- Introduction: An Unforgettable Trip With My Parents
- Review: Turkish Airlines Business Class A350 (ORD-IST)
- Review: Turkish Airlines Business Class A330 (IST-FRA)
- Review: Hotel Bartmanns Haus Dillenburg, Germany
- Review: Marriott Heidelberg, Germany
- Review: Roomers Baden-Baden, Marriott Autograph Collection
- Review: Maison Rouge Strasbourg, Marriott Autograph Collection
- Review: Lufthansa Panorama Lounge Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- Review: Lufthansa Business Class A319 (FRA-MUC)
- Review: Hilton Munich Airport, Germany
- Review: Lufthansa Business Lounge Munich Airport (MUC)
- Review: Lufthansa Senator Lounge Munich Airport (MUC)
- Review: Lufthansa CityLine CRJ-900 Business Class (MUC-ZRH)
- Review: Lufthansa First Class Airbus A380 (MUC-BOS)
During my recent trip to Germany with my parents, I had the chance to check out both the Lufthansa Business Lounge and Lufthansa Senator Lounge at Munich Airport. I visited first thing in the morning, due to an unscheduled overnight in Munich (where I stayed at the Hilton Munich Airport).
While I had access to the Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich (since I’d be flying Lufthansa’s A380 first class to Boston later in the day), I recently reviewed that, so figured I should check out the rest of Lufthansa’s lounge offerings at the airport.
In this post I’ll be reviewing the Lufthansa Senator Lounge in the Terminal 2 satellite. I found this lounge to be quite good. Ultimately the differences between this and the Lufthansa Business Lounge were fairly minimal, though this lounge was more spacious, and had a larger selection of food and drinks, including more wine options and barista coffee. Let’s get into the review.
In this post:
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Munich location
I visited the Lufthansa Senator Lounge near gate K11. This is located in the Munich Airport Terminal 2 satellite, and the lounge is in the Schengen zone (for eligible flights within Europe). After passing through security, I followed the signage toward gates J, K, and L.
This required then taking the train system to the satellite terminal. The train runs frequently and it’s a short distance, so this should only take a few minutes.
Once in the satellite terminal, I followed the signage in the direction of Lufthansa Lounges, located in the same direction as gates K1-14.
Right near gate K11, I saw the entrance to the lounge on the right.
As you can see, the Lufthansa Business Lounge and Lufthansa Senator Lounge share an entrance, so you’ll just be directed one way or another based on your ticket type and status.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Munich hours
The Lufthansa Senator Lounge Munich is open daily from 5AM until 10PM, covering virtually all departures from the airport.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Munich entry requirements
Lufthansa follows standard Star Alliance lounge access policies, though takes a unique approach to how it separates out its lounges:
- Lufthansa Business Lounges are the carrier’s business class lounges, which are open to all Star Alliance business class passengers
- Lufthansa Senator Lounges are more premium, and are open to Star Alliance Gold members plus Star Alliance first class passengers; the airline technically markets this as a first class lounge, so that it doesn’t have to let Star Alliance first class passengers into its real first class lounges
- Lufthansa First Class Lounges are the carrier’s best lounges, though they’re reserved for HON Circle members and Lufthansa first class passengers; Lufthansa gets away with this by marketing this as a HON Circle lounge that Lufthansa first class passengers just happen to get access to
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Munich seating & layout
I was a bit surprised that the Lufthansa Senator Lounge seems to be bigger than the adjacent Lufthansa Business Lounge. I guess there are more Star Alliance Gold members than business class passengers, or…?
While the Senator Lounge has the same general design motif as the Business Lounge, it has some differences in terms of the layout. Upon entering the lounge, there’s a business center. This consists of both high-top seating, as well as some more traditional semi-private cubicles, with the latter being much more comfortable than what’s found in the lounge next door.
Past the business center is an entertainