class Lounges, the men’s public bathrooms have stalls with both a toilet and a urinal, offering privacy and letting you keep your luggage with you. Fabric hand towels are provided for drying, collected in a separate basket.
Extras
Like the First Class Lounge in the satellite terminal, the main terminal lounge features a cigar lounge. This is located at the end of the main corridor on the right, behind the armchairs with footstools.
In the cigar lounge, there are various alcoholic drinks and chilled water, but no cigars or cigarillos are provided. Older chairs from before the renovation can be found here. As a non-smoker, I would say the lounge is sufficient for smoking a cigar or cigarette. Naturally, you can also order food or drinks to the cigar lounge if desired.
Food & Drinks
One of the most important and, to preface, best areas of the Lufthansa First Class Lounge in the main terminal is the restaurant. There are about 15 tables where you can order à la carte or enjoy buffet dishes.
Seats along the wall each have a power outlet. The buffet is located opposite the tables. It is slightly smaller than that of the satellite terminal, but left little to be desired. There were fruits, cold and hot dishes, salads, breads/rolls, and desserts.
Lunch/Dinner
When I visited, breakfast was already over, so I moved straight on to the lunch and dinner options. As a starter, I chose a “Bread Dumpling Carpaccio” from the special menu, which changes regularly and was themed “Alpine Summer” during my stay.
I then had a beef fillet with corn cream and jalapeño jus, which was also very tasty. Unlike, for example, in the Swiss First Class Lounge in Zurich, the fillet here was a decent size at around 200 grams — enough, if you still want to have room for Wiener schnitzel afterwards.
The schnitzel was also delicious and came with potato salad, lemon, and lingonberries. If you’d like, you can order a double portion, unless you’d prefer to try another main course first. For kids, there are also some special menu items available.
Snacks
However, you don’t have to sit in the restaurant if you just want a small bite. You can order drinks, dishes, and snacks anywhere in the lounge — I had a few things brought to one of the comfy armchairs.
Besides the items on the menus, you’ll also find the usual selection of chocolates and other sweet or savoury snacks for self-service, just like in other Lufthansa First Class Lounges. One note: their placement among the seating can intrude on the privacy of guests sitting nearby if the lounge is busy.
Drinks
Of course, you can also choose from a wide variety of drinks. Alongside classic soft drinks and beverages like water, tea, and juices, there’s a good selection of alcoholic drinks. These can be ordered and enjoyed at the bar or served by staff wherever you’re sitting.
The bar turned out very nicely and offers a solid selection overall. However, it’s worth noting that the quality of drinks at other airlines’ First Class Lounges can be a notch above. Still, almost all cocktails can be ordered, and there’s a range of champagnes to choose from.
The wine selection is also good. The glass wine cooler is the highlight — not only does it display the wines beautifully, it’s also a design feature of the lounge. And last but not least, the cappuccino was excellent.
Service
Service is where I see the most room for improvement in the Lufthansa First Class Lounge in the main terminal. While the overall service level was very high, on my last visit to the satellite terminal, the service seemed more proactive. If you wanted to order something, it was always possible, and the staff were consistently friendly, but it would have been nicer if they had checked in from time to time on their own initiative.
That said, the staff were always smiling, which added to the pleasant atmosphere. Naturally, on request, I also received one of the famous Lufthansa First Class rubber ducks. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to use the limousine transfer this time either, as my departure wasn’t from a remote stand. Otherwise, you’d be driven to the plane in either a VW T6, Audi Q8, or BMW i7.
Conclusion
- Comfort & Facilities
- Food & Drinks
- Service
- Extras
Overall, reviewing the Lufthansa First Class Lounge in the main terminal is harder than reviewing its sister lounge in the satellite terminal. In terms of food and service quality, it’s just as good as the K/L gates lounge — but there are a few reasons why I’d still choose the lounge at the K/L gates every time.
This lounge lacks a view of the apron — or any outside view, really. And it would be very desirable for a First Class Lounge to have proper sleep rooms. While it’s understandable that these aren’t possible due to space constraints between the passenger bridges in the main terminal, it’s still a clear downside. Otherwise, the food quality and everything else on offer are at a very high level!
Translated by Ditmar