Star Alliance - Best airport in Europe for connections when on *A first class

What is the best airport in Europe to connect when flying in TG F and out UA F? By best, I mean the one where you have access to the best first class lounges and amenities.

I know which one NOT to use: FRA. Worst UA F-class experience in the world IMHO. Can't even find a seat in the supposed F-class lounge they provide (over-crowded LH Senator lounges).

I think MUC is a good choice. *A F pax have access to the SEN lounges. Connections at MUC are incredibly easy, so shorter layovers still give plenty of lounge time as compared to airports like FRA or LHR. The lounges are reasonably nice, including one that's reminiscent of a Bavarian biergarten, but if memory serves, that one is on the Schengen side (at least I used it most recently while nursing a post-Oktoberfest hangover en route MUC-FRA).

FRA has better TG F seats on its two flights, plus the new 744 config on TG920 next month, but the Tower Lounge near UA gates can get super-crowded in the morning. With the exceptions of the FCT/FCL and the 'City Lights' SEN lounge, I find FRA to be an unpleasant airport.

Connections at ZRH are fairly easy too, but I am not terribly impressed by the lounges there, even the FCL (as compared to FRA/MUC). Definitely less crowded, however.

Zürich is always my first choice when flying United. I love the airport in Amsterdam but it is much easier for Delta flyers. The Swiss, like in many facets of the country's operation, are a model of efficiency.

I will go out of my way to avoid Heathrow and Frankfurt if possible. I do agree with MUC as well.

The issue with MUC is that the only TG flight arrives in the evening after all US flights have departed, which would involve a night layover.

Thanks for all of your responses so far!

where can you acces First lounges when flying TG and UA ?

where can you acces First lounges when flying TG and UA ?

I assume you mean in Europe. Both CDG & LHR have the *A lounges with a true F side. Many don't like CDG but I think it has a nice lounge for F (C gets to crowded)

where can you acces First lounges when flying TG and UA ?

You can't. You can access the Senator lounges, but that's not the true First lounges.

Cheers.

You can't. You can access the Senator lounges, but that's not the true First lounges.

Cheers.

That's only in Germany. Not LHR or CDG where both TG and UA fly

I live in Europe and like and muc senator lounges. Never have any problems. LHR is too crowded. Cdg ok but nothing special. Lisbon has a pretty nice lounge also.

That's only in Germany. Not LHR or CDG where both TG and UA fly

CDG is a good thought, but depending on when you are traveling, CDG is losing F on UA metal. The *A lounge there is good (with a dedicated First Class level), you just need to make sure the lounge dragons don't try to pass you off to the subpar United Club at CDG with a UA boarding pass.

Another advantage of CDG is the inbound flight on the ex-9W 77W.

The issue with MUC is that the only TG flight arrives in the evening after all US flights have departed, which would involve a night layover.

An overnight at the Kempinski outside of the terminal is never a bad idea! ;)

That's only in Germany. Not LHR or CDG where both TG and UA fly

The LHR Star F lounge is nothing special. It has NO windows which makes it a non-starter for me. I often go to the J side, even when flying F.

Zürich is always my first choice when flying United. I love the airport in Amsterdam but it is much easier for Delta flyers. The Swiss, like in many facets of the country's operation, are a model of efficiency.

I will go out of my way to avoid Heathrow and Frankfurt if possible. I do agree with MUC as well.

The Swiss are a model of efficiency. But what F lounge do you use in ZRH? I think MUC is much nicer than ZRH when flying GlobalFirst from an airport amenities perspective.

I know which one NOT to use: FRA. Worst UA F-class experience in the world IMHO. Can't even find a seat in the supposed F-class lounge they provide (over-crowded LH Senator lounges).

Transited FRA in May. One simple answer...NEVER AGAIN )-:

While I love LH as an airline, FRA sucks as an airport...

Transited FRA in May. One simple answer...NEVER AGAIN )-:

While I love LH as an airline, FRA sucks as an airport...

