Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners) - SEN lounge access at FRA with UA F ticket

I flew FRA-SFO on UA a couple of days ago in F. I was surprised when accessing the SEN lounge that the agent needed to see a *G card.

I know LH is strict about seeing the card for entry, but I had thought that a *A F ticket trumped the need for the card.

I dug out my card and was let in. But the question is, if someone is flying UA F and has no status, is there no LH lounge access? Must he use the Business lounge or the RCC?

No, the lounge warden was wrong. F class ticket is quite sufficient to access the SEN lounge!

No, the lounge warden was wrong. F class ticket is quite sufficient to access the SEN lounge!

That's what I thought. I did ask him in a friendly way. He looked at me and said, "I'm just following orders." Kind of gave me the creeps the way he said it.

I did ask him in a friendly way. He looked at me and said, "I'm just following orders."

:eek:

LH is the only airline that demands the card; it's a nuisance if you happen to have lost it. Other *A carriers see the XX*G on the BP and that's good enough.

LH is the only airline that demands the card; it's a nuisance if you happen to have lost it. Other *A carriers see the XX*G on the BP and that's good enough.

The context in this thread is a First Class boarding pass for a Star Alliance flight in which case neither an actual *G card nor *G printed on the boarding card should be needed.

I was in FRA on a UA F ticket. My UA flight was not near RCC, so no UA IFL for me. I wandered into the LH First Class Lounge. I was just asking where the lounge was I could use (not used to the new layout). The agent said, "I'm not supposed to do this, but the "Tower Lounge" is very crowded, but we are empty. Go ahead in, but make sure you leave early enough to get through passport control." She was very nice. :D

I wanted to get her name to send a letter, but she said not to that she would get into trouble and that LH really restricts what non-LH Star passengers can do with lounges.

When I got on the plane, there were two people complaining they had to wait 20 min to get into the Tower Lounge because it was so crowded!!!

I was in FRA on a UA F ticket. My UA flight was not near RCC, so no UA IFL for me. I wandered into the LH First Class Lounge. I was just asking where the lounge was I could use (not used to the new layout). The agent said, "I'm not supposed to do this, but the "Tower Lounge" is very crowded, but we are empty. Go ahead in, but make sure you leave early enough to get through passport control." She was very nice. :D

I wanted to get her name to send a letter, but she said not to that she would get into trouble and that LH really restricts what non-LH Star passengers can do with lounges.

When I got on the plane, there were two people complaining they had to wait 20 min to get into the Tower Lounge because it was so crowded!!!

You were very lucky and the LH agent needs urgent firing ! ;)

You were very lucky and the LH agent needs urgent firing ! ;)

if this was indeed the A26 FCL then she needs to be fired for sure! :p

i honestly doubt it though, i've never seen an exception for any HON or LH F pax in regards to guests. i would be supprised if theyd make one for a *A F pax...

As you have now publically stated what day, flight and lounge, it won't be hard for LH to find out who the agent was. Needless to say, I expect the agent will shorlty be told off.

If you are given a small favour like this in future, can I suggest you perhaps keep the details obtuse so as to protect that person's job?

I don't think I need to remind you that FT is the most read BB on the net, and in addition to this LH even have a lurker.

F tix should trump the need for a status membership card, no?

>>>Needless to say, I expect the agent will shorlty be told off.

Thankfully, labour law sanctions like the one you mentioned cannot be based on anonymous claims on an internet forum.

..If you are given a small favour like this in future, can I suggest you perhaps keep the details obtuse so as to protect that person's job?

I don't think I need to remind you that FT is the most read BB on the net, and in addition to this LH even have a lurker.
If you are talking about agent #1 who follows invisible orders and demands *G cards on top of F boarding passes ... then please do not follow this recommendation as protecting this person's job equal protecting Kim Jon Il's job.if this was indeed the A26 FCL then she needs to be fired for sure! :p...
And that from you! The one HON who acts forgiving for all quirks and insufficiencies LH and its agents and its pax regularly show here :eek: .

