Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners) - LH First - great in the air and in the FRA lounge - in between, not so much ...

Just flew back to GVA from IAD via FRA in F. On the plus side, the in flight new first fit out and service were top notch (and, got to try out the 747-800 so it was sparkly new ...) Really great crew, good food, decent AVOD selection. Also, FRA F lounge in terminal B was very comfortable, with good food selection and a good shower.

I felt really let down, however, by the way First is handled in the IAD LH Lounge - there is a separate section roped off with a couple of tables and bar stools. You just are supposed to hang out there with the only advantage being that you get table service instead of serving yourself from the buffet, but there are no comfy seats, and once there are another 4-5 pax there, it's even more crowded than the main room. Both times I've used it, I just sat in the main room. Didn't eat anything, as the buffet is really not at all appealing. Not good.

The other area where I got let down was in FRA. No one tells you in advance how to find the F Lounge. We arrived in terminal B, and I followed the flow of foot traffic off the plane and passed right by a lady with a sign for "Terminal B connections". Had I known that this was going to be my best bet to the F Lounge, I would have gone that way. As it was, I ended up having to go through a VERY LONG security line to get back into B to the lounge. All it would have taken was either the flight crew telling me to follow "B" connections or adding "F Lounge" to the B connections sign. Sigh. I was pretty grumpy when I got to the lounge a full 45 minutes after deplaning. Still, the lounge was nice, and I appreciated my shower even more. When I checked into the lounge, the rep told me that since my connecting flight was from terminal A, I should leave about 1 hour in advance to get there in time. I did, and had a REALLY long walk only to get on a bus which sat around for ages before heading for the plane. What happened to private car transfers? I have transferred in MUC and was both picked up at the plane and driven to the plane. Not in FRA, and I could really have used that.

I am aware that I am a lucky duck to travel F, but it's a pity when an overall great experience gets tarnished by let downs and lack of seamless service.

The other area where I got let down was in FRA. No one tells you in advance how to find the F Lounge. We arrived in terminal B, and I followed the flow of foot traffic off the plane and passed right by a lady with a sign for "Terminal B connections". Had I known that this was going to be my best bet to the F Lounge, I would have gone that way. As it was, I ended up having to go through a VERY LONG security line to get back into B to the lounge. All it would have taken was either the flight crew telling me to follow "B" connections or adding "F Lounge" to the B connections sign. Sigh. I was pretty grumpy when I got to the lounge a full 45 minutes after deplaning. Still, the lounge was nice, and I appreciated my shower even more. When I checked into the lounge, the rep told me that since my connecting flight was from terminal A, I should leave about 1 hour in advance to get there in time. I did, and had a REALLY long walk only to get on a bus which sat around for ages before heading for the plane. What happened to private car transfers? I have transferred in MUC and was both picked up at the plane and driven to the plane. Not in FRA, and I could really have used that.

I am aware that I am a lucky duck to travel F, but it's a pity when an overall great experience gets tarnished by let downs and lack of seamless service.
You should have checked these FT threads in advance and gone to the FCT instead of the FCL B. :p

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles-more-lufthansa-austrian-swiss-other-partners/982019-beginners-guide-connecting-fra-fra-connection-thread.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles-more-lufthansa-austrian-swiss-other-partners/883108-all-new-fra-f-hon-terminal-fct-faqs.html

FRA is not a really nice airport... that's why you should do some preparation to know where you should go.

You should have checked these FT threads in advance and gone to the FCT instead of the FCL B. :p

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles-more-lufthansa-austrian-swiss-other-partners/982019-beginners-guide-connecting-fra-fra-connection-thread.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles-more-lufthansa-austrian-swiss-other-partners/883108-all-new-fra-f-hon-terminal-fct-faqs.html

+1

I agree with you that LH really has to do something to deal with transferring to U.S. bound flights for First Class passengers. Yes, NewbieRunner is correct about the work-around, but it shouldn't be up to flyertalkers to develop these work-arounds, it should be LH. Telling someone they need to leave the lounge an hour in advance really doesn't cut it, especially when they have the capacity to provide alternatives. I once used the B lounge for a US bound flight, but won't any more because of the difficulties associated with it.

