Last edit by: nacho
Why does this lounge have its own thread?
Unlike most non–United Club Star Alliance (*A) lounges in the United States, the Lufthansa lounge at IAD is physically accessible to domestic UA passengers. This means:
There are two floors to the lounge: the concourse level, where you enter and check in, which also has the Senator lounge with ample windows; and the lower level, which has the Business lounge and showers. (The showers are very nice; on par with Senator lounge showers in Lufthansa's Frankfurt hub.)
The Senator lounge offers a complimentary buffet throughout the day, including hot dishes, salads, and dry snacks, and has draught beer and a full open bar including champagne, available upon request.
[Need description of FTL offering. Include photos?]
How do I get there?
The lounge is located at the center of the B concourse, from where non-US airlines depart, to the right of the Aerotrain escalators as you enter the concourse from the train.
Hours have changed seasonally, but, as of April 2014, are 8:20 to 21:30 except Mondays, when the lounge closes at 17:30. It also closes daily from 12:00 to 13:30. Some report the lounge opening earlier on occasion and some report it closing earlier on occasion.
From TSA/check-in, the B concourse is one stop away by Aerotrain, but in the opposite direction of the C concourse from where most United flights depart. Allow 20 minutes between the center of the C concourse and the Lufthansa Lounge. The longest part of the trip is the walk between the C concourse proper and its Aerotrain stop. Between concourses B and C, the Aerotrain makes two stops: one at concourse A and one at the main terminal/TSA/baggage claim.
How do I get inside?
With...
In all cases, each guest must also present a same-day *A boarding pass for admission.
Lounge access for travel in a domestic premium cabin is not regulated by *A; as such, UA F domestic passengers (without other credentials) do not have access to the LH Lounge according to *A.com, just as they do not have access to the United Clubs. However, the international requirement for C/F tickets is conspicuously absent from Lufthansa's own lounge access sheet (see below), and domestic UA F passengers have reported admission. (Senator lounge, 1 guest)
[If we get (semi-)official confirmation of this policy, we'll add this to the bullets.]
Provided the lounge does not get overcrowded, as is often the case on US-based LH lounges, you may exit and re-enter the lounge as often as you wish. Note that if you are entering on a lounge pass, which are issued by Lufthansa to their own elites for various reasons, re-entry might not be allowed.
(If your access question wasn't addressed by the above, first check the *A access policy and LH's official access policy [generally relying on the least restrictive policy of the two if they appear to conflict], and if they answer a question that this wiki couldn't, update this wiki to help others! And if they don't, ask in the thread!)
So, can I use the lounge upon arrival in IAD?
Only LH/LX SEN/HON (on any *A carrier) and LH/LX F passengers have access to the lounge upon arrival at IAD without regard to onward travel. See the list above for more details. There are reports, however, of passengers not meeting this criteria presenting their arriving boarding pass and still being admitted.
Furthermore, note that, by virtue of not having access to the terminal, no international passenger whose journey ends at IAD has access to the lounge; they will be ferried by mobile lounge to the International Arrivals Building, which deposits passengers landside. [Can pax without checked bags choose to clear CBP in concourse C regardless? Also, do arriving passengers on LH/LX/*A F/C connecting at IAD to Y-class flights have access? According to LH.com, pax arriving in C on LH/LX can use the lounges in Germany and at JFK upon arrival to freshen up. Is the same courtesy extended at IAD?]
How does the Senator lounge compare to the newest Senator lounges in FRA?
Not favorably. The Senator lounge is like the old FRA lounges (cramped, and before a LH flight departure, crowded). Perhaps due to the crowding, LH offers its departing F pax preboarding from the Senator lounge, something which the FRA/MUC FCT/FCL does not offer but is common among LH's outstation lounges. So, enjoying champagne and macadamias at the nose or upper deck while waiting is a nice feature of the IAD Senator lounge.
This sounds too good to be true!
Lufthansa agrees! If the rumors are true, as of January 1, 2015, LH's Business Lounges will become its *G lounges, which means non-LH *Gs will be directed downstairs to the Business lounge after that date. There's some discussion of exceptions, most notable being that *G traveling in longhaul business class will still be admitted to the SEN lounge. Lufthansa has been more generous than most *A airlines in admitting *Gs to its designated *A First class lounges—not even UA's own 1Ks get to visit United's first class lounges without a first class ticket—so this change will bring Lufthansa somewhat more in line with the rest of the alliance. Went to the LH IAD lounge in June 2016 with TK G and SK BP flying Y, we were directed into the Senator lounge.