And that from you! The one HON who acts forgiving for all quirks and insufficiencies LH and its agents and its pax regularly show here :eek: .

its just because it was a UA F pax... :D

as i posted already, i dont buy it, i have seen how they act when someone tries to get in a guest on a different flight, or a second guest and its always a big no no!

F tix should trump the need for a status membership card, no?
Not in FRA it seems- I recently flew SQ 325 in F and the gatekeeper of the SEN B lounge (a very young chap, before the ladies inside at the desk) wanted to see my Gold card. I told him it is an F ticket and has LH*G anyway on the BP, he told me that he has been told to ask for Senator card and I need to show a Gold card to go to SEN lounge.

If you are talking about agent #1 who follows invisible orders and demands *G cards on top of F boarding passes ... then please do not follow this recommendation as protecting this person's job equal protecting Kim Jon Il's job.

Nah, was referring to the post from bwicoplat before he/she changed it.

:)

Not in FRA it seems- I recently flew SQ 325 in F and the gatekeeper of the SEN B lounge (a very young chap, before the ladies inside at the desk) wanted to see my Gold card. I told him it is an F ticket and has LH*G anyway on the BP, he told me that he has been told to ask for Senator card and I need to show a Gold card to go to SEN lounge.

That would be an ridiculous rule and completely made up. If LH keeps pulling this stunt it would be really bad form and as of now a violation of *A lounge access rules. Unless LH starts to declare its Business lounges now as Int'l F-Lounges ;)

as i posted already, i dont buy it, i have seen how they act when someone tries to get in a guest on a different flight, or a second guest and its always a big no no!

I BP for the UA flight was printed at my point of origin. It printed with the UA flight info, but on LH yellow stock with the big "F" on it. I got to FRA and saw that my flight was leaving from A gates and not the normal C gates, so no point in trucking over to the IFL. I went in to the SEN/BUS lounge downstairs and upon seeing the 'F' on the card he directed me upstairs. Knowing full well that I can't use that lounge, I went upstairs anyway. Then I realized that there was passport control (a little slow coming from a 6:00am connecting flight with four hours of sleep). I saw the F lounge and went in and played dumb and asked where to go. She took my boarding pass, loaded it into a grey and red "FIRST CLASS" Lufhtansa boarding sleeve that obscures the entire BP except for the bar code and stub details. I asked if there was a lounge I could use as my flight was going out of the A gates. She said made the comment about the TOWER LOUNGE being crowded with a wait to get in and that they were empty and to just have a seat. That I would be responsible for getting myself out of the lounge and through Passport Control on my own. I thanked her and asked for her name. That's when she said that it was normally off limits, but it was so empty (there was ONE other person in there at this time of morning) that it was OK, just this once.

I was as shocked as any about the rule breaking as LH is usually more "tough" with rules than most (with the exception of SQ).

That would be an ridiculous rule and completely made up. If LH keeps pulling this stunt it would be really bad form and as of now a violation of *A lounge access rules. Unless LH starts to declare its Business lounges now as Int'l F-Lounges ;)

My experience at non-FRA/MUC airports is that on a C-class ticket with my 1K *A card they will always direct you to the business lounge. I have had to ask about the SEN lounge almost 100% of the time ex. FRA/MUC. At FRA and MUC they have been better about SEN lounge access with the card and the BP. The C-class BP will always get you into the Business Lounge and they that's what I find they direct me too.

..as i posted already, i dont buy it, i have seen how they act when someone tries to get in a guest on a different flight, or a second guest and its always a big no no!
Yes I feel along that line too - unless it's of course the holy family and friends chez Lufthansa...

My experience at non-FRA/MUC airports is that on a C-class ticket with my 1K *A card they will always direct you to the business lounge. I have had to ask about the SEN lounge almost 100% of the time ex. FRA/MUC. At FRA and MUC they have been better about SEN lounge access with the card and the BP. The C-class BP will always get you into the Business Lounge and they that's what I find they direct me too.My approach has always been to continue into the SEN lounge (if it is like TXL or ATH where the entry for both is consolidated.

My approach has always been to continue into the SEN lounge (if it is like TXL or ATH where the entry for both is consolidated.
GRRR: ZRH and JFK were always the biggest offenders and enforcers of the no-*A Gold in SEN lounges. Not happy. So if you just walk into the SEN side they said nothing? Didn't send the gestapo after you?

Not happy. So if you just walk into the SEN side they said nothing? Didn't send the gestapo after you?

......with such an insensitive comment it - who would be happy :rolleyes:

Cheers

Thomas

Are there punctuated differences between SEN and Business lounges? Superior catering or presentation? Is it true that the SEN lounges are usually more crowded?

i have seen how they act when someone tries to get in a guest on a different flight, or a second guest and its always a big no no!

.. and it can be a very self-satisfied "no": my only ever request for two guests (not quite the holy family, but my parents) was turned down with a knowing smile to an apprentice-dragon.

Is this inflexibility a cultural thing?

Lord knows, BA has it's rules about access to lounges - but I think management appreciates that a certain softness round the edges, a measure of discretion, is called for in handling requests.

At LHR I'd arranged to meet a Gold-carded colleague outside his lounge. He wasn't there so I asked the non-dragon agent if there was a message for me. The response was "No.. but why don't you come inside and wait for him?". Not sure that would even translate into Lufthansa-speak.

Are there punctuated differences between SEN and Business lounges? Superior catering or presentation? Is it true that the SEN lounges are usually more crowded?
SEN lounges have a much better selection of food. SEN lounges are usually more crowded as they accept not just SEN and HON but also *G and FC pax flying on other *A carriers. Business lounges are for FTL and Business Class pax (some of whom may be SEN/HON/*G and go to a SEN lounge instead) but not for *S.

You can read some descriptions of SEN and Business lounges in this thread.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles-more-lufthansa-austrian-swiss-other-partners/945040-fra-business-class-lounge.html

SEN lounges have a much better selection of food. SEN lounges are usually more crowded as they accept not just SEN and HON but also *G and FC pax flying on other *A carriers. Business lounges are for FTL and Business Class pax (some of whom may be SEN/HON/*G and go to a SEN lounge instead) but not for *S.

You can read some descriptions of SEN and Business lounges in this thread.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles-more-lufthansa-austrian-swiss-other-partners/945040-fra-business-class-lounge.html

I know it is a slightly OT, but these are my observations from spending 6 hours in both Senator and Business longhaul Lounges at FRA airport (B gates), flying from the Middle East to MEX (just before the swine flu outbreak:o):

- I have shown up at the B Senator Lounge at about 9 AM and the lounge has already been full,
- from 9.15 it became really overcrowded - people were standing in the bar area wating for ANY seat to become available,
- from 10 AM it was getting less and less crowded,
- the best period was from about 10.40 to 12.30 - at one stage it was even quite deserted^
- from 12.30 the loads started building up, but before it have become overcrowded, I decided to leave for the longhaul Business Lounge,
- WOW - WHAT A CHANGE - it was a period before the 2 PM departure peak, but the lounge was not crowded at all, the food & drinks was acceptable (Portuguese red wine much better than any Senator red wine offering), Spanish press available (this has also been my observation from a previous visit - I was flying with VN and had no access to the SEN lounge).

So on the next trip via FRA, I am seriously considering forgetting my status and sticking to the longhaul Business Lounge - no need to fight for the seats and the food and beverage offering is still acceptable.

So on the next trip via FRA, I am seriously considering forgetting my status and sticking to the longhaul Business Lounge - no need to fight for the seats and the food and beverage offering is still acceptable.

Yes- a tactic followed by many. Also in VIE- the Business Lounge is usually a far better choice than the SEN cubbyhole.