Review: Lufthansa Business Lounge Munich

I've been a "Frequent Traveller" with Miles & More for over a decade (which translates to 35,000 status miles) and finally, in November, got over the hump (because there are no status levels in between 35,000 and 100,000) to Senator status (100,000 status miles) -- each of which is good for two years -- not one (although this is changing in a year's time if enough people do not complain). The reason I moved my Star Alliance earning miles to Miles & More (from United) is because the status was good for two years and not one -- and if you earn that status this year -- you'll be grandfathered for the 2nd year even though the new rules are going to go into place. Both of these Miles & More cards will give you access to Lufthansa, Swiss, and Austrian lounges -- all of which serve decent meals and nearly all of which have showers. I've been looking forward to moving up to the Senator lounges for over a decade now and so was disappointed by Ben's comment above that there are few differences (hopefully something has changed since he was last there).

For a non stressed transfer you need atleaat 2h between flights.

I live in Munich, just visited this lounge a few weeks ago. The one near the G departures (your first picture) is definitely my favorite in München. I have been in both the business and senator lounges in München, and I agree, they are pretty much the same, just different spaces. But I still enjoy them, even when they are crowded 😉

christ that first photo is my personal hell. if everyone has lounge access then what's the point?

Would be curious to hear from the LH SEN/HON members - do you observe more UA *G / other Star airline *G in your Senator lounges vs. actual LH pax?

Have to think one of these years that *G will be downgraded to the Biz lounges.

Next time you should totally try the lounges in the satellite terminal. They are much quieter and at least the Senator one has great views. Weirdly, the catering is a bit different, too, again in favor of the satellite ones. It may sound like a trek, but it takes <10 minutes each direction from H to the satellite terminal lounges (and no security).

I’m a Lufthansa Senator with homebase in Munich (Just upgraded from frequent traveller in 2019).
The business and senator lounges are indeed both crazily overcrowded during the business traveller peak hours in the mornings and late afternoons. During the other times they are totally fine though, and I enjoy them a lot to work, relax and have drinks.
The major differences between the business and senator lounges are some sen ones do have a bar with bartender/barista and even some more food options. The differences got less when they upgraded the food in the business lounges just one or two years ago, before there were only small snacks.
Personally I don’t even need a served bar as I prefer to pour my drinks by myself, but the sen lounge food is really decent lately.
The lounges in the satellite of T2 have really nice apron views, the ones in the main building have almost no daylight at all as you experienced.

The Lufthansa lounges in Munich are still much better than in Frankfurt where chaos and overcrowding is the normal state, in Munich it “only” happens in the peak times (still too often and it’s super annoying).

And yes, sadly there are a lot of “cheap” Star Alliance gold people hanging out there (qualified through Aegean, Ethiopian etc.), while my qualification took me 100k Status miles...

I used to have FTL from LH for many years, but switched to Asiana - 40k miles gives me Star Alliance Gold for 4 years, as opposed to Silver for two years (with LH). The benefits (lounges across the world, with companion + priority check-in / security / boarding) are incomparable to FTL, so I see no point in being loyal to a program that is strictly worse (even when flying LH).

@Rafal - It's only 30k to renew now, which makes it even easier. I guess unlike most people, I actually fly with them from time to time. Even got upgraded to business last time. That said, some of the other Star Alliance airlines seems to treat Asiana *G members as second class in my experience. I've also found it nigh on impossible to use my miles for anything. Booked in PE with LH by OZ is telling me I need to be in Y or B to upgrade...

Based in Munich i've visited the business lounges in the mornings and midday till late afternoon. Never have i found them to be overcrowded to be honest.
The satellite senator lounges are accessible when you have an Amex platinum card and flying economy LH. These i find nicer than those in the main terminal 2.
Either way i do find the lounges at MUC to be nicer than FRA.
I might be biased but i find it a joy to travel from MUC compared to when FRA was my main airport when i was based in Mainz.

Transit Security? I don't recall going through any sort of security, customs, or immigration when I transited at Munich. Does it depend on which country you're coming from or going to? My origin and destination were different than yours (Coming from Denver and continuing to Bangkok) but I would imagine any itinerary involving the US would have the strictest security rules.

Unless you are HON, Munich is always to be preferred when flying LH. And, indeed, best lounges are those in the satellite.
But when you’re HON, transfer in FRA is (almost) always a breeze. 😉

@Weymar: no security checks when coming from “trusted” countries, i.e. EU and US/Canada. All others must be checked again...

Slightly off topic, But last week I was at a LH lounge in FRA B and I was unimpressed. I will admit I have no status and was travelling economy with family. Access was via AMEX PLAT and limited to only 1-B lounges at FRA. I can tell you that it was totally worthless and then entailed a 45 minute trek to Z gates towards JFK. I really wonder what the AMEX/ LH rationale was to offer only the smallish 1-B lounges to Platinum.

You seem to be extremely impressed with the food and drink selection here, but I don't really see what is so special. Looks like very typical Lufthansa lounge spread. Not sure what you were surprised to find...

I’ve transfered in MUC quite a few times, but always with pretty tight LH-to-LH connections, so I’ve never really had time to try these lounges. Am I the only one who dislikes LH’s boring lounge design..? Anyway, I’ll soon be able to try them and was wondering if anyone has some input on which lounge(s) I should visit in MUC? I’ll have a 4,5 hour layover from IST to ARN, the first leg being in TK business and the second in LH business. First flight arrives late afternoon. I have star gold, so I can access the senator lounges, if that makes a difference.

Lucky has really done an astonishing number of reviews. I have a random business class flight transiting through Munich. Lucky reviewed the exact flight a few years ago, and now I know what to expect at this lounge.

Originally from Munich, so go back quite often to visit my old Heimat (and folks). Fairly new to the business class points game, so in the past usually have flown economy but took my first business class trip out of Munich back to Boston with LH during the summer. Really liked this lounge. Wasn't crowded (at all) when I visited and was really impressed with the food and drink options (though points of comparisons are limited, Amex Platinum, British Airways and Air France lounges in Boston, Iberia lounge in Madrid and several Delta lounges). No complaints here!

@Lukas
watch out that TK is using Terminal 1 so you need to switch between terminals...which is something I would not like to do in MUC

for me there is no difference between business class lounge and senator - food and drinks are very similar, both crowded; if no connecting flight better to skip the lounge visit - no reason to use it

@UGC
Thanks! Is it difficult to change terminals at MUC?

I was in the Senator Lounge in FRA B-concourse this morning (8:00 - 9:30), and I found it to be very relaxing. Busy, but not crowded at all. Certainly not like the mad-house United Clubs at EWR or MLLs at YYZ or YVR. Loved the candy bar.

@Lukas
Not difficult but you have to exit and walk outside for maybe 10 minutes. The two terminals are about 650m apart

Senator Lounge has a barista and much better coffee. Everything else seems pretty similar.

I guess I got really lucky during my last visit to MUC, coming in on a flight from JFK and connecting to VIE. It took me a whole 10 min to get from the arriving gate to the nearest LH Business Lounge to my departing gate. Granted it was all in the T2 Satellite but did contain a non-Schengen to Schengen switch (passport control).

This was around 7am and the LH Business Lounge (has Amex access) was indeed quite busy. I had to share a high table for six with a few other people.