Unlike most non–United Club Star Alliance (*A) lounges in the United States, the Lufthansa lounge at IAD is physically accessible to domestic UA passengers. This means:
- United *G members may access the lounge on domestic itineraries, even though they wouldn't be allowed free access to the United Clubs on such itineraries.
- Passengers who otherwise have United Club access, whether due to a paid membership or a foreign *G card, have the option of a vastly superior lounge in IAD.
There are two floors to the lounge: the concourse level, where you enter and check in, which also has the Senator lounge with ample windows; and the lower level, which has the Business lounge and showers. (The showers are very nice; on par with Senator lounge showers in Lufthansa's Frankfurt hub.)
The Senator lounge offers a complimentary buffet throughout the day, including hot dishes, salads, and dry snacks, and has draught beer and a full open bar including champagne, available upon request.
[Need description of FTL offering. Include photos?]
How do I get there?
The lounge is located at the center of the B concourse, from where non-US airlines depart, to the right of the Aerotrain escalators as you enter the concourse from the train.
Hours have changed seasonally, but, as of April 2014, are 8:20 to 21:30 except Mondays, when the lounge closes at 17:30. It also closes daily from 12:00 to 13:30. Some report the lounge opening earlier on occasion and some report it closing earlier on occasion.
From TSA/check-in, the B concourse is one stop away by Aerotrain, but in the opposite direction of the C concourse from where most United flights depart. Allow 20 minutes between the center of the C concourse and the Lufthansa Lounge. The longest part of the trip is the walk between the C concourse proper and its Aerotrain stop. Between concourses B and C, the Aerotrain makes two stops: one at concourse A and one at the main terminal/TSA/baggage claim.
How do I get inside?
With...
- Any Star Gold (*G) card (including UA Premier Gold and higher) and a same-day departing *A boarding pass in any class to any destination, domestic or international. There are reports (April 2014) that the physical card is no longer necessary; a *G designation on the boarding pass reflected in the barcode may be sufficient. (Senator lounge, 1 guest)
- A LH/LX HON/SEN card and a same-day departing or arriving *A boarding pass to/from any destination, domestic or international. (Senator lounge, 1 guest [plus spouse if HON] plus children under 18)
- A LH/LX FTL card and a same-day departing *A boarding pass in any class to any destination, domestic or international. (Business lounge, no guests)
- A LH Premium Economy boarding pass with ($35 adult/$20 2-12yo child) lounge pass purchased at the ticket counter. [Can it be paid at the entrance?] (Business lounge, no guests)
- A United Club or Maple Leaf Lounge Worldwide membership card and a same-day departing *A boarding pass in any class to any destination, domestic or international. (Business lounge, 1 guest)
- A same-day international departing *A First (Senator lounge, 1 guest) or Business (Business lounge, no guests) boarding pass
- A same-day arriving LH/LX First boarding pass. (Senator lounge, 1 guest)
In all cases, each guest must also present a same-day *A boarding pass for admission.
Lounge access for travel in a domestic premium cabin is not regulated by *A; as such, UA F domestic passengers (without other credentials) do not have access to the LH Lounge according to *A.com, just as they do not have access to the United Clubs. However, the international requirement for C/F tickets is conspicuously absent from Lufthansa's own lounge access sheet (see below), and domestic UA F passengers have reported admission. (Senator lounge, 1 guest)
[If we get (semi-)official confirmation of this policy, we'll add this to the bullets.]
Provided the lounge does not get overcrowded, as is often the case on US-based LH lounges, you may exit and re-enter the lounge as often as you wish. Note that if you are entering on a lounge pass, which are issued by Lufthansa to their own elites for various reasons, re-entry might not be allowed.
(If your access question wasn't addressed by the above, first check the *A access policy and LH's official access policy [generally relying on the least restrictive policy of the two if they appear to conflict], and if they answer a question that this wiki couldn't, update this wiki to help others! And if they don't, ask in the thread!)
So, can I use the lounge upon arrival in IAD?
Only LH/LX SEN/HON (on any *A carrier) and LH/LX F passengers have access to the lounge upon arrival at IAD without regard to onward travel. See the list above for more details. There are reports, however, of passengers not meeting this criteria presenting their arriving boarding pass and still being admitted.
Furthermore, note that, by virtue of not having access to the terminal, no international passenger whose journey ends at IAD has access to the lounge; they will be ferried by mobile lounge to the International Arrivals Building, which deposits passengers landside. [Can pax without checked bags choose to clear CBP in concourse C regardless? Also, do arriving passengers on LH/LX/*A F/C connecting at IAD to Y-class flights have access? According to LH.com, pax arriving in C on LH/LX can use the lounges in Germany and at JFK upon arrival to freshen up. Is the same courtesy extended at IAD?]
