As we all know, Lufthansa is slowly rolling out its new Allegris passenger experience, with the most significant development being an all-new business class seat. In late 2023, Lufthansa also announced plans to update its lounge concept, with the introduction of Allegris lounges.
The first such lounge has opened within the past couple of weeks, and Lufthansa has now formally shared more details.
In this post:
Lufthansa opens first Allegris lounge at Newark
Just under a year ago, the Lufthansa Lounge Newark closed, as it was undergoing a major renovation. This wasn’t just any renovation, though, as this lounge was intended to serve as the prototype for the carrier’s lounge concept going forward, in line with the new Allegris concept.
So, what should we expect from the new Lufthansa Lounge Newark, which the airline reportedly spent around €10 million on?
- The lounge is roughly 600 square meters, or around 6,500 square feet
- The lounge has seating for roughly 170 guests, represent a roughly 25% capacity increase over the old lounge space
- The lounge is located in Terminal B, near gate 68, and is open daily from 2:15PM until 9:30PM
- The lounge follows standard Star Alliance lounge access rules, so it’s for premium cabin passengers, plus Star Alliance Gold members (it’s not part of Priority Pass, at least as of now); it’s intended for those flying Lufthansa Group airlines from the terminal, including those on Lufthansa, SWISS, and Austrian
- The lounge is broken up into distinct zones, with roughly one-third of the space dedicated to the needs of business travelers (with functional communal tables, wireless charging, and wireless printing), and the remaining space is intended for relaxation and dining
- The centerpiece of the lounge is the Skyline Bar, where passengers can find a selection of cocktails, wines, spirits, and non-alcoholic drinks, plus craft beer from New Jersey
- The food selection includes a selection of regional products in the bistro area; in summer, the menu includes cornbread from New Jersey with candied tomato jam, and sandwiches with trumpet mushrooms, bacon, and crisp lettuce, and tomato chutney on sourdough bread
- The lounge has a la carte dining for first class and HON Circle passengers, which is otherwise only available at a very limited number of outstations
Here’s how Victoria Schuster, Lufthansa’s VP of Product and Customer Experience, describes the new lounge:
“We are proud to be able to present our guests in Newark with a new lounge that sets new standards. It offers private travelers cozy retreats for relaxation and our business customers generous workspaces. This lounge is a testament to our commitment to the customer as we strive to continually improve the experience for our guests, on the ground and in the air. That’s why we continue to invest in our offering around the world, whether in New Jersey or elsewhere, to meet Lufthansa’s premium standards and, above all, those of our guests.”
This lounge looks reasonably nice
Look, at the end of the day, outstation lounges are only going to be so nice, given that airlines are dealing with limited space, and also have budgets they want to stay within. So while Lufthansa has hyped the new Allegris concept for lounges, I was expecting something evolutionary rather than revolutionary… and that’s exactly what we got.
I’d say that this new lounge design is nicer than the old one, while still being sort of bland. It definitely feels a bit less industrial, sterile, and cafeteria-esque, and I like some of the finishes being used. I also appreciate how a dedicated first class section has been introduced, with a la carte dining.
Now, I’m not sure there’s all that much “local flair” here. The design also isn’t about to win any awards. And personally I find quotes written on walls to be kind of cheesy, but maybe that’s just me.
Just for some context, below are some pictures of the Lufthansa Business Lounge Munich, to give you a sense of what the previous design concept was like.
Bottom line
The Lufthansa Lounge Newark has reopened, adding some much needed lounge capacity to the airport. Not only has the lounge been redesigned, but it’s the prototype for Lufthansa’s lounge design going forward, under the new Allegris theme.
The lounge has a marginally nicer design, is a bit bigger, and also has a first class section, so I’d consider those all to be positives.
What do you make of the Lufthansa Lounge Newark?
Does it have bartender-made cocktails? Any signature drinks? If so, that’s a pretty substantial upgrade for business class passengers.
And a la carte dining for F passengers is a huge upgrade. If I could eat here, then just have some caviar and champagne onboard before tucking in, that’s a win.
Anyone have a guess if they will let United domestic first in lol
That's a moot point, since this lounge is located at concourse B, whereas all UA flights depart from concourse C.
Are they doing away with the Business/SEN distinction, or has that only ever been a thing in their German/European lounges? I don't think I have ever been to a LH lounge outside of Europe.
That distinction is only valid at FRA and MUC. Even in Europe (such as MXP) they only have one lounge for both J and *G. Not that the difference is major these days.
Yes, I’d agree it’s reasonably nice. In terms of “local flair” there’s not that much to work with for a lounge in EWR / New Jersey.
I'm not sure I see much difference from pre-renovation
Yes I was thinking this too. Seems the first section now has sit down dining and the business senator section is made smaller by a bar in the middle. And that's it.
This lounge has always been dreary and looks like not much has changed.
Boring and uninspiring.
I'm sure it'll look better during the day and/or with the blinds open :)
It looks like a nice hospital or corporate cafeteria. The design team for Cathay's lounges must have had a good laugh about this.
It looks like your office that has just went through a renovation but generally is still bland.
Still not showing on Priority Pass list like the old lounge was
Missed opportunity