- Introduction: Swiping Left On TAAG Angola
- Review: Star Alliance First Class Lounge LAX
- Review: Lufthansa First Class A340 Los Angeles To Munich
- Review: Lufthansa New First Class Lounge Munich Airport
- Review: TAAG Angola First Class 777 Lisbon To Luanda
- Review: TAAG Angola Lounge Luanda Airport
- Review: TAAG First Class 777 Luanda To Sao Paulo
- Review: American Admirals Club Sao Paulo Airport
- Review: LATAM Lounge Sao Paulo Airport
- Review: American Business Class 787-9 Sao Paulo To Los Angeles
My connection in Munich was roughly two hours, as I was arriving shortly before 2PM from Los Angeles, and departing at 4PM to London. I was excited to finally be checking out Lufthansa’s new first class lounge Munich, located in the terminal 2 satellite. The lounge opened in April 2016, so I guess it’s not that new anymore, but it was my first visit. This is one of two Lufthansa first class lounges at Munich Airport — I’ve used the older one many times, though only most recently reviewed it in 2013.
Lufthansa’s satellite first class lounge is open daily from 5AM until 10PM, and is located opposite gates K11/L11, on level six. Fortunately this was right by the gate I arrived at. First I saw the signage for the Senator Lounge and Business Lounge, and then just a bit further down the hall was the signage for the First Class Lounge.
Munich Airport terminal
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich exterior
The lounge can be accessed either by elevator or stairs.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich elevator
Just inside the entrance are a few host stands, where I was greeted by a friendly lady. She welcomed me in and then spent a minute checking the information for my departing gate. She confirmed that since my connecting flight was departing from a remote stand, I’d be driven to the plane in a car. She held onto my passport (since the lounge can be used by both Schengen and non-Schengen passengers) and told me to be back at the reception desk at 3:40PM.
I love the fact that she specifically pointed out that it was good news that my flight was departing from a remote stand (otherwise you don’t get driven to the plane). My kind of lady!
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich reception desk
The lounge is mostly in an “L” shape, with the first two thirds of the lounge being mostly traditional lounge seating, and then the back third of the lounge being the restaurant area. The entire lounge is just over 10,000 square feet and has a seating capacity of 80, so it’s both a large and spacious lounge. Other airlines would fit hundreds of passengers into a 10,000 square foot lounge.
It can be tough for airlines to get creative when it comes to their seating arrangements, though I think Lufthansa does a brilliant job in their first class lounges. Each seating area is different and has just a few chairs. Furthermore, they use partitions between all the sections to make you feel like you almost have a semi-private living room. I also like the variety of snacks they put on the tables, which make great edible decorations.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge table display
One thing you’ll see in the below picture that I completely missed when I visited is the lounge’s outdoor terrace. I have no clue how I missed this, but what a cool feature. You can access it using the door that’s right next to the reception desk.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich seating
The first stretch of lounge had a couple of partitioned off seating areas, and then several chairs with ottomans facing the windows.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich seating
Lufthansa First Class Lounge seating Munich
Lufthansa First Class Lounge seating Munich
Past the chairs with ottomans was another beautiful seating area with great apron views.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich seating
This lounge has incredible views, both of the gate area, and also of the taxiways in the other direction.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich view
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich view
These semi-private lounging areas continue for quite a while. When I was in the lounge it was quiet, so there was never more than one party in each seating area.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich seating
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich seating
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich seating
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich
Lufthansa’s first class lounges probably have my favorite workspaces of any airport lounge. Not only does the lounge have four cubicles, but they’re truly private, as you can close the door. Two of them have PCs, while two of them have empty desks. The entire lounge has fast and free Wi-Fi that’s easy to connect to.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich cubicles
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich cubicles
In the back of the lounge was the dining area, which had a bit over a dozen tables. Often in airline lounges the restaurant area feels crowded, with tables basically piled on top of one another. In this lounge the tables feel remarkably private thanks to the wall that runs along the center of the area.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge restaurant
Lufthansa First Class Lounge restaurant
There are also four tables over by the windows, which are both more secluded, and also have better views.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge restaurant
Right by the dining area is the bar, which also has some high-top seating.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich bar
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich bar
Next to the bar is the cigar lounge.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge smoking room
I grabbed a seat at a table, and noticed the pretzels already on the table. They know how to tempt me!
Lufthansa First Class Lounge dining table
I ordered a cappuccino, and was also offered a warm towel, some water, and a fruit energizer.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge dining table
When dining in the Lufthansa first class lounge you have the choice between a menu and a buffet. First let’s take a look at the a la carte options.