How does the Senator lounge compare to the newest Senator lounges in FRA?
Not favorably. The Senator lounge is like the old FRA lounges (cramped, and before a LH flight departure, crowded). Perhaps due to the crowding, LH offers its departing F pax preboarding from the Senator lounge, something which the FRA/MUC FCT/FCL does not offer but is common among LH's outstation lounges. So, enjoying champagne and macadamias at the nose or upper deck while waiting is a nice feature of the IAD Senator lounge.
This sounds too good to be true!
Lufthansa agrees! If the rumors are true, as of January 1, 2015, LH's Business Lounges will become its *G lounges, which means non-LH *Gs will be directed downstairs to the Business lounge after that date. There's some discussion of exceptions, most notable being that *G traveling in longhaul business class will still be admitted to the SEN lounge. Lufthansa has been more generous than most *A airlines in admitting *Gs to its designated *A First class lounges—not even UA's own 1Ks get to visit United's first class lounges without a first class ticket—so this change will bring Lufthansa somewhat more in line with the rest of the alliance. Went to the LH IAD lounge in June 2016 with TK G and SK BP flying Y, we were directed into the Senator lounge.
Consolidated "Access to Lufthansa Lounge at IAD" Thread [Merged]
#766
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
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In the past, I have presented my onward domestic F bp and I have been granted access to the lounge (upstairs) but here's my question....
I'm flying SFO-LAX-BOS (red-eye)-IAD-SAV/SAV-IAD-SFO
I arrive BOS-IAD at 11:30am and continue on to SAV at 5pm but my IAD-SAV flight is UX on a CrJ 200 with no f/c so will I be granted lounge access showing my IAD-SAV bp and if yes, upstairs or downstairs?
And if not granted access, would simply showing my F bp for my return flight IAD-SFO at 10 pm suffice as it has in the past
I'm flying SFO-LAX-BOS (red-eye)-IAD-SAV/SAV-IAD-SFO
I arrive BOS-IAD at 11:30am and continue on to SAV at 5pm but my IAD-SAV flight is UX on a CrJ 200 with no f/c so will I be granted lounge access showing my IAD-SAV bp and if yes, upstairs or downstairs?
And if not granted access, would simply showing my F bp for my return flight IAD-SFO at 10 pm suffice as it has in the past
#767
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 21,606
In the past, I have presented my onward domestic F bp and I have been granted access to the lounge (upstairs) but here's my question....
I'm flying SFO-LAX-BOS (red-eye)-IAD-SAV/SAV-IAD-SFO
I arrive BOS-IAD at 11:30am and continue on to SAV at 5pm but my IAD-SAV flight is UX on a CrJ 200 with no f/c so will I be granted lounge access showing my IAD-SAV bp and if yes, upstairs or downstairs?
And if not granted access, would simply showing my F bp for my return flight IAD-SFO at 10 pm suffice as it has in the past
I'm flying SFO-LAX-BOS (red-eye)-IAD-SAV/SAV-IAD-SFO
I arrive BOS-IAD at 11:30am and continue on to SAV at 5pm but my IAD-SAV flight is UX on a CrJ 200 with no f/c so will I be granted lounge access showing my IAD-SAV bp and if yes, upstairs or downstairs?
And if not granted access, would simply showing my F bp for my return flight IAD-SFO at 10 pm suffice as it has in the past
#768
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,852
In the past, I have presented my onward domestic F bp and I have been granted access to the lounge (upstairs) but here's my question....
I'm flying SFO-LAX-BOS (red-eye)-IAD-SAV/SAV-IAD-SFO
I arrive BOS-IAD at 11:30am and continue on to SAV at 5pm but my IAD-SAV flight is UX on a CrJ 200 with no f/c so will I be granted lounge access showing my IAD-SAV bp and if yes, upstairs or downstairs?
And if not granted access, would simply showing my F bp for my return flight IAD-SFO at 10 pm suffice as it has in the past
I'm flying SFO-LAX-BOS (red-eye)-IAD-SAV/SAV-IAD-SFO
I arrive BOS-IAD at 11:30am and continue on to SAV at 5pm but my IAD-SAV flight is UX on a CrJ 200 with no f/c so will I be granted lounge access showing my IAD-SAV bp and if yes, upstairs or downstairs?
