N1003U

...and the occasional LH SEN flying to DTW on US (when DL prices get too crazy)...

TRAVELSIG

Perhaps A3 or TK should go into the lounge business and open up at a number of US Hubs (lounge only)?

LufthansaFlyer

IAD certainly gets it share of *A visitors. ANA, South African, LH group and UA pax who will walk what feels like a mile to avoid the United Clubs.....

The IAD lounge needs a facelift in the worst way....furniture is starting to show age and abuse

TRAVELSIG

The IAD (Dulles) Lufthansa lounge looks very new- was it not restored in the last couple of years (I thought 2012 IIRC)? Also the boarding from the lounge for LH flights is a very nice feature and IAD has good catering particularly in the SEN/F section.

LufthansaFlyer

you must have not seen it lately......the wood laminate tables between the seats are very frayed with most edges worn out showing the underlayment. Additionally several outlet covers built into the tables are damaged. Some are even held on by Scotch tape. I'm through there 8-10 times a year so I've gotten familiar with it. I wonder how the biz class lounge looks....next time I'll have a peak.

The lounge gets used a lot, and its not a tremendously big lounge so wear and tear shows quite easily.

The boarding convenience is fantastic.

TRAVELSIG

I guess not- my last visit was October 2013. In general the entire airport of IAD would not even make it on my Top 100 list.

LufthansaFlyer

It's not the prettiest of airports thats for sure. I'm surprised with your recent visit that you didnt see some of the wear/tear on the lounge.

TRAVELSIG

Conditioning after being in many United States lounges that week- you start not to notice (although blissfully the UA Senator lounge does not have that mandatory television with CNN on that seem to be a borderline legal requirement in the rest of America).

Back to CLT/MUC- if LH sells tickets with AA from CLT-onwards perhaps they can continue to do something similar with US?

CLT is a great little hub and doesn't have the congestion nor weather disadvantages typically that many East Coast hubs face- the only issue is without onward connecting traffic can the flight last long-term?

kevinsac

Yeah....that's what I am wondering. US' presence is so heavy in CLT. UA only flies to other cities (IAD, ORD, DEN) to which LH flies non-stop.

FD1971

Considering the loads in C and in the cargo bay, I guess one can disregard a few passengers connecting on Euro 500 tickets to leisure destinations in Florida.

Nevertheless, I expect LH to talk to officials in CLT continuously, probably mentioning your point and their concerns about it...

CMK10

Very good news for my home state ^ CLT is an easy drive from the Raleigh Area so it's nice knowing we'll keep this leg to Europe

steviebas

Awesome!
Any insight on when they may open it? Am flying out on LH in August

Is there an interim arrangement to still use someone's lounge?

LufthansaFlyer

They're just now planning to hold these conversations with CLT. No timetable that I am familiar with, but the 'infrastructure' is place - just need a few new signs.....

No interim arrangement exists AFAIK.

christianj

Have used both IAD LH lounges (SEN and Business Class) within the last 2 months. SEN lounge just last week and I didn't notice any of the issues mentioned above....then again maybe I don't pay that much attention to small issues like that as long as I have a quiet place to relax. I personally don't like the Business Class lounge due to its basement cavelike feel.

I've been flying out of IAD on Star for years and the current lounges are a HUGE improvement over the UA and other lounges they have used over the years. I personally think the lounges are on par with the BA lounges other than the fact that BA offers dinner service for late departing flights. (Which I wish Star would do as well....just flew Brussels Airlines Business Class and with a 10:30pm departure we didn't get food till around 11:30ish.)

I also use PHL as an option to IAD since I live in Baltimore so I'm interested in what the lounge solution will be for Star there after the US departure. US lounge isn't very good for food and drinks but it is a large lounge so it's typically not a mob scene.

LufthansaFlyer

I was looking with a very critical eye. Being an LH 'homer' I was looking to see how well the lounge reflects on LH. I've done this in the past and then shared the info with LH so that they can look into it and resolve anything that needs resolving (kind of like a 'secret shopper'). Don't get me wrong, the overall look of the lounge is good - better than virtually any UA club that I've been in.