Actually, for *A it's a great airport if in LH F. (or connecting to/from LX F)

I also fly often out of T-2 w EK and that terminal is very easy (similar to MUC) and the EK lounge is just as good as the LH F lounge

As far as UA goes, you should expect to find a lounge thats sub par to go along w the F service (also sub par). Probably the only place system wide UA has the use of a truly great lounge in F is in BKK where I'm surprised TG allows admittance in the F lounge which is a great place

The actual UA FCL in HKG is actually also a nice F lounge in the same league as other F lounges.

As far as UA goes, you should expect to find a lounge thats sub par to go along w the F service (also sub par). Probably the only place system wide UA has the use of a truly great lounge in F is in BKK where I'm surprised TG allows admittance in the F lounge which is a great place

The actual UA FCL in HKG is actually also a nice F lounge in the same league as other F lounges.

Actually, I never thought of UA F lounges because of their bad reputation. Was thinking more about which partner lounges (SQ, LX, TG, etc) allow entry when flying in on TG F and out on UA F. I do realize that some "true" F lounges (LH and LX for example) only allow entry if flying their airline, maybe there are some exceptions?

my vote is munich or zurich

Is IST an option? I hear they have one of the best * lounges. I'll find out for myself in Sept.

Actually, I never thought of UA F lounges because of their bad reputation. Was thinking more about which partner lounges (SQ, LX, TG, etc) allow entry when flying in on TG F and out on UA F. I do realize that some "true" F lounges (LH and LX for example) only allow entry if flying their airline, maybe there are some exceptions?

Why not simply change your ticket to fly out on LH F instead of UA F and then transit in FRA using the LH FCL? I'm not sure why you would pay for UA F in the first place if you're going to pay for a ticket (although, you may have a corporate discount that is only good on UA, in that case, see if it will work on a UA codeshare on LH metal).

I actually don't think that FRA is that bad. If you have one of the later flights to the US, the Tower lounge is OK. Nice self serve Franziskaner...

my vote is munich or zurich

+1.

Why not simply change your ticket to fly out on LH F instead of UA F and then transit in FRA using the LH FCL? I'm not sure why you would pay for UA F in the first place if you're going to pay for a ticket (although, you may have a corporate discount that is only good on UA, in that case, see if it will work on a UA codeshare on LH metal).

I actually don't think that FRA is that bad. If you have one of the later flights to the US, the Tower lounge is OK. Nice self serve Franziskaner...

This would be an award ticket, not paid. LH F is pretty much impossible to get.

This would be an award ticket, not paid. LH F is pretty much impossible to get.

Well then, I'm going to go out on a limb and say you should connect wherever you can find availability. If you find multiple connecting points, it would be better to ask a more pointed question here as opposed to a completely open ended one. LH F is hard to get, but so is a specific route based on the connection point.

Personally, I would look to connect wherever I could get the best F service to/from, not where the best lounge is located (e.g. fly LH and TG in F as opposed to UA and TG) Not to mention, I would be looking for routings that weren't via Europe and trying for F on the asian airlines. Just my 2 cents. You didn't mention trying for a stopover, but I'm going to guess that is what you want to do (stopover in Europe on your way to or from Asia).

arriving on SQ F, and connecting in FRA onwards to LH C (FRA-LHR)
which lounge can i use in FRA? i'm sure the LH FCL/FCT are all out of bounds, but will i get to use the LH Senator lounges?
Also, will i be met at the arrival gate of the SQ flight for my onward LH C flight?

just curious to know...

p.s. no status, no *G, not even *S.. =P

CDG...just kidding.

Not to mention, I would be looking for routings that weren't via Europe and trying for F on the asian airlines. Just my 2 cents. You didn't mention trying for a stopover, but I'm going to guess that is what you want to do (stopover in Europe on your way to or from Asia).

Thank you for your advice. It looks like Asiana is getting new F on ICN-ORD, ICN-TYO and ICN-SGN, so it may be worthwhile aiming for that. I am just not sure that US air will alow HKG-BKK-ICN-ORD-SLC as valid routing.

This would be an award ticket, not paid. LH F is pretty much impossible to get.

Check closer to departure. LH opens F seats for award redemption a few weeks out.