Last edit by: Rus925
Why does this lounge have its own thread?
Unlike most non–United Club Star Alliance (*A) lounges in the United States, the Lufthansa lounge at IAD is physically accessible to domestic UA passengers. This means:
There are two floors to the lounge: the concourse level, where you enter and check in, which also has the Senator lounge with ample windows; and the lower level, which has the Business lounge and showers. (The showers are very nice; on par with Senator lounge showers in Lufthansa's Frankfurt hub.)
The Senator lounge offers a complimentary buffet throughout the day. In the morning, there's a continental breakfast; at 1:30 p.m., they put out a hot buffet. Bottled beer and wine (including champagne) are available all day, with draught beer and spirits additionally available after 1 p.m.
[Need description of FTL offering. Include photos?]
How do I get there?
The lounge is located at the center of the B concourse, from where non-US airlines depart, to the right of the Aerotrain escalators as you enter the concourse from the train.
Hours have changed seasonally, but, as of June 2015, are 8:20 to 22:00. Some report the lounge opening earlier on occasion and some report it closing earlier on occasion.
From TSA/check-in, the B concourse is one stop away by Aerotrain, but in the opposite direction of the C concourse from where most United flights depart. When proceeding from the lounge to most UA flights, allow 20 minutes to get to the center of the C concourse, 25 if going to the far end of the D concourse.
To go to the C concourse, walk back to the Aerotrain stop and take it back to the main terminal; stay on it there and at the A concourse stop, then exit at the C stop. The walk from there to your gate may take more time than the rest of the commute.
To get to the D concourse if you're traveling light (or if you need to walk off the food you just ate), stroll briskly all the way down the B concourse and then go up the skybridge over to the A concourse. Bear right as you get off the stairs or escalators and you'll be at the mobile-lounge stop. Take that to the D concourse; enjoy the view of airplanes along the way.
Weighed down by luggage? Take the Aerotrain back to the main terminal, then head upstairs and take a mobile lounge to the D concourse.
How do I get inside?
With...
In all cases, each guest must also present a same-day *A boarding pass for admission.
Lounge access for travel in a domestic premium cabin is not regulated by *A; as such, UA F domestic passengers (without other credentials) do not have access to the LH Lounge according to *A.com, just as they do not have access to the United Clubs. However, the international requirement for C/F tickets is conspicuously absent from Lufthansa's own lounge access sheet (see below), and domestic UA F passengers have reported admission. (Senator lounge, 1 guest)
[If we get (semi-)official confirmation of this policy, we'll add this to the bullets.]
Provided the lounge does not get overcrowded, as is often the case on US-based LH lounges, you may exit and re-enter the lounge as often as you wish. Note that if you are entering on a lounge pass, re-entry might not be allowed.
If your access question wasn't addressed by the above, first check the *A access policy and LH's official access policy, generally relying on the least restrictive policy of the two if they appear to conflict. If they answer a question that this wiki couldn't, update this wiki to help others! And if they don't, ask in the thread!
So, can I use the lounge upon arrival in IAD?
Only LH/LX SEN/HON (on any *A carrier) and LH/LX F passengers have access to the lounge upon arrival at IAD without regard to onward travel. See the list above for more details. There are reports, however, of passengers not meeting this criteria presenting their arriving boarding pass and still being admitted.
If you are connecting from an international flight in business class to a flight in economy and do not otherwise have lounge access, you might choose to fly United on your international segment, instead of another carrier, as United will admit its own arriving international BusinessFirst passengers to its United Clubs without regard to onward travel. If this is MileagePlus award travel, and the onward segment is on United and in economy because of a lack of award availability, you may also want to consider waitlisting for business class.
Furthermore, note that international passengers whose journey ends at IAD will be ferried by mobile lounge to the International Arrivals Building, which deposits passengers landside, to claim their bags and clear customs. [Can pax without checked bags choose to clear CBP in concourse C regardless?]
How does the Senator lounge compare to the newest Senator lounges in FRA?
Not favorably. The Senator lounge is like the old FRA lounges: cramped, and before a LH flight departure, crowded. There is a seating area set aside for first class passengers, which is less crowded. Perhaps due to the crowding, LH offers its departing F pax preboarding from the Senator lounge, something which the FRA/MUC FCT/FCL does not offer but is common among LH's outstation lounges. So, enjoying champagne and macadamias at the nose or upper deck while waiting is a nice feature of the IAD Senator lounge. [Still true?]
How does it compare to the United Clubs?
[Somebody write a succinct answer to this. Please discuss SEN vs. FTL areas, too, or at least mention if there's no difference anymore.]
How does the Senator lounge compare to the United GFL?
Apparently the GFL now has better champagne and food than the Senator lounge. However, there may be superior, "first class" champagne available for visitors traveling in first class. [Somebody please write more about this.]
