Lounge in Cologne?
Jan 12, 2020, 2:28 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,331
On departure, security and yet another passport queue added up to over 2 hours.
I vowed never to use that hell hole again.
Jan 12, 2020, 4:10 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 2,333
Off topic slightly, however Cologne is a horrendous airport. I queued for an hour on arrival in November with our 11 month old daughter. 1 immigration officer to deal with 4 arriving aircraft. It was ridiculous. The non EU line never even moved.
On departure, security and yet another passport queue added up to over 2 hours.
I vowed never to use that hell hole again.
On departure, security and yet another passport queue added up to over 2 hours.
I vowed never to use that hell hole again.
Jan 12, 2020, 4:16 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: BA, Hilton
Posts: 2,091
No disagreement, I can't think of anything CE got on the ground (Mar 2019)....Experience similar to yours, i.e.
- no online checkin
- long queues to check in with no dedicated Business/Status desk (I think one maybe opened just as we got checked in, about 40 mins wait)
- no lounge as mentioned
- bus gate from a downstairs "holding pen"
- lengthy queues to exit Schengen
We went for the carnival and had a fantastic time, but boy does the airport try its best to take the shine off the trip!!
- no online checkin
- long queues to check in with no dedicated Business/Status desk (I think one maybe opened just as we got checked in, about 40 mins wait)
- no lounge as mentioned
- bus gate from a downstairs "holding pen"
- lengthy queues to exit Schengen
We went for the carnival and had a fantastic time, but boy does the airport try its best to take the shine off the trip!!
Jan 12, 2020, 4:17 pm
#7
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,787
Here is something I prepared earlier in the main Europe lounge thread:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30449016-post749.html
I did complain by email about the delay on Fast Track security at Cologne (specifically that it was slower than main security). I got a reply back from the airport's PR people saying with refreshing candour, something like "we looked at the CCTV footage, and you are correct, Fast Track was the slowest lane. We will do something about it".
Regardless, it's not a bad airport, in my opinion, and sometimes is one of the few places in Europe where you can do a back to back with checked luggage! There again my calibration of what Hell looks like may be different to other people.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30449016-post749.html
I did complain by email about the delay on Fast Track security at Cologne (specifically that it was slower than main security). I got a reply back from the airport's PR people saying with refreshing candour, something like "we looked at the CCTV footage, and you are correct, Fast Track was the slowest lane. We will do something about it".
Regardless, it's not a bad airport, in my opinion, and sometimes is one of the few places in Europe where you can do a back to back with checked luggage! There again my calibration of what Hell looks like may be different to other people.
Jan 12, 2020, 4:30 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: BA, Hilton
Posts: 2,091
For us (and our travel companions who are working their way up the BAEC tree) it was a very stark reminder of how much we'd got used to our status (or cabin) benefits and how much they can smooth the process! Maybe that's no bad thing.....
Jan 12, 2020, 4:44 pm
#9
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,787
Yes I can confirm that Mbuji Mayi airport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is, in my experience, somewhat worse than Cologne. Along with Manchester of course. MJM has the unique experience of having an apron in such poor condition that a number of accidents have been caused purely by aircraft trundling along it.
Jan 12, 2020, 11:01 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 146
The LH SEN lounge is ok for an outstation lounge. In constrast to BA, OLCI works with LH and EW. Distances to the gates typically used by LH (and, to some extent, EW) are relatively short.
The airport facilities are fine for a regional airport: There's a supermarket in the public area, a train station served by both local and high-speed trains, etc.
Finally, the airport's on-time performance is good.
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BA regularly sells o/w tickets between CGN and LGW for as little as EUR/GBP 20. Some guys seem a little confused as to which market BA targets in CGN (and which in DUS).
Last edited by R.O.; Jan 12, 2020 at 11:14 pm