As far as Washington is concerned, I have never noticed a roped off area for first class customers (unless this was newly added). My experience has always been that the Senator lounge was it as it was. I don't see that the roping of a section for FC customers really helps at all. However, I haven't experienced a great first class lounge at outstations on any airline. You might get lucky if you are at another *A hub and can use that airline's FC lounge, but that won't work in the US, because neither United nor USair have decent FC lounges. The problem of crowding in the Senator lounge is partially caused by UA customers coming over from another terminal to use the Senator lounge, because theirs are so awful.

However, I haven't experienced a great first class lounge at outstations on any airline. JFK CCR for BA? Exception that confirms the rule, though and does not detract from the gist of what you say.

However, I haven't experienced a great first class lounge at outstations on any airline.

I haven't been outbound through JFK on LH in some time but would call the first-class/HON section of the lounge pleasant if small.

Unless you are traveling First departing the home airport (ie home or hub base), I think this is quite a consistent F experience, sadly.

Alternatively the OP could have gone to the FCL A which is in Schengen and not far from A gates. The FCL B is useful if you don't want to or can't leave Schengen and connecting to non-Schengen destinations.

The IAD lounge is envied and well visited by the UA crowd :) I guess the UA IFL was an option, albeit almost equal to the IAD SEN lounge plus a mile away.

As far as FRA is concerned, I would have just looked at where my flight would leave from, and if its the A gates, ask someone where the closest FCL to the Gate Ax would be.

I agree LH and FraPort staff don't really take pains to explain F pax where to go. I once met a major indian CEO who was on F to FRA with me in the A26 SEN lounge after he misconnected to his ZRH flight. He always used the Fraport service when connecting so he was unaware of the FCL in A :D

As far as FRA is concerned, I would have just looked at where my flight would leave from, and if its the A gates, ask someone where the closest FCL to the Gate Ax would be.
D

Yes , asking always helps and is a natural way of collecting information.
But of course as an F our hand should be held and our butt driven.

As far as Washington is concerned, I have never noticed a roped off area for first class customers (unless this was newly added). My experience has always been that the Senator lounge was it as it was. I don't see that the roping of a section for FC customers really helps at all. However, I haven't experienced a great first class lounge at outstations on any airline. You might get lucky if you are at another *A hub and can use that airline's FC lounge, but that won't work in the US, because neither United nor USair have decent FC lounges. The problem of crowding in the Senator lounge is partially caused by UA customers coming over from another terminal to use the Senator lounge, because theirs are so awful.

LH started this practice a few months ago when they changed the MUC flight to 10 PM. The roped off section is intended for pre-flight meal service for F customers. The pre-flight meal is mediocre, but it'll hold over until the very late, even for Europeans, dinner service on the IAD-MUC flight. This section is not intended for FC passengers to sit and wait for their flight.

UA has an International First Class Lounge in Terminal C at IAD that has much better food and beverages than LH Senator Lounge. So you'll be doing the reverse of what all UA *G members do, head over to UA Lounge while all the UA flyers head over to LH Senator Lounge. I was tempted to go over to the UA IFL recently before my IAD-MUC flight for better wine.

What happened to private car transfers? I have transferred in MUC and was both picked up at the plane and driven to the plane. Not in FRA, and I could really have used that.

This only applies when a plane lands in a non-gate position.

UA has an International First Class Lounge in Terminal C at IAD that has much better food and beverages than LH Senator Lounge. So you'll be doing the reverse of what all UA *G members do, head over to UA Lounge while all the UA flyers head over to LH Senator Lounge. I was tempted to go over to the UA IFL recently before my IAD-MUC flight for better wine.

I agree that the UA IFL has better wine and champagne. However i would not agree the UA IFL food selection is better than the Senator Lounge. The IFL may have a slightly higher quantity of food options, but most (if not all) are cold and hardly fresh. On the other hand the SEN lounge has a variety of hot and cold items which are regularly replenished. Including fresher items such as salads. Also the SEN lounge has far better decor, much better windows, and is directly adjacent to the LH gates (instead of 20 minutes away).
Except for pure novelty, I can't imagine why an LH F passenger would go to the IFL, and I really can't believe anyone would go back a second time.

