No more 'LH' staff in lounges?
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 10,904
No more 'LH' staff in lounges?
I was talking to a LH staffer in the FRA A lounge (and I do know the different between contract employee and LH staff
) who told me that ALL LH-employed lounge staff are going 'in Germany' and they will be replaced by contracted employees.
What does this mean? A ground handling agent taking over this? Or just putting the G4S (or whatever they are) BP scanner bots on the desk? Ie, no more access to Altea.
LH have already rolled out remote ticketing in many stations, the best they can do is issue an XBAG, and they refer pax to a helpline which is excellent at driving passenger satisfaction for repeat business.

What does this mean? A ground handling agent taking over this? Or just putting the G4S (or whatever they are) BP scanner bots on the desk? Ie, no more access to Altea.
LH have already rolled out remote ticketing in many stations, the best they can do is issue an XBAG, and they refer pax to a helpline which is excellent at driving passenger satisfaction for repeat business.
#2
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: ST E+, *G, some hotel gold...
Posts: 6,832
I was talking to a LH staffer in the FRA A lounge (and I do know the different between contract employee and LH staff
) who told me that ALL LH-employed lounge staff are going 'in Germany' and they will be replaced by contracted employees.
What does this mean? A ground handling agent taking over this? Or just putting the G4S (or whatever they are) BP scanner bots on the desk? Ie, no more access to Altea.
LH have already rolled out remote ticketing in many stations, the best they can do is issue an XBAG, and they refer pax to a helpline which is excellent at driving passenger satisfaction for repeat business.

What does this mean? A ground handling agent taking over this? Or just putting the G4S (or whatever they are) BP scanner bots on the desk? Ie, no more access to Altea.
LH have already rolled out remote ticketing in many stations, the best they can do is issue an XBAG, and they refer pax to a helpline which is excellent at driving passenger satisfaction for repeat business.
Obviously I hadn't tried it in person though.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,QR Platinum,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold, HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
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I was talking to a LH staffer in the FRA A lounge (and I do know the different between contract employee and LH staff
) who told me that ALL LH-employed lounge staff are going 'in Germany' and they will be replaced by contracted employees.
What does this mean? A ground handling agent taking over this? Or just putting the G4S (or whatever they are) BP scanner bots on the desk? Ie, no more access to Altea.
LH have already rolled out remote ticketing in many stations, the best they can do is issue an XBAG, and they refer pax to a helpline which is excellent at driving passenger satisfaction for repeat business.

What does this mean? A ground handling agent taking over this? Or just putting the G4S (or whatever they are) BP scanner bots on the desk? Ie, no more access to Altea.
LH have already rolled out remote ticketing in many stations, the best they can do is issue an XBAG, and they refer pax to a helpline which is excellent at driving passenger satisfaction for repeat business.
I have asked for a seat change for my MUC-AYT flight which was after EWR-MUC at the EWR service desk, both employees were contracted agents ( did not even have name tags ) which told me that I should ask it at Munich as they are not allowed to touch at reservations. Of course, during the TATL, someone has took the empty exit row seats which I was unable to get it online.
Previously, pre-COVID, I recall seeing and served by German speaking, Lufthansa agents at this lounge with Lufthansa name tags.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 10,904
I'm surprised that none of the insiders replied to my post, its a big thing if true.
I'll DM Frank Schrder, he must know, I can't think of anyone else who is 5* Lifetime HON, VIP King Customer, he's very well informed
I'll DM Frank Schrder, he must know, I can't think of anyone else who is 5* Lifetime HON, VIP King Customer, he's very well informed
#5
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Geneva
Programs: LX SEN, AFKL Platinum, BA Bronze,
Posts: 5,105
Looked further: finally found out about the Der HON character. Thanks for enlightening me, he reminds me of some of the other HON not wearing silly hats.
#6
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN**
Posts: 47,093
LLS, the company that operates the lounges, has gone to GateGourmet as part of the LSG sale. Out side of FRA & MUC all LH ground staff has been let go over the past two years and the handling agent is in charge. Lounges in FRA/MUC will retain a desk with LH agents to assist in irregs, but the entry check will go back to contract staff as it was before the pandemic.
LH lounges in outstations have staff from the handling agent where they think it is needed to assist.
LH lounges in outstations have staff from the handling agent where they think it is needed to assist.
#7
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Star Alliance Gold, Oneworld Silver
Posts: 634
To be honest its a bit pointless to have LH staff at or just after lounge entrances, and Securitas or whatever the security people are called- although normally rude, abrupt and lacking skills in English and especially German- should be capable of swiping a boarding pass and saying yes or no to entry. I had always assumed that the LH staff just inside the lounges were check-in/gate staff who have a shift in the lounge occasionally... But of course that would mean flexibility, efficiency etc... And who needs that just now...?😏
Last edited by FlyerLX; Oct 6, 21 at 1:03 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,607
LLS, the company that operates the lounges, has gone to GateGourmet as part of the LSG sale. Out side of FRA & MUC all LH ground staff has been let go over the past two years and the handling agent is in charge. Lounges in FRA/MUC will retain a desk with LH agents to assist in irregs, but the entry check will go back to contract staff as it was before the pandemic.
LH lounges in outstations have staff from the handling agent where they think it is needed to assist.
LH lounges in outstations have staff from the handling agent where they think it is needed to assist.
#10
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,179
#11
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: ZRH
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Posts: 802
Start collecting the mobile phone numbers of the station managers. This is pretty useful - especially in NAM.
#12
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,607
Wouldn't say too many, I've been checked in by the manager herself at ATL so it should work with just asking.
Got an example on what I should call/text them for? I assume you have better luck getting numbers since you're HON.
#14
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN**
Posts: 47,093
MUC lounge staff is also LLS/gategourmet, they had a change of uniform too. The 2-3 agents at the desk for pax assistance are the usual gate/checkin staff employed by LH.
#15
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