New Mumbai Lounge for Business and First Class Passengers
 

So early this year, Mumbai inaugurated the new international T2 terminal. At that point, it was unclear on what would happen to the Lufthansa Lounges in the old terminal. Soon, the news came out that there will be only one lounge that will be shared by all airlines.

This new lounge was inaugurated in late November & I did get the opportunity to visit the lounge on December 1.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...11644270_o.jpg

My first impression was that this lounge is not as big as the Lufthansa Business Lounge in Frankfurt but evidently I'm wrong. There is more in this lounge that I probably did not notice. I'm posting two articles (courtesy Boardingarea) that might be helpful to Lufthansa frequent flyers. I was flying business, so had access pass to the lounge but I do not know if FTL or SEN members can access it when traveling on Y.

The Lufthansa lounges in old terminal are now closed. I never liked the old lounges anyways but this new one is worth a visit if you are flying via Mumbai (BOM).

http://cnt.condenastindiapv.netdna-c...?itok=-FQPsm4Z

Articles:
Mumbai T2 New Business Lounge - 1

Mumbai T2 New Business Lounge - 2

Conde Naste Traveller Review

That is the GVK lounge, not a LH operated lounge?

Flew Y to BOM lately so I probably only saw the new lounge in expansion progress during my J trip in april.

Well...it can only improve from what it was shall we say :D

Must say that new airport is a huge improvement, especially when travelling business/first. Dedicated security/immigration ^

Only business lounge in Mumbai, but very nice.

Yes. Apparently, airlines will not be allowed to have dedicated lounges. All airlines will share this one GVK lounge. I do not know if that is a good thing or bad thing.

There is also a dedicated pre check-in waiting area for Business/First passengers in case if you reach early i.e. before the check-in counters have opened. This is on the extreme left & right of the airport.

Plus if you are on the LX flight to Zurich or LH flight to MUC, then you are among the first few business/first passengers going through the dedicated security/immigration counters. It is only after midnight when the Mumbai airspace starts getting busy with international flights.

BTW, since the lounge is new, you are escorted by someone to the lounge. Feels like you are getting that royal treatment. :)

Thanks, good to know ^
I thoroughly remember that dreadful waiting area in the old terminal...not enough time to head to the city or a hotel, too much time to be let into the airport.

At least the security guys are getting accustomed to things like tablets and smartphones instead of a printed ticket / confirmation!

How things change...I also remember beginning of the year I was ready with my pen to complete the departure form only to find out they scrapped it. Actually missed that ritual :)

Anyway, sorry for the OT...looking forward to experiencing the lounge on my departure flight from BOM end of the year. Will snap a few pics.

Am I the only one, WHO finds the (lack of) signs for the dedicated security/immigration a prob (I have always difficulties finding it).

*G on Y have access
 

SENs / *G get access with Y class.

The lounge is nice but a crowded in peak times (midnight Fri/Sat at least).

Checked with the LH lounge team: BOM/CSIAs operator, GVK, will not allow airlines to build their own lounges even in the later phases. So it will be three tiers of lounges on the international side: business, premier and VIP. LH will offer business tier access to C/SEN/*G (also in Y), premier tier to F/HON.

Thanks oliver2002.

Do you know whether other M&M privileges will apply? e.g. can you take a guest if you are SEN traveling in Y? Asking because FTL in Y may not be allowed as per Lufthansa website.

I'm thinking I might want one of the carpets to take home with me.

But, oh! Oh my! I have not seen crushed velvet chairs (or side panels--on the red leather chairs) in 30 years.

SEN in Y can take a guest, no access for FTL in Y.

Some more photos of the lounge

http://thedesignair.net/2014/11/27/t...unge-terminal/

I visited the GVK lounge twice recently. The first time I was departing on 9W in Business (Première) and was given a lounge invitation at check-in. The second time I was connecting from 9W (international) to LH F and because I only had a BP issued by 9W and no lounge invitation, the receptionist had to make a couple of phone calls before I was allowed in. Presumably they had to check LH will pay for a small bottle to mineral water and a carton of orange juice I consumed in the lounge! :p

I was expecting to be in a different lounge the second time but ended up in exactly the same lounge as before. It is possible that a roped-off area at the far end adjacent to the buffet/dining area is the First Class section but I was not told about it and did not ask.