This sounds too good to be true!
Lufthansa agrees! There were rumors that, effective January 1, 2015, LH's Business Lounges would become its *G lounges, which would mean non-LH *Gs would be directed downstairs to the Business lounge after that date; as of May 2015, however, this has not happened. There was some discussion of exceptions, most notable being that *G traveling in longhaul business class would still be admitted to the SEN lounge.
Lufthansa has been more generous than most *A airlines in admitting *Gs to its designated *A First class lounges—not even UA's own 1Ks get to visit United's first class lounges without a first class ticket—so this change would have brought Lufthansa somewhat more in line with the rest of the alliance.
Original thread: Consolidated "Access to Lufthansa Lounge at IAD" Thread [Merged]
Unlike most non–United Club Star Alliance (*A) lounges in the United States, the Lufthansa lounge at IAD is physically accessible to domestic UA passengers. This means:
- United *G members may access the lounge on domestic itineraries, even though they wouldn't be allowed free access to the United Clubs on such itineraries.
- Passengers who otherwise have United Club access, whether due to a paid membership, premium cabin ticket, or a foreign *G card, have a nicer option in IAD.
There are two floors to the lounge: the concourse level, where you enter and check in, which also has the Senator lounge with ample windows; and the lower level, which has the Business lounge and showers. (The showers are very nice; on par with Senator lounge showers in Lufthansa's Frankfurt hub.)
The Senator lounge offers a complimentary buffet throughout the day. In the morning, there's a continental breakfast; at 1:30 p.m., they put out a hot buffet. Bottled beer and wine (including champagne) are available all day, with draught beer and spirits additionally available after 1 p.m.
[Need description of FTL offering. Include photos?]
How do I get there?
The lounge is located at the center of the B concourse, from where non-US airlines depart, to the right of the Aerotrain escalators as you enter the concourse from the train.
Hours have changed seasonally, but, as of June 2015, are 8:20 to 22:00. Some report the lounge opening earlier on occasion and some report it closing earlier on occasion.
From TSA/check-in, the B concourse is one stop away by Aerotrain, but in the opposite direction of the C concourse from where most United flights depart. When proceeding from the lounge to most UA flights, allow 20 minutes to get to the center of the C concourse, 25 if going to the far end of the D concourse.
To go to the C concourse, walk back to the Aerotrain stop and take it back to the main terminal; stay on it there and at the A concourse stop, then exit at the C stop. The walk from there to your gate may take more time than the rest of the commute.
To get to the D concourse if you're traveling light (or if you need to walk off the food you just ate), stroll briskly all the way down the B concourse and then go up the skybridge over to the A concourse. Bear right as you get off the stairs or escalators and you'll be at the mobile-lounge stop. Take that to the D concourse; enjoy the view of airplanes along the way.
Weighed down by luggage? Take the Aerotrain back to the main terminal, then head upstairs and take a mobile lounge to the D concourse.
How do I get inside?
With...
- Any Star Gold (*G) card (including UA Premier Gold and higher) and a same-day departing *A boarding pass in any class to any destination, domestic or international. There are reports (April 2014) that the physical card is no longer necessary; a *G designation on the boarding pass reflected in the barcode may be sufficient. (Senator lounge, 1 guest)
- A LH/LX HON/SEN card and a same-day departing or arriving *A boarding pass to/from any destination, domestic or international. (Senator lounge, 1 guest [plus spouse if HON] plus children under 18)
- A LH/LX FTL card and a same-day departing *A boarding pass in any class to any destination, domestic or international. (Business lounge, no guests)
- A LH Premium Economy boarding pass with ($35 adult/$20 2-12yo child) lounge pass purchased at the ticket counter. [Can it be paid at the entrance?] (Business lounge, no guests)
- A United Club or Maple Leaf Lounge Worldwide membership card and a same-day departing *A boarding pass in any class to any destination, domestic or international. (Business lounge, 1 guest)
- A same-day international departing *A First (Senator lounge, 1 guest) or Business (Business lounge, no guests) boarding pass
- A same-day arriving LH/LX First boarding pass. (Senator lounge, 1 guest)
In all cases, each guest must also present a same-day *A boarding pass for admission.
Lounge access for travel in a domestic premium cabin is not regulated by *A; as such, UA F domestic passengers (without other credentials) do not have access to the LH Lounge according to *A.com, just as they do not have access to the United Clubs. However, the international requirement for C/F tickets is conspicuously absent from Lufthansa's own lounge access sheet (see below), and domestic UA F passengers have reported admission. (Senator lounge, 1 guest)
[If we get (semi-)official confirmation of this policy, we'll add this to the bullets.]
Provided the lounge does not get overcrowded, as is often the case on US-based LH lounges, you may exit and re-enter the lounge as often as you wish. Note that if you are entering on a lounge pass, re-entry might not be allowed.