To start, here’s the special menu they had in the lounge:
The lounge’s buffet offers breakfast until 11AM and lunch and dinner options starting at that time, though you can order whatever you’d like off the menu all day, as you can see here:
Here’s the breakfast menu:
Here’s the lunch and dinner menu:
Here’s the drink selection:
Not only did the menu look great, but the buffet looked exceptional as well. I can’t commend Lufthansa enough for their lounge food presentation. It’s not just that everything looked high quality, but it’s presented in such an appetizing way as well. I’ll let the pictures of the food speak for themselves.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge buffet
Lufthansa First Class Lounge buffet
Lufthansa First Class Lounge buffet
Lufthansa First Class Lounge buffet
Lufthansa First Class Lounge buffet
Lufthansa First Class Lounge buffet
Lufthansa First Class Lounge buffet
Lufthansa First Class Lounge buffet
Lufthansa First Class Lounge buffet
Lufthansa First Class Lounge buffet
Lufthansa First Class Lounge buffet
Lufthansa First Class Lounge buffet
Lufthansa First Class Lounge buffet
Lufthansa First Class Lounge buffet
Lufthansa First Class Lounge champagne
I wasn’t hungry, so I just sat there on my laptop drinking a cappuccino and eating a pretzel. The lounge has a few other cute displays with drinks. Over by the window is a selection of beer and liquor.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge
Lufthansa First Class Lounge liquor
Lufthansa First Class Lounge bar
Back towards the center of the lounge are some framed pictures and a cute heart shaped cake.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich
There’s also a display with six self serve wines to choose from (though there’s not really a need for that, since the lounge staff are attentive and are constantly roaming to see if anyone wants anything).
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich wine
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich wine
There’s also an extensive selection of magazines and newspapers.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich magazines & newspapers
The bathrooms, showers, and nap rooms, are back near the center of the lounge. The bathrooms are well maintained, with each toilet being in a private room.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge showers
In the back of that area is the the shower area reception desk, where you can request a shower or nap room.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge showers
I decided to shower since I had two flights ahead of me. Note that while there are several shower rooms, there’s only one shower room that has a bathtub, which I requested. I wasn’t going to take a bath, but I wanted to take pictures of it. Funny story — I used to like the bathtubs in Lufthansa first class lounges until a commenter years ago said something along the lines of “isn’t it funny how we’ve all been naked in the same bathtub?” Not anymore!
The shower room was spacious and had a walk-in shower with good water pressure, a toilet, a bathtub, and a sink area.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge shower room
Lufthansa First Class Lounge bathtub
Lufthansa First Class Lounge shower
Lufthansa First Class Lounge toilet
The toiletries were unremarkable, and seemed to be branded specifically for the lounge, which I found to be odd.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge toiletries
While I wasn’t proactively offered a duck, always be sure you request a duck in a Lufthansa first class lounge from one of the shower attendants. They have different ones seasonally, and they’re fun to collect. This one was smaller than the ones I’ve gotten in the past, though it was black, which was cool.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge rubber duck
The lounge also has two nap rooms. I didn’t have time to sleep, though they looked quite comfortable. Some of the Lufthansa first class lounges only have daybeds, while this lounge seemed to have legitimate mattresses.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge nap room
Lufthansa First Class Lounge nap room
My stay in the lounge was far too short, and at 3:40PM I headed back to the reception desk. There I was brought to the immigration desk that’s inside the lounge, and then introduced to the driver, who took me down to the ground level using the elevator. In this case I’d get a private Porsche transfer to my plane.
Lufthansa Porsche transfer
Lufthansa first class Porsche
Lufthansa first class Porsche
The driver was extremely nice. During my past few Lufthansa chauffeur experiences I’ve had a few drivers who have had bad attitudes, which seems kind of sad when you have a job as cool as this (or at least a job that other people get excited about). This guy was fun — he noticed I was taking pictures and offered to lower the window for me, and even pointed out several types of planes.
As an aviation geek, driving right under the tail of a heavy aircraft in a luxury German doesn’t get old. Never.
Driving around the Munich Airport apron
Driving around the Munich Airport apron
Eventually we pulled up to the significantly less sexy A320 that would be taking me to London.
Lufthansa A320 Munich Airport
This certainly isn’t Lufthansa’s most modest plane, as it was in the “5 Starhansa” livery, to commemorate Lufthansa’s (undeserved, in my opinion) Skytrax 5-star rating. There’s very little that’s 5-star about Lufthansa’s intra-Europe experience.
