Ben’s Deutsche Bahn (DB) first class review dates back several years, and he did not visit a DB Lounge on that trip. As the lounge may be relevant to OMAAT readers connecting to or from a Star Alliance flight via Lufthansa Express Rail, as well as those considering a first class Rail&Fly ticket for travel…
@ Klaus_S -- What an insightful and hilarious review, thank you so much for sharing! I've gotta say, this actually looks really nice. I can't believe I've never visited a DB Lounge... next time!
The first step to enlightenment is to realize that you can combine a train with a plane. I know DB is working on reliability issues (sort of like AA), and they are improving.
The first step to enlightenment is to realize that you can combine a train with a plane. I know DB is working on reliability issues (sort of like AA), and they are improving.
This is hardly new: even Amtrak offered this with United as its partner. Maybe they still do; I haven't looked lately.
May I offer my gratitude to Klaus for this review of the DB Premium Lounge in Cologne. And perhaps we may see more from the point of view of a traveler from Germany, of course with respect to travels in Germany, but also with respect to travels to other parts of the world.
@ Klaus_S -- Epic. I love me some choo-choos (and lounges that offer a "breakfast of champions"), even if it is "not much of a Shinkansen at all." Bah! I much prefer this "ICE" to the other one... And, thank you for the EU261 reference ("litigate this for the common good"!)
Have only been to only one DB lounge. About five years ago. At that point in time, they were taking Star Gold. A breath of fresh air in an otherwise purely drab station. It was run very well, as opposed to the DB train (will never attain Shinkansen status.
Good coffee (tea for the better half) and a couple of decent croissants. Frankly, the idea of taking a train ride for two hours, instead of connecting to an LH feeder makes much sense to my environmental beliefs. With the station co-located with FRA makes the decision quite easy to make. I especially liked one ticket (train and plane), plus checking in bags one time. I would urge readers who will be flying to and from FRA, who are heading to a German location to consider this combo. And then try out the lounges.
Have only been to only one DB lounge. About five years ago. At that point in time, they were taking Star Gold. A breath of fresh air in an otherwise purely drab station. It was run very well, as opposed to the DB train (will never attain Shinkansen status.
Good coffee (tea for the better half) and a couple of decent croissants. Frankly, the idea of taking a train ride for two hours, instead of connecting to an LH feeder makes much sense to my environmental beliefs. With the station co-located with FRA makes the decision quite easy to make. I especially liked one ticket (train and plane), plus checking in bags one time. I would urge readers who will be flying to and from FRA, who are heading to a German location to consider this combo. And then try out the lounges.
Hi Alan, thanks for sharing your experience. I still like the Lufthansa ExpressRail concept, especially between Cologne and Frankfurt. But it was much better 5 years ago when they had real Lufthansa counters at Cologne Central Station and you could check in your luggage there (and ask a real person to change your seat assignments). A couple years ago, these were replaced by Self-Service Check-in machines and you had to check in your luggage at the AiRail Terminal at Frankfurt airport (that is where the train stops). Well, that will be closing 26OCT26 so you will have to use a regular check-in counter within the terminal (and carry your luggage over there).
You should really try FrecciaLounge and Italo Club Lounge.
I last visited a DB Lounge in July of this year... München in my case. Interestingly, I too had pretty much this same breakfast, including the Weißbier. My sons and I, traveling on last minute 1st class flexpreis tickets up to Nürnberg, were the only non-German travelers in the lounge and I don't believe the staff were really comfortable with English, as my sons needed my German language skills to order their own breakfasts successfully.
I've never used a railway lounge but now I want to...
I did misread the title as if DB had gone into the fragrance business... (tiny screen plus geezer vision). My bad!
One very unusual lounge is the MAV lounge in Budapest Keleti (their only one to my knowledge). Located near platform 1 it has table service (free snacks and light meals), a business corner, luggage hold if changing and, under certain circumstances (arrival off a night train in sleeping car) shirt ironing!
I think it’s the only thing comparable to an arrival lounge in the railway world.
Hi Lucas,
did you know that you can buy access to the MAV Lounge: 2h for <USD 10? (Well, or you just buy a domestic 1st class train ticket for USD 8 which gives you 1h of access).
Yes, they have some complimentary light snacks and cold and hot drinks. Interestingly, Desserts are charged.
Alcoholic drinks also charged: Beer 800 HUF (USD 2.5), Palinka 1700 HUF (USD 5.3), Tokaji Aszu 6290 HUF (USD 19.6), Hungarian Chardonnay 1100 HUF (USD 3.5) etc.
The menu is online.
From an architectural standpoint: It's just one large room.
@Klaus_S, good review! I'm amazed that nobody else has commented on this little nugget:
"But sitting down peacefully on a clean toilet and taking a proper dump? That may be the true premium benefit of the DB Lounge." You could've even plugged in a pun or two about premium douching.
Definitely MUCH better than the Eurostar lounge in London.
I agree that DB lounges are good, better than Thalys/Eurostar, RENFE, OeBB or SNCF lounges (in that order). However, train service is abysmal in Germany. Not only that some of the amenities might not be loaded, multi-hour delays are almost guaranteed and occasionally trains may even stop and offload everyone in the middle of nowhere. That's why, bottom line, I still strongly prefer all the other European railway companies over DB, even if their lounges are less nice.