PC equivalent at DTW?
 

After much hemming and hawing I finally decided to renew my PC membership. I fly from DTW so I've always used the NW Clubs. I really didn't want to renew without a lounge at my home airport, but I did a search on CO.com for lounges we're affiliated with. I came across Lufthansa Business Lounge, and it states on CO's page that as a Gold Star Alliance member and a President's Club member, I should gain access to this lounge. Not sure where it is, but I am wondering if anyone else has had recent access to this lounge, either at DTW or another airport, and if there was any trouble gaining entry?

I have my new PC card and my new CO Platinum card with the Gold Star Alliance logo on the front. That SHOULD be all I need, right?

Any info on these Lufthansa lounges would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

Lufthansa lounge is in the North terminal next to United and Lufthansa gates (it's between D6 and D8). It's open around 1:30-5:30pm daily. (Probably not much use to you if you depart on a CO flight due to its location).

All you need is your star gold card (physical card needed) and a BP for a star alliance flight (domestic economy is fine). Your PC membership is entirely immaterial (and does not grant you access). (The only other domestic LH lounge is in IAD, B terminal - same rules apply, although their hours are slightly better.)

FYI, here's an article about the upcoming CO move to the North terminal next March.

The CO lounge access page indicates that PC members have access to the DTW LH business lounge. I assume that this means with the usual lounge access criteria, i.e. access for *golds and paid lounge members when departing on a *a carrier. Has anyone experienced something different at IAD/DTW? I remember that AF was quirky about letting PC members into the IAD AF lounge. (Actually I never was allowed into an AF lounge...but that's another post)

Here are some thoughts form a UA point of view about the LH lounge at DTW:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-detroit.html?

See LH's own access policy - http://www.lufthansa.com/online/port...en&cid=1000390
No mention of partners, and at least according to several posts on here they could care less about RCC membership (so PC is likely in the same category). But by all means feel free to try anyways.

(However, also note being a star gold gets you into the Senator side of the lounge, which is better).

Interesting. I imagine that's probably the reasoning behind construction D1/D3/D5 (likely the gates CO would get), or at least part of the reason why they're only now starting to finish those up.

Two questions:

1. How easy/difficult is it to get from terminal to terminal (if I am flying CO but want to use LH lounge prior to a 6PMish flight)?

2. Am I correct to understand that there are two lounges; Senator and Business? Which one is better and why?

Thanks.

Dunno about #1 (though I don't think it is possible). For #2, assuming there are two lounges, Senator is better. More/better food and booze choices as well as better seating. That is a pretty consistent theme across all LH Senator/Business lounges.

Dang, I stumped sbm12! I didn't think THAT was possible.

You can't. TSA in north terminal wouldn't let you in without a BP for a flight leaving that terminal. (Also, you'd have to clear TSA in both terminals, and wait for a shuttle between - it's an easy 45 minutes between LH lounge and CO gates, if not more).

Well, my hunch was right. I just wasn't certain of it. :p

If I am a PC member with no status and I have a LH boarding pass, will I be allowed in the LH Senator lounge at DTW? If so, what will get me in, my boarding pass, pc membership, or both?

PC membership, star alliance gold or business class ticket/intercontinental itinerary will get you in.

In which cabin are you flying?

If in Y then the PC membership should get you in. If in C then the BP should get you into the lounge.

I'm flying international to FRA, cheapest coach seat I can find. What if my ticket is not in Y? I plan on purchasing my ticket through a search engine (e.g., travelocity), so I'm not likely to buy a full Y fare. Will they still let me in if I bring my PC card?

p.s. if I instead buy a non-LH ticket, but still *A, will I receive admission to the LH club if I show my PC membership card?

I meant "Y" as in the coach cabin. Your PC card should be enough to get in, regardless of ticketed cabin.

Is a LH boarding pass req'd, or will any *A ticket get me in with my PC card?

All you need is a PC club card. If you are a PC club member, you have reciprocal access to any *A member airline club.

So a PC member flying AA out of the DTW North terminal has access?

I know this quote is old, but just FYI, CO will be using D1, D2 & D8 at North Terminal. D4 & D6 are already occupied by UA and D5/D3 are shared-use widebody international gates (D5 is the primary for LH). The LH club is right there with all of those gates. (US is the only *A member not co-located -- they are down at the other end of the concourse using D14, D24, D25 & D26.)

The LH club actually opens much earlier -- more like 9 a.m. -- though I have heard they may open even earlier after CO moved over.

That's not true. All *A airlines must grant members of any *A club reciprocal access as part of the *A agreement. Your PC (or US Airways Club, RCC Club, etc.) card will grant you access to the LH club.

Yes. It's all detailed on CO's Web site: http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...affiliate.aspx

Don't think so unless the DTW LH lounge is special somehow.
From the 'PC members' section of http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...ge/access.aspx (although these two quotes from the same section seem to disagree with each other :rolleyes: - but both are clear that a *A BP is required for PC members at *A lounges other than US, UA, and CO lounges).

Worth noting that these lounges owned by international carriers are sometimes segregated into two lounges with different credentials.

LH, for example, has the Senator and Business lounges in the same space. The PC card will get you into the Business lounge, whereas the *G card should get you into either. The Senator lounge is better.

SAS is the same way with Scandinavian Lounge vs. Business Lounge.

So if you have multiple credentials, in these cases it's better to use the *G card instead of the PC card.

Just to clarify, neither *G status nor a LH boarding pass are required for admission to the DTW LH lounge? Any *A boarding pass and a PC member card is all that is needed for admittance?

Again, that is correct. Don't take my word for it... visit the table on CO's site that details access requirements to all affiliated clubs worldwide at http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...affiliate.aspx.

Did you READ the page to which I posted the link? It has a table of every airport and then notes the credentials required to access each specific lounge at that specific airport.

If you select "affiliated lounges" -- then go to Detroit -- you'll clearly see that all PC members have access to the LH lounge. It couldn't be more clear.

That said, you'll note that the site explains all PC members have access to the LH Business Lounge, whereas one must be a BusinessFirst Customer or Eligible Star Alliance Gold Member to access the LH Senator Lounge. At DTW, the lounge is generally empty except just before the LH departure, so they don't generally open the Senator Lounge until the late afternoon anyway.

IMHO, especially since DTW was the first to get the "new style" LH lounge concept in the USA (though it's no longer alone), the Business Lounge is MORE than adequate... it's a heck of a lot nicer than most of the PC's I've visited!

Missed your snarky response when it was on page 1. It could actually be a lot more clear, and to me it seems 99.9% likely you are wrong. Unless you have actually tried accessing this club using a PC card while not flying a *A international itinerary and got in.

The page you linked to says that there are circumstances under which PC members have access to the LH Business lounge in DTW. (That is why there is a blue dot there.) But the general conditions for PC members must still apply. You are ignoring the small print at the top of the page saying Customers must be ticketed on a Continental flight to gain access to international affiliated lounges. Now, I realize DTW is not international for CO, but I'm sure this exception is intended to cover this case. You are also ignoring the general PC member lounge access conditions I linked to in my previous post.

The CO access is through *A lounge reciprocity, so it should be the same as for RCC members unless CO has a special deal with LH or with this lounge. RCC members would not get access if not flying *A internationally ('Reciprocal club privileges extended to United Red Carpet Club members at U.S. Airways Club® when traveling on domestic U.S. Airways flights, and at the lounges of Star Alliance® member airlines when traveling internationally on those carriers' says the pre-CO in *A page at http://www.united.com/page/article/1...ccMoreFeatures).

So, in summary, your argument is based on the absence of a little footnote for Detroit on a long listing of lounges that clearly wasn't designed around the highly special case of *A lounges operated by airlines other than US, UA, ans CO within the USA. On the other hand, there are lots of indications that PC members do not get access to *A lounges in general unless flying a *A carrier. Unless you have tried it, I don't believe you are right. I hope you are right, but I don't think so.

A boarding pass on a *A flight is required in all circumstances. What else you need (*G card, PC card, nothing) varies on what is on that boarding pass of course.

Furthermore, before you get gungho about what continental.com says, be aware that lufthansa.com doesn't even mention paid memberships as a valid access mechanism. (Sure, that may be just because it's a rarely used one). In any case, you'll find much better luck looking at the operating carrier's website than any others (CO included); most airlines could care less what any other airline's website says.


As per lufthansa.com the hours are 2:30-6. I would very much like them to open earlier, but considering they only have one evening flight they have no reason to do so. Pardon my pessimism until I see something to the contrary (I take frequent morning flights out of DTW and yet to see them open then).

With some notable exceptions, including the LH FCT/FCLs in FRA/MUC which are strictly LH/LX only.

Let me try to summarize. PC members without status can NOT access the DTW Sen Lounge if they are flying a *a carrier domestically. Access for PC members is only allowed for international itineraries on a *A carrier. Correct?

I know this is an old post and the question I have might not relate to this post but could not find a thread I could post my question.

First, I am Plat and have PC card and went to the LH lounge in DTW today as my flight was flying out of D1. I handed my PC card/ID which she just glanced at but wanted to see my BP. She wrote down few things on her clipboard form some info off my BP and I was in. It was a Senator club, I think. I club was nice and the spread was nice and different from PC. And they had single malt scotch. But I was neither hungry and it was a little too early for me to enjoy the fine drink :(

Now my question - has anyone visited the LH club recently and if so, what is the hot meal they serve called? It was some kind of lasgna with lots of cheeze and spinach. One of my hobbies is cooking and I would like to know the name of that dish so I can get some recipe ideas from Google.

I must say I am still confused about this. I am thinking of getting a PC card so that I can enjoy some lounges around the world without having *A Silver or Gold.

The CO site clearly states that "Customers must be ticketed on a Continental flight to gain access to international affiliated lounges. Access can be limited at peak periods" and then lists a whole range of international lounges.

http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...affiliate.aspx


My question is, can I access lounges listed with the blue dot if I have a PC but not a boarding pass of a CO flight?

As I interpret it, yes, I would be, however, I would need a Continental boarding pass and the PC card to access lounges that doesnt have the blue dot.

Is that right?

Thanks.

Similar situation with me in DTW a few weeks ago (PC member, but she wanted to see the BP for a sec... I was on US, but that didn't matter).

I was there early in the morning, maybe 830AM? There wasn't any hot food at that time :(

I have no status, lifetime PC membership and was flying CO domestic Y on a mileage run cheap fare with my beautiful, yet no status, girlfriend. My experience this weekend:

Arriving in DTW=no access
Departing DTW=access

Hope this helps.

I've started flying EWR-DTW on a regular basis and just today realized that I could use the Lufthansa lounge. I had to show my BP and PC club card, then the agent motioned me to the right (not sure which side - Senator or Business - I was on). Very nice, clean well appointed club with things you'd never find in a PC, like bottled water, hot food/soup, and best of all, see below.....


Only downside is that they close at 6:30pm after the daily LH flight leaves, so no luck if you're on an evening flight.






http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/z...ansaclub-1.jpg