The IFL is simply a worn carpet club with some fresh flowers;)

The IAD lounge is envied and well visited by the UA crowd :) I guess the UA IFL was an option, albeit almost equal to the IAD SEN lounge plus a mile away...
Really?

I only made my way over there once to experience the saga and it had the usual esoteric food options and the same notorious wireless problems as the other SEN lounges I experienced abroad.

Including the Long March to the lounge which you mentioned it is not worth the effort over the shabby United Club food offerings. And I as value my connection more than the crackers, I never went back there.

Really?


Well, the IAD thread over in the UA MP forum is now at the 780+ post mark:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileage-plus-pre-merger/935900-consolidated-access-lufthansa-lounge-iad-thread-merged.html

Of course some are tough to please :)

Well, the IAD thread over in the UA MP forum is now at the 780+ post mark:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileage-plus-pre-merger/935900-consolidated-access-lufthansa-lounge-iad-thread-merged.html

Of course some are tough to please :)

My personal opinion is the same as weero's. I wouldn't bother with the hike, but as you point out the thread on the UA MP forum speaks for itself, and I have witnessed it in person.

l. However, I haven't experienced a great first class lounge at outstations on any airline.

LH does a very nice job with their area at JFK, as does BA and VA (great lounge).

LH does a very nice job with their area at JFK, as does BA and VA (great lounge).

So what I have learned from this and others is that JFK is the exception. Having never been to JFK I have no basis for an opinion other than to accept that of others. However, I still believe my basic premise stands.

The JFK F/HON section is more of a small restaurant that offers real ala carte food. Certainly not a pleasure temple like a regular FCL/FCT :D. VS does a nice job in outstations, but those are UC/Business class product offerings not F ;)

The other thing the IAD LH lounge has is a nice shower room (3, I think) in the FTL section of the lounge (downstairs). Makes a pretty good arrivals lounge when coming in from Europe on LH or UA and transferring to UA (though, as others have noted, it is a long walk/ride to get there and then back to the UA gates in C & D). Still, it's not a bad way to kill a few hours.

The JFK F/HON section is more of a small restaurant that offers real ala carte food. Certainly not a pleasure temple like a regular FCL/FCT :D. VS does a nice job in outstations, but those are UC/Business class product offerings not F ;)

I haven't been in that many VS lounges, but I really didn't find the IAD lounge much better than the Senator lounge - sure, they had a menu and table service, but the quality of the food wasn't worth much. It was great when LH used it as their first class lounge (before they built their own lounges) but that was because no one was there, not because it was really of higher quality than the SEN lounge is today.

It is a long walk/ride to get there and then back to the UA gates in C & D). Still, it's not a bad way to kill a few hours.

A lot of UA express departures are out of A. It's still a bit of a walk, but a little activity doesn't hurt when getting off a plane crossing the big pond.

Having recently visited the lounge I have to say it's way better than the FRA or MUC SEN lounges in terms of both food and service. The outstation SEN lounges being a lot better than the hub ones seems to be the rule and not the exception now at LH.

OP here - thanks for entertaining my moans. Weero and others are absolutely correct that I should have researched here for best options and to be prepared. I've been through FRA before (not for a while), though, and just didn't think much about it in advance.

I don't think all F pax are savvy enough about FT to know about the great resources, and it shouldn't be necessary to research how to get to an F lounge in a home airport ...

It was also so badly marked that I actually lined up at the info desks to get directions and was casually waived over to B22 gate, so no better opton was offered. Oh well. All's well that ended in a good breakfast and hot shower.

Well, the IAD thread over in the UA MP forum is now at the 780+ post mark..
Yes I am of course familiar with the thread. But that's just the hunter+gatherer mentality that populates the remnants of the UACO forum.

I only learned about the existence of the lounge from FT. But my traveling companions never let me go there, saying that it would be just another shabby installation like the clubs in BOS or DFW. So when alone, I ventured there to explore it. Barely made it in as the LD lectured me that I was ineligible ....
The limited wireless connection was the biggest grievance (and still is for all SEN lounges) for me. As I don't like the newer style SEN food anyway, I too would not return.