Lufthansa A320 Munich Airport
The driver walked me up to the door of the plane, introduced me to the crew, and I was on my way to London.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich bottom line
Lufthansa’s newest Munich first class lounge impressed me. This may be my favorite Lufthansa first class lounge yet, thanks to how spacious it is, the excellent nap rooms, the patio, and the great views. I do think the Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt has a slight edge just due to the convenience of being able to drive right up to the lounge when arriving at the airport, but I prefer this lounge to the other Lufthansa first class lounge in Munich, and the two Lufthansa first class lounges in Frankfurt. Fantastic job with this lounge, Lufthansa!
Lufthansa has all the criteria I look for in some of the best airport lounges worldwide.
@TravelinWilly
Frankfurt Pier B FCL shower rooms were stocked with Etro as of my visit on April 5th.
I wish the US airlines would take some notes from this! Plenty of space without seats stacked on top of each other, no harsh fluorescent lighting, decent food spread, and showers!
Were you ticked in First Class from Munich to London?
@Lucky
Vielen Dank mein lieber! Ich kann nicht mehr still sitzen!
Awesome lounge. The offer to prepare a meal according to your "bodytime" is the cherry on the top.
@lucky
where is the next installment?..or has the SPG fidget made everything goes south at the moment!?!?
@Jay
once you have tasted the forbidden fruit called luxury... you would not like to come back..to Ryan Air!
@ Myles -- The TAAG installment will be published later today. :)
Awesome review!
Makes me sad to know that when flying BA and QR I have to use the BA Lounge which looks terrible in comparison.
That being said, I'd rate the menu at that Lufthansa First Class Lounge to be leaps and bounds ahead of the Al Safwa lounge in Doha!!!
Yowza! An update within 48 hours of the last one. Is Lucky alright? Do we need to call a doctor? :)
@Lucky: something's wrong in your description. Since you came in from LAX and you arrived at one of the L-Gates you will arrive at the desk of the German Border Police first to immigrate into the Schengen area (or to be more precise into Germany). The officer would check your Passport, hand it back to you and then let you proceed to the Lufthansa reception desks. It is also possible that he keeps your Passport...
@Lucky: something's wrong in your description. Since you came in from LAX and you arrived at one of the L-Gates you will arrive at the desk of the German Border Police first to immigrate into the Schengen area (or to be more precise into Germany). The officer would check your Passport, hand it back to you and then let you proceed to the Lufthansa reception desks. It is also possible that he keeps your Passport since you are connecting to a non-Schengen destination.
@Lucky: there are not four but eight cubicles in the lounge. The other cubicles are in the other part of the "L".
@Bill: they do not keep your Passport as a deposit (why would they? They are not afraid you're running away) but to do the necessary formalities while you're in the lounge so that your departure is smooth.
@Metanoia: if your flight leaves from a jetbridge you do NOT get driven to it by car. You have to go there yourself! Thus, the privilege of the car ride is indeed for remote stands only!
@BrooklynBoy: other than suggested by JR the lounge reviewed is located in the satellite terminal with the K- and the L-Gates. The H-Gates are in the main terminal. You have to take an underground train from the satellite to the main terminal. Calculate at least 15 minutes. Good thing: quite a number of North American flights depart from the satellite terminal.
@Karl T: since you fly MUC-LAX in LH F your ticket will get you into the First Class Lounges at ZRH and MUC. Make sure to be early at ZRH to be able to enjoy the F Lounge in the E-Concourse (careful: you have to pass Passport control on your way there and back). Plan for 15 minutes each way, at least.
Never mind the car. A cigar lounge and a schnapps -eau de vie table. Two of my favourite things. I’ll take a six hour layover in that lounge any day.
I have to say I agree with you Lucky, the “new” first class lounge in munch is better and more spacious than the original one in Munich, which always felt busy to me. When I was in the new one the first time it was completely empty. I never had that experience in the original Munich airport. But I also agree that the first terminal in Frankfurt is still the best. I think the L...
I have to say I agree with you Lucky, the “new” first class lounge in munch is better and more spacious than the original one in Munich, which always felt busy to me. When I was in the new one the first time it was completely empty. I never had that experience in the original Munich airport. But I also agree that the first terminal in Frankfurt is still the best. I think the L layout of the new Munich lounge is a bit of a disservice and makes the lounge feel smaller than it actually is... something the first terminal doesn’t suffer from.
#goals
I admire how you control your diet. I would be stuffing my face with that fresh salmon and bavarian beer. ;)
Thanks for this comprehensive review of the LH First Class lounge in "my town". I love this lounge, and I think the cigar lounge is a real treat. The food is exceptional, and the service is professional and polite. Unfortunately, I fly mainly business class on non-Star Alliance carriers like Oman and Qatar, so I've only had the privilege 3 times in all.
@ Brooklyn Boy: the H departure gates are one floor above, easy to access directly from the lounge by elevator.
How easy is it to get from this lounge in the satellite terminal to the H gates where the North America flights generally depart? I might be flying LH F through Munich in a few weeks (pending award availability).
Your Panamera was a PHEV. You were taken to the plane on electricity. Polish your environment halo.
Why would anyone sit on a laptop? Seriously?
OMG I take back all the negatives about Lufthansa first class I said this lounge and Porsche transfer is the best thing ever. That’s it I’m giving up Ryan Air in future for my European transfers
@Metanoia: lol. That's a German trait. I know, having lived and worked in Germany. You see, by doing so the person, by simply announcing to you the 'privilege', is engendered with a sense of self importance. Germans are still very hierarchy in nature, sort of like the Japanese. I shall tell you I was on a LH J flight. Both J lavatories were occupied. A flight attendant saw me standing in wait, and said to...
@Metanoia: lol. That's a German trait. I know, having lived and worked in Germany. You see, by doing so the person, by simply announcing to you the 'privilege', is engendered with a sense of self importance. Germans are still very hierarchy in nature, sort of like the Japanese. I shall tell you I was on a LH J flight. Both J lavatories were occupied. A flight attendant saw me standing in wait, and said to me 'come with me.' She took me to the F cabin so I could use the restroom. But she let me know 'We really aren't supposed to do this.' With that, I felt doubly 'relieved'. True story.
In LOVE!
LH agents of all kinds are really into telling you that you're getting an 'exception' to the rules, like getting driven to the plane because it's a remote stand.
I once was given "free bags" on LH because I was connecting to an international *A flight and she repeated it three times like I was robbing a bank and getting away with it. :)
As always, a great review. Lucky, would the following get me access to the F lounges (no status, award ticket) ZRH-MUC (in J LH or LX) connect MUC-LAX (in LH F)? I'm specifically wanting to try the new Swiss F lounge at ZRH. All one PNR. Thanks.
So would you recommend connecting via MUC over FRA when flying LH first? What about considering the different plane types that fly each route?
I haven't used any LH lounges in Munich since 2002, only the FCLs/FCT in Frankfurt.
What happened to the ETRO toiletries? Were they never used in Munich, or has LH switched from ETRO to the ones you photographed in all FCLs?
The ETRO are awesome! TELL ME THEY DID NOT REMOVE ETRO!
At least the Panamera has gotten less ugly :)
Just watched dantorp’s video review on it.
This is waaaay better than the American carriers at the remote stands
Who would have known that would have put you off baths. I know for a fact that you’ve slept in the same bed in Dushanbe that my girlfriend and I have had sex in. I’m also assuming you sat on the sofa and utilised the table. Does that put you off hotel beds now?
Lucky how come you went from MUC to LHR to LIS? No availability on MUC-LIS? :)
I think you meant by the plane picture, driving in a luxury German CAR doesn't get old...
"Past the chairs with ottomans"
Fun fact ... in British English, we would normally call those "footstools" (there are a couple of designer-chair exceptions), because, also in British English, an ottoman is a large box whose top-side is a hinged, padded lid you can sit on, and which is often used for storing blankets or other large linen-y things.
A small ottoman is, also in British English, a "pouffe" (sometimes that's also used as a...
"Past the chairs with ottomans"
Fun fact ... in British English, we would normally call those "footstools" (there are a couple of designer-chair exceptions), because, also in British English, an ottoman is a large box whose top-side is a hinged, padded lid you can sit on, and which is often used for storing blankets or other large linen-y things.
A small ottoman is, also in British English, a "pouffe" (sometimes that's also used as a synonym for an upholstered footstool).
No, honestly: it is.
Came here for the duck. Was not disappointed.
When I visited, I did not give my passport to the lounged staff. Instead, it was retained by an immigration officer in a special booth near the lounge entrance. In general, I dislike leaving my passport as a deposit, but I felt more comfortable giving it to a German government employee.
@Lucky
Thanks for a great report..it looks more quite from my previous trip in FCT in FRA..LH F lounges in Germany are just great( but I prefer AF) ..love seeing the great display of food..it seems as if you are the only one in the lounge?
Seriously Lucky..bath tub or shower scenarious with you or the others are the least I think of when using one of the facilities..but I do have to chuckle on your comment. LOL..
Isn’t it funny how we’ve all been naked in the same shower?
I love all the snacks on all the coffee tables!
Didnt you fly in from Los Angeles, not San Francisco?
@ Jason -- Whoops, indeed!