And if not granted access, would simply showing my F bp for my return flight IAD-SFO at 10 pm suffice as it has in the past
#769
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
Posts: 28,878
Goalie: Dont get confused with the F thing here. You are *Gold, just use your *Gold and a BP for same day flight on any *Gold Carrier UA is good and your in the LH Senator Lounge ( upstairs ) entry level as you come in. Downstairs is not as nice, less food and drink and just metal table and chairs. But the showers are there, if you want one the matron upstairs calls downstairs and the nice lady greets you with some towels..
#770
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: TIP,PDX
Programs: UA 1p, GF Gold, EK
Posts: 397
So as long as one is *G (which I am as a 1k) and an onward *G bp in any cabin, it's access to upstairs as I have done in the past but now I'm confused.....who get access to downstairs? (and yes, the showers downstairs [and the vittles upstairs] are nice as I have done both )
business class is for those in biz class, and senator is the *G's. senator lounges are nicer.
#771
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
Posts: 28,878
#772
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YYZ/BUF
Programs: A3*G, AB*S. TK*G, AB, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 29
Will find out in Aug
My companion and I are traveling domestically through IAD on United, he's in F and I'm in C. We'll see if he can access the LH Lounge at IAD, and if a companion is also allowed with the F passenger...w/o *G card.
#773
At least domestic *Gold F works
They scanned my mobile boarding pass (which incidentally, showed the time for the missed flight from an hour and half ago) and my *Gold card and waved me in. The F ticket was on an ERJ.
Don't know if this would work for coach-- but Flying Machine has clarified that it's just *G that provides the access.
Last edited by transparent; Jul 2, 2012 at 8:59 am Reason: Just saw previous post
#774
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 21,606
I am sitting in the lounge with a domestic F ticket on United (got misconnected so have some time to kill after being rerouted to Delta in the B gates, it's too far to walk to A or D to try and get a meal voucher so thought I'd give this a shot).
They scanned my mobile boarding pass (which incidentally, showed the time for the missed flight from an hour and half ago) and my *Gold card and waved me in. The F ticket was on an ERJ.
Don't know if this would work for coach.
They scanned my mobile boarding pass (which incidentally, showed the time for the missed flight from an hour and half ago) and my *Gold card and waved me in. The F ticket was on an ERJ.
Don't know if this would work for coach.
#775
Senator Lounge is nice
Much nicer than any UC I've been in to date-- everything is a step up. Furnishings, food options, newspaper options, lighting. They even have air freshener in the bathroom!
The UC at ORD in Terminal 1 at the end of the B concourse was quite disappointing, with the only food options cheese and crackers or cereal/yogurt depending on time of day.
The UC at ORD in Terminal 1 at the end of the B concourse was quite disappointing, with the only food options cheese and crackers or cereal/yogurt depending on time of day.
#776
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,913
Flying IAD-LHR on UA in C. It looks like I should have access to the LH Lounge. I am on the 10 PM departure. The lounge will be open the entirety before my flight because there is the IAD-MUC departure at 10 PM too. Do they close a section of the lounge though at this hour? Thanks.
#777
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: UA-1K, Hertz-Gold, Marriott-Gold, PC-Platinum, SPG
Posts: 2,777
Does any one know how early the lounge opens in the morning these days?
*G card has always worked at the LH lounge; the question is whether one can get in without the *G card attached to a domestic F BP.
It was interesting to know that one can get in with an expired BP though :-)
I am sitting in the lounge with a domestic F ticket on United (got misconnected so have some time to kill after being rerouted to Delta in the B gates, it's too far to walk to A or D to try and get a meal voucher so thought I'd give this a shot).
They scanned my mobile boarding pass (which incidentally, showed the time for the missed flight from an hour and half ago) and my *Gold card and waved me in. The F ticket was on an ERJ.
Don't know if this would work for coach-- but Flying Machine has clarified that it's just *G that provides the access.
They scanned my mobile boarding pass (which incidentally, showed the time for the missed flight from an hour and half ago) and my *Gold card and waved me in. The F ticket was on an ERJ.
Don't know if this would work for coach-- but Flying Machine has clarified that it's just *G that provides the access.
It was interesting to know that one can get in with an expired BP though :-)
#778
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,050
8AM-9:30PM
Does any one know how early the lounge opens in the morning these days?
*G card has always worked at the LH lounge; the question is whether one can get in without the *G card attached to a domestic F BP.
It was interesting to know that one can get in with an expired BP though :-)
*G card has always worked at the LH lounge; the question is whether one can get in without the *G card attached to a domestic F BP.
It was interesting to know that one can get in with an expired BP though :-)
#779
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 21,606
8:20am as of two weeks ago.