C17 and D8 are downstairs, C7 is on the terminal floor. I prefer C7 unless it is overcrowded - if you can get a seat next to the windows the view is better than in C17, which has more seating space.

Nice tour through IAD Turkish and Lufthansa lounges earlier this week. 2-5pm. No issues accessing each one twice as a * Gold. Quick review:

1. Turkish Airlines Lounge had better Wi-Fi but lesser quality food (IMO) and super crowded. The one bartender did a great job even though there were 4-5 people in line for most of my visit. Hard to find a seat anywhere.

2. Lufthansa was empty at the time. Food and drink was great but Wi-fi terrible. Went to Turkish twice and Lufthansa twice overall, they're right next to each other.

Turkish Airline Lounge:


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...351da19423.jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...003a6d59be.jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6f0ef1b490.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...625e598010.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a9999281e5.jpg

Continuing my above post, Lufthansa lounge:


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...1e32880754.jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7887475941.jpg

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...505bc783e8.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e01bdee0f2.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...16eccf7dda.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c35cc9a8e1.jpg

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Based on the photos, it looks like I'd eat in the TK lounge, and then drop the food off in the LH lounge on my way to the gate.

What is the best option for a pre-flight evening meal?

I'm thinking Chef Geoff would be the most convenient plus a variety of menu options. If there is extra time I can then head to the UC fka RCC. Of course this is only free for Chase and Citi PP members and UC members.

In the past I have visited LH when I have extra time, but I'm now thinking the pretzels and beer (as much as I love em) are not worth the hassle of later hiking to Terminal C. And I think TK is jammed early evening.

Nb: I see rumors of a Cap1 lounge opening soon - anybody know the timing for that?

TK lounge is often jammed around the time I am there for the SK IAD-CPH flights or ditching that flight for other plans, but the lounge does have some small waves of emptying out between 4-6:30pm such that I can get a seat somewhere to eat there.

I prefer the TK lounge food to LH’s, and so while I do terminal hop to eat at the TK lounge, I wouldn’t do so for the LH lounge.

I liked Virgin and AF, but think that with travel coming back, they’ve greatly restricted card access. I think LH is a little better now than pre-COVID, and also less crowded since I think the actual international business flyers are all over in the Polaris lounge. TK always crowded, but I manage to get a seat. Still, unless I have a lot of time, I don’t bother with A/B.

The ads in the terminal for the Cap1 Lounge all claim Summer 2023. So it will probably be in 2024 ;)
The location of it won't be good for connecting pax unless you're going between A/B/C/D and Z, as it is going to be located just beyond security in the main terminal.
Probably no worse than getting to the TK/LH lounge from C/D.

Just visited IAD at 6pm Sunday. Here's my take:

• Cap1 lounge - "coming soon" - location will be fantastic for departing passengers as it is just past security checkpoint, you won't have to double back from a lounge in one terminal to a flight in another.
• TK lounge - extremely disappointing. Packed to the gills, probably due to people with PP cards. Food offerings were mediocre, except for the hummus and pita. Line at bar. Lukewarm canned drinks in fridge. Will not waste my time here again.
• LH lounge - fantastic as always. Plenty of open seats, maybe because the staff was turning away PP cards (though I sailed right in with *G domestic UA flight). Sadly the old style pretzels were replaced by greasy inedible pretzel sticks. But they had two wonderful green salads and a host of other delicious food items. Plus the beloved draft beer. Also much closer to the train between terminals than the TK lounge. Will definitely return.
• UC lounge near C17. Very crowded, and the food spread was not nearly as nice as I've seen at LAX, SFO, IAH, etc. The dungeon space is also less appealing than LH. YMMV.

Unfortunately no time to visit the PP restaurants after all the lounge visits. Maybe next time.

Any recommendation on which lounge to shower at in IAD?

1k with PP connecting to LH F

guessing either Polaris or Senator lounge

It's been a long time since I have been in The LH Senator lounge at IAD. Do they even have shower there?
EDIT - Maybe they had some downstairs? But LH website doesn't indicate showers available there...

Would think Polaris would be the best bet anyway, assuming there is not a long wait. Are you transiting during peak time?

TK for now
 

I have not used the showers in the Polaris Lounge. I will be there in November and let you know?
In the meantime, the showers in the TK Lounge are more than adequate. IF you have time to go to Terminal B, try there.

LH have (or maybe now had) showers downstairs. It's been quite a while (years) since I've used them. They were serviceable. PL feels a little nicer, although I have to say I really appreciated the temperature setting (low) at LH.

TK IAD lounge only had one shower(doubles as single occupancy bathroom ) and one bathroom (single occupancy any gender). Quite often there's a line just to use bathroom


believe LH business lounge (basement/downstairs) has more than one shower, and the bathroom (separate gender) is NOT single-occupancy (aka there are stalls/dividers)

Landed at in C gates....

We arrived at the Polaris lounge as someone else (Will post in other thread). Took a while to get in, was an absolute MADHOUSE, mrs and I did a prompt about turn and headed over to Senator Lounge, used the shower downstairs, 100% functional just extraordinarily dated, Room was spacious, which helps. Always hate having to cram into a tiny shower room w/ a suitcase.