I arrived at Washington Dulles Airport at around 3PM, and proceeded to the Lufthansa check-in counter. Lufthansa’s first class check-in counter is located on the opposite side of the other check-in counters, closer to security.
Lufthansa Washington Dulles Airport check-in
There was no queue at first class check-in, and within about a minute I had a boarding pass issued for my flight to Frankfurt and connection to Amsterdam.
Lufthansa Washington Dulles Airport check-in
I proceeded towards security and then took the train to the B Concourse, which is by far the most impressive concourse at Washington Dulles Airport. If only the rest of the airport were as nice…
Escalators to Terminal B Washington Dulles Airport
The Lufthansa Lounge is located immediately to the right of the escalators, between gates B49 and B51. It’s open daily from 8:20AM till 9:45PM, given that many airlines share the lounge with Lufthansa nowadays.
Terminal B Washington Dulles Airport
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport
The lounge has a large entryway, with the Senator Lounge located to the side of the reception desk, and the Business Lounge located on the lower level. For those of you not familiar with the difference between a Senator Lounge and Business Lounge, the Senator Lounge is available to first class and Star Alliance Gold passengers, while the Business Lounge is available to business class passengers. The difference between lounges typically isn’t huge, but rather it’s just a way to distribute passengers. Of course, if you’d otherwise have no access to either one, a credit card with lounge access is a great back-up plan with some other options at Dulles.
One of the things that makes this lounge so popular is that all Star Alliance Gold members get access to the lounge when flying a Star Alliance airline, even when traveling domestically. So a United Star Alliance Gold member traveling domestically would get access to the Lufthansa Senator Lounge, but wouldn’t get access to the United Club, for example.
One thing that they’ve added to the lounge in recent years is a first class section. Once I presented my boarding pass the agent escorted me into the Senator Lounge and to the first class section. She explained that I would be escorted onto the plane once the flight was ready for boarding.
The partitioned off first class section is kind of comical, and you can’t help but feel a bit sheepish there, given how exposed it is.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport First Class Section
It’s not actually any different than the rest of the lounge — it used to just be part of the standard Senator Lounge — though I guess the main benefit is that it’s quieter. There’s some counter-top seating overlooking the tarmac, some lounge chairs, and then in the corner a dining area.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport First Class Section
Austrian 767 Washington Dulles Airport
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport First Class Section
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport First Class Section
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport First Class Section
They do have a special menu for first class passengers. It’s not “real” food, but they have premium drinks and food available. Every so often a server also comes by to see if you want anything, which I haven’t otherwise found to be the case in the Senator Lounge.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport First Class Section Menu
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport First Class Section Menu
In terms of the rest of the Senator Lounge, there’s some counter-top seating near the buffet, and they also have a bar located behind that. I believe Virginia liquor laws dictate that they can’t have a self serve bar, so there’s a server pouring alcoholic beverages.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport
The alcohol selection was pretty decent.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport
Since I was there the day of the World Cup semifinals, they had some Brazil themed drinks.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport
The champagne on offer was Monopole Heidsieck Blue Top Brut, which was perfectly drinkable.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport Champagne
Then behind the buffet and counter-top area was a large area with more traditional lounge seating.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport
In terms of the food spread, it was quite good compared to what you’d get at most lounges in the US.
They had lots of snacks (trail mix, nuts, gummy bears, etc.) and sweets on display (cookies, brownies, panna cotta, etc.).
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport Food Spread
Then they had several types of finger sandwiches, cheese, and salad with several types of accompaniments.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport Food Spread
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport Food Spread
Then there was a tomato basil soup.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport Food Spread
And then several hot dishes, including pasta, fish, beef, etc.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport Food Spread
There was also a cappuccino machine and a soda fountain.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport Cappuccino Machine
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport Soda Fountain
I hadn’t eaten since breakfast so had a snack (without trying to totally spoil my appetite for the flight).
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport Snack
The Senator Lounge’s bathroom was nice enough, though doesn’t have showers, unfortunately. The Business Lounge does have showers, however.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport Bathroom
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Airport Bathroom
My flight was schedule for 6:10PM, and around 30 minutes before that an agent came by to fetch me and tell me the flight was ready for boarding. There’s a door leading directly from the first class section of the lounge to gate B47, where my plane was departing from.
Lufthansa 747-8 Washington Dulles Airport
At the door the agent introduced me to the crew, and as you’d expect spirits were high, as Germany was about to advance to the finals of the World Cup. I talked more about the general spirit in the lounge and aboard in my previous post about the flight.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Washington Dulles Bottom Line
For a lounge in the US, the Lufthansa Senator Lounge is really solid, in my opinion. The food spread is good, employees generally friendly, and the lounge is conveniently located next to the departure gate. That being said, the lounge is busier than ever, as there are all kinds of other airlines using the lounge as well. Fortunately that didn’t really add to the crowding in the first class section. 😉
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