Lounge Review: MUC Airport Lounge World

Index to Genius1 Trip Reports

The syntax-challenged Airport Lounge World opened in late 2018 at Munich Terminal 1. BA closed their somewhat tired Galleries lounge at the same time, and since then have used this third party lounge – which (if you don’t have the patience to read this review fully) I consider to be one of the best third party lounges BA passengers can use in Europe.

The lounge is located in the B Gates area of the terminal, with the entrance one level above the concourse. From reception, a staircase and lift provides access to the upper level, whilst luggage storage lockers and washrooms can be found immediately to the right as you enter the lounge.





The lower level initially offers three pods of banquette seats, one of which is located on a partially raised floor with some additional high-back armchairs arranged in groups of two by the windows. Partial gate and apron views are available from here, although the rest of the terminal infrastructure below blocks a lot of the view.





Across from this initial seating area is the lounge’s main dining area (branded as the ‘bistro’). Banquette seating around the edge of the dining area is complemented by an abundance of dining tables.



The buffet really is very decent for a third party lounge; cold cuts, cheese, salad, whole fruit, muffins and dessert pots are arranged on the island buffet, with the back buffet playing host to hot dogs, chicken casserole, cheese spaetzle, tomato soup and breads, all displayed attractively with a range of accompaniments.













The final section of the lower level of the lounge is home to self-serve hot and cold drinks and a small selection of packaged snacks, crisps and mini pretzels. There’s another seating area here too, with banquette, dining and café seating.







Upstairs is where the lounge starts to feel really quite exclusive (at least when it’s not busy, as was the case during my visit in May last year). The interior designers have made the best use of the terminal’s odd shape to squeeze in a children’s play area at the top of the stairs.





A smoking room can be found to the left of the stairs (which is also where the lift is located), whilst the majority of the upper level seating can be found to the right.







The church-like central seating area has four more banquette pods with some additional café seating scattered around the edges, as well as a quiet lounging area with recliners behind a curtain.







The floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the apron (offering a much better view than downstairs) can be gazed through from high-back armchairs and booths for two. There’s a small self-serve bar here.





The far end of the upper level has another drinks and snack station with additional café seating and a strip of banquette seating along one wall.







Additional washrooms and the lounge’s showers are accessed from this part of the lounge. With their airport view, the washrooms reminded me a little of those in the Zurich E Gates Swiss First lounge, although these were not quite as well appointed.







The lounge’s fit-out has been completed to a high standard throughout; real oak wood floors and slatted wall panelling, integrated ceiling strip lighting and noteworthy modern art create a polished and functional vibe. If I have one criticism, it would be that whilst the pod seating areas are mostly well provisioned for power, the café seating areas are not. I’d also like to see the café seating on the upper level replaced with proper armchairs.

Airport Lounge World is a strong third party lounge, and a rival to some airlines’ business class lounges.