I have posted some photos in the India forum.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24146821-post6.html

BOM T2 is a shiny new terminal but LH seems to be relegated to the furthest possible gate and it's a looooong walk on arrival as well on departure. The terminal (which is not yet complete) could certainly do with better management.

Is this the lounge located a flight down from departure level?

I'm yet to find a meaningful floor plan of BOM T2 but it depends on what you mean by 'departure level'. There are actually two lounges, one on level 4 (the lounge I visited) and the Business Lounge on level 3. I believe the latter is accessed via elevators to the left of the reception counter. The entrance to the lounge which is next to Costa Coffee was easy to find from check-in/security so you can say it's on the departure level. It wasn't easy to find from transfer security as there aren't many directional signs. I saw a couple of departure gates on this level (level 4) but the majority of gates (including the one used by LH) appear to be on the level below.

Yes certainly a mishmash type terminal.
Anyway the lounge I visited was packed and more crowded then any coffee shop in the main area.

When was your visit?

The whole floor plan is too large to post here but I'm pretty certain the lounge is where I marked with a green arrow on this partial view of the map of level 4.

http://i.imgur.com/mgaOri6.png

I don't know what is on the other side (righthand side on the plan) of the terminal but it looks like another lounge.

On my second visit when I eventually got away from transfer desks (where dozens of passengers were waiting - a bad sign) and transfer security and went up one level the first lounge entrance I saw was the Pranaam Lounge. I went in and was told that as a First Class passenger I should go to the Clipper Lounge. I had no idea where it was and had to ask an airport employee who led me to the familiar entrance of the GVK Lounge. I don't know whether they are still using the old names of the lounges.

The photos I posted were taken late afternoon when the lounge was practically empty. My second visit was around 2am when the lounge was a lot busier but nothing like what you describe.

Was a Europe return flight , so late night ,few weeks ago.

Looks like if you are LH SEN, then you get access to the Premium GVK Lounge in Mumbai which is on level 4. This was not the case in December. Is this something new?

Actually, found out that LH SEN do not have access to the GVK lounge if travelling in economy. I confirmed this 2 weeks back. The LH website says you have access if you hold SEN card, which is incorrect.

Mumbai Airport Lounge

GVK premier access
 

I travelled last week from Mumbai to Zurich on LX in C and was allowed access to the premier side of the GVK lounge. Interior, food and drink offerings were excellent, there was also a restaurant in the back but I assume it is only for First Class passengers as there was a host standing. As an additional bonus every lounge guest receives a complimentary 15 min foot massage which can be topped up in 15 min increments against pay. Internet connection was fast and reliable and the showers were clean and spacious. Definitely one of the best lounges out there, the new Mumbai airport is also stunning, next time I will definitely accept the waiting golf cart on arrival as the walk to immigration took approximately 15 mins.

Hmm, the LH product manager responsible for Lounge service confirmed to me that M&M SEN and SAG(*G) travelling in Y have access to the GVK Business (not Premier) lounge section.

Great ! Thanks for the update. I'm also clarifying this with LH.

Do you know whether they will honor the SEN +1 guest & kids policy too? Travelling with the family on AI in economy & wondering if I can use the GVK lounge.

Its upto AI for that. AI will issue you lounge passes for LH*G +1, but not for kids. In my case when I asked what to do with my kids in CCU, the AI checkin agent smiled and said 'kids don't count' when I asked 'what?' she smiled and said 'not for star alliance, but also not for the contract lounge'. And indeed at the TfS contract lounge they didn't say anything about the fact that we had the two boys (5&7) with us. They just collected the two lounge passes and let us in. Maybe the same applies in BOM for GVK.

Did not work for me this Saturday. AI agent handed me with 2 passes - one for me and one for my wife but not for my kids (6&9). Talked to AI supervisor - said, he had instructions not to give more than 2 passes. When asked - how do they expect me & my wife to enter the lounge w/o kids - why then even give lounge passes to families (2 A+ children). He blamed it on GVK lounge.

So went to the lounge, access to kids was denied. Called the manager, spoke to her - she said she can only allow the adults and not kids - when asked, what should the kids do? She said - don't know. Then, she said, she can allow only 1 kid. It was getting more and more ridiculous now - sorry to say but it was like begging for them to allow a 6 year old to a lounge. Finally, convinced her to allow wife and kids in the lounge. I went to the loyalty lounge as I had priority pass.