If your access question wasn't addressed by the above, first check the *A access policy and LH's official access policy, generally relying on the least restrictive policy of the two if they appear to conflict. If they answer a question that this wiki couldn't, update this wiki to help others! And if they don't, ask in the thread!
So, can I use the lounge upon arrival in IAD?
Only LH/LX SEN/HON (on any *A carrier) and LH/LX F passengers have access to the lounge upon arrival at IAD without regard to onward travel. See the list above for more details. There are reports, however, of passengers not meeting this criteria presenting their arriving boarding pass and still being admitted.
If you are connecting from an international flight in business class to a flight in economy and do not otherwise have lounge access, you might choose to fly United on your international segment, instead of another carrier, as United will admit its own arriving international BusinessFirst passengers to its United Clubs without regard to onward travel. If this is MileagePlus award travel, and the onward segment is on United and in economy because of a lack of award availability, you may also want to consider waitlisting for business class.
Furthermore, note that international passengers whose journey ends at IAD will be ferried by mobile lounge to the International Arrivals Building, which deposits passengers landside, to claim their bags and clear customs. [Can pax without checked bags choose to clear CBP in concourse C regardless?]
How does the Senator lounge compare to the newest Senator lounges in FRA?
Not favorably. The Senator lounge is like the old FRA lounges: cramped, and before a LH flight departure, crowded. There is a seating area set aside for first class passengers, which is less crowded. Perhaps due to the crowding, LH offers its departing F pax preboarding from the Senator lounge, something which the FRA/MUC FCT/FCL does not offer but is common among LH's outstation lounges. So, enjoying champagne and macadamias at the nose or upper deck while waiting is a nice feature of the IAD Senator lounge. [Still true?]
How does it compare to the United Clubs?
[Somebody write a succinct answer to this. Please discuss SEN vs. FTL areas, too, or at least mention if there's no difference anymore.]
How does the Senator lounge compare to the United GFL?
Apparently the GFL now has better champagne and food than the Senator lounge. However, there may be superior, "first class" champagne available for visitors traveling in first class. [Somebody please write more about this.]
This sounds too good to be true!
Lufthansa agrees! There were rumors that, effective January 1, 2015, LH's Business Lounges would become its *G lounges, which would mean non-LH *Gs would be directed downstairs to the Business lounge after that date; as of May 2015, however, this has not happened. There was some discussion of exceptions, most notable being that *G traveling in longhaul business class would still be admitted to the SEN lounge.
Lufthansa has been more generous than most *A airlines in admitting *Gs to its designated *A First class lounges—not even UA's own 1Ks get to visit United's first class lounges without a first class ticket—so this change would have brought Lufthansa somewhat more in line with the rest of the alliance.
Original thread: Consolidated "Access to Lufthansa Lounge at IAD" Thread [Merged]
Consolidated "Access to Lufthansa Lounge at IAD" Thread [2014 forward]
#226
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
*G traveling with wife and <18 daughter on domestic itin. What are the chances they'd let all three of us in (realizing policy for *G is one guest, although for LH elites it's guest + under 18) (and realizing Germans are sticklers for rules)?
#227
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: DCA
Programs: Bonvoy Ambassador, AA Plat Pro, DL Gold, UA*S, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 631
Source: http://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/Lounge-News_en#ancAbT5
Take your companions with you into the lounge
As a Frequent Traveller or Senator you can now share the benefits of the Lufthansa lounges with your travelling companions*. Your companions have the option of purchasing entry to selected Lufthansa lounges.
If you are a Frequent Traveller your companions can choose between the Lufthansa Business Lounges in Germany and the USA and the Welcome Lounge at Frankfurt Airport. Costs for one-time access are 25 euros or 35 US dollars per person for the Business Lounges and 50 euros or 70 US dollars for the Welcome Lounge.
As a Senator you are already able to invite one companion, as well as your own children under 18, to join you in Lufthansa Senator Lounges free of charge. Additional companions can purchase entry to the Lufthansa Senator Lounges in Germany and the USA. Costs for one-time entry are 40 euros or 50 US dollars per person. Of course Senators‘ companions can also purchase entry to the Lufthansa Business Lounges in Germany and the USA and the Welcome Lounge at Frankfurt.
Vouchers for lounge admission can be bought at the Lufthansa ticket counters at the relevant departure airports in Germany and the USA immediately before your visit to the lounge. Vouchers for the Welcome Lounge can be obtained on arrival in Frankfurt Airport at the Lufthansa ticket counter. To purchase a voucher you must have a boarding pass for a Lufthansa intercontinental flight.
To enter the lounges with their travelling companions, Frequent Travellers and Senators must show their Miles & More status card and both they and their companions must be in possession of boarding passes for a Lufthansa operated flight valid for that day and airport of departure.
As a Frequent Traveller or Senator you can now share the benefits of the Lufthansa lounges with your travelling companions*. Your companions have the option of purchasing entry to selected Lufthansa lounges.
If you are a Frequent Traveller your companions can choose between the Lufthansa Business Lounges in Germany and the USA and the Welcome Lounge at Frankfurt Airport. Costs for one-time access are 25 euros or 35 US dollars per person for the Business Lounges and 50 euros or 70 US dollars for the Welcome Lounge.
As a Senator you are already able to invite one companion, as well as your own children under 18, to join you in Lufthansa Senator Lounges free of charge. Additional companions can purchase entry to the Lufthansa Senator Lounges in Germany and the USA. Costs for one-time entry are 40 euros or 50 US dollars per person. Of course Senators‘ companions can also purchase entry to the Lufthansa Business Lounges in Germany and the USA and the Welcome Lounge at Frankfurt.
Vouchers for lounge admission can be bought at the Lufthansa ticket counters at the relevant departure airports in Germany and the USA immediately before your visit to the lounge. Vouchers for the Welcome Lounge can be obtained on arrival in Frankfurt Airport at the Lufthansa ticket counter. To purchase a voucher you must have a boarding pass for a Lufthansa intercontinental flight.
To enter the lounges with their travelling companions, Frequent Travellers and Senators must show their Miles & More status card and both they and their companions must be in possession of boarding passes for a Lufthansa operated flight valid for that day and airport of departure.
#229
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,852
PHL had low clouds today that caused many a delay on UA. Was rebooked through IAD where I just had 3 glasses of Tattinger and a nice Brisket and Potato Dinner. The Apple Strudel and Coffee will round oit my two hour tour here. Gosh this place is so nice
#230
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between SFO & SJC
Programs: UA 1MM (and no longer flying much)
Posts: 777
#232
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
Hung out at the LH Senator lounge this week due to some delayed United flights (big surprise).
I was a bit concerned they would close due to all the LH flights cancelled from the Pilots strike, but they kept open for all 3 of us that visited during the 3 hours I was there...and that was without opening the downstairs business lounge. Just as nice as always. I think the staff was bored beyond belief.
I was a bit concerned they would close due to all the LH flights cancelled from the Pilots strike, but they kept open for all 3 of us that visited during the 3 hours I was there...and that was without opening the downstairs business lounge. Just as nice as always. I think the staff was bored beyond belief.
#233
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
Hung out at the LH Senator lounge this week due to some delayed United flights (big surprise).
I was a bit concerned they would close due to all the LH flights cancelled from the Pilots strike, but they kept open for all 3 of us that visited during the 3 hours I was there...and that was without opening the downstairs business lounge. Just as nice as always. I think the staff was bored beyond belief.
I was a bit concerned they would close due to all the LH flights cancelled from the Pilots strike, but they kept open for all 3 of us that visited during the 3 hours I was there...and that was without opening the downstairs business lounge. Just as nice as always. I think the staff was bored beyond belief.
#234
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,178
Well, it is the FA strike this week, and the lounge is paid to stay open to serve other flights in the evenings.
#235
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
Staff was pretty chatty and indicated they were staying open. All LH flights out of IAD were cancelled, so it was surreal-ly quiet in the lounge. Instead of bursting at the seams, there were 3 of us in the Senator lounge and the downstairs Business lounge was cordoned off completely.
#237
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
United *G members may access the lounge on domestic itineraries, even though they wouldn't be allowed free access to the United Clubs on such itineraries.
#238
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: DCA, IAD (not BWI if I can help it)
Programs: UA 1MM 1K, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Explorist, status-free on AA, AS, B6, DL, WN, Amtrak, etc.
Posts: 1,481
I just updated the directions in the wiki to include advice about getting from the lounge to the D concourse. I think your fastest route is to walk all the way from the lounge to the A concourse and take the mobile lounge from there, but if somebody's found that it's faster to take the Aerotrain back to the main terminal and then get ona mobile lounge to D, edit away!
#239
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA 1K MM, SPG Plat For Life, Marriott Plat, Nexus/GlobalEntry
Posts: 9,198
I just updated the directions in the wiki to include advice about getting from the lounge to the D concourse. I think your fastest route is to walk all the way from the lounge to the A concourse and take the mobile lounge from there, but if somebody's found that it's faster to take the Aerotrain back to the main terminal and then get ona mobile lounge to D, edit away!
#240
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
Just used my A3 *G card there last week. Had my UA number on my boarding pass. They just keyed it in and smiled back to me.
BTW, wish more airports were open like IAD. I love being able to stroll down the international section and get up close to the big planes.
BTW, wish more airports were open like IAD. I love being able to stroll down the international section and get up close to the big planes.