I have sent feedback to AI & possibly sending one to *A. I know won't help much but thought I will try. AI agent said that they have had lot of complaints already. So I would request you all to submit your feedback on AI website -

http://airindia.in/feedback-form.htm

I'm reaching BOM way to early at 7:30 PM before I board the LH 757 to FRA at 2:55 AM. I have booked a 4 hour stay at the new airport transit hotel, Niranta but wondering whether I should head to the Mumbai GVK lounge instead. But that will require me to check-in.

LH 757 departs at 2:55 AM, which means they will open for check-in at around 12:00 midnight. There is a LH flight to Munich that departs at 1:00 AM for which check-in starts at around 10:00 PM.

Does anyone know whether LH agents will check me in early for the LH 757 flight? I don't quite remember but I think they have done that in the past when I showed up at 10:30 PM, almost 4+ hours before departure.

If the desk is open, they will check you in.

Yup, they will!

As UA*G flying with 2 kids all in biz on LH we were denied entry at FRA to the SEN lounge...

It's a *A rule - but LH allows families (with kids) in the SEN lounges if you are SEN or HON...I just haven't had the opportunity to renew SEN and not sure if I will ever be able to do so again.

Yep, more here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/star-...y-lounges.html

Is access allowed with EY*G traveling on EY Y?

Some interesting story here:

I arrived BLR-BOM at 19:00 to connect to LX 155 at 1:20 to ZRH. First thing... connecting from domestic Indian flight you end up land-side. Not a problem I though. Anyway, the security guys (quite rude) did not wanted to let me through security. I had to wait until 2 hours before departure they said. I couldn't really believe I had to wait 4 hours in the check-in area and tried my luck at every security checkpoint until the very last one (around a corner at the far end of the terminal) allowed me in. It is the *business and first class* line and they will only allow access for business and first class customers. Not sure about *G level on Y.

Then arriving slightly annoyed at the GVA lounge the agent was totally clueless what to do with me since I did not had a voucher from the check-in desk... of course not, since I was a connecting passenger and already had my boarding pass. It took him half an hour on the phone to get through to some Swiss agent which told him it is ok for me to enter the lounge and they will accept the charges. Finally, after entering all my details in his log book he declared: "You are allowed in, but due to lounge policies you can only enter the lounge 4 hours before departure. You have to come back at 21:20". Nothing could move him to let me in and I had to wait another hour in the food court on some bench instead of having a nice wine and snack in the lounge. After I arrived back, at 21:20 we started a 0 again and we had to call Swiss... and eventually 30 minutes later I finally sat down in a chair.

Quite annoying and very disappointing experience.

Welcome to India...

Did you notice how many times your BP was checked - even by security guys right before you enter the plane (and then 2 seconds afterwards by the crew welcoming you on board) Hilarious!

And the small sticker that is attached to your hand lugage and stamped when you enter security check - don't loose that on the way to gate area...

(on a different note: Why didn't you take one of the later BLR-BOM flights? There are numerous flights to BOM with various carriers that connect well to the various flights to Europe after midnight/in the very early morning)

Yeah, I was quite used to that... But not to the rudeness and being send away all the time. Last few times my India airport experience was much more pleasant.

Customer paid cheapest J ticket they could find, which was the 5pm flight from BLR with the long layover. I didn't mind looking for something else since I thought I just can relax in the lounge or perhaps the Spa... And to be honest, staying 3 hours more in BLR wasn't too attractive as well ;)

Mumbai's GVK Lounge now has a new dedicated website.

http://mumbailounge.in/gvk-lounge/

I would encourage travelers to submit their experiences and feedback directly to GVK lounge via the website.

Got GVK lounge access when traveling Y on UA for family (2 A + 2 C) on M&M Senator Card. Since I was transiting via BOM, had to go straight to the GVK lounge. The attendant called UA & access was granted. Yes, it did take 15 minutes to get things sorted out as they had to validate my LH SEN status irrespective of me showing them the card.

I am traveling from BOM to ZHR on LX in J as *G. I am new to *A as I have been OWE for many years. Which level of service can I expect at this lounge? On BA (regardless of class flown) as OWE I got the 'First Class' area. On CX as OWE I got the 'Premium Business' section.

Any idea what class of service you get as *G traveling J on LX? I traveled LX in J before from BOM and was in the 'Business Class' area. I am hoping that *G will bump me to the Premium or First sections. Thanks!

You get the business class section of the GVK lounge. The 'First' voucher is only issued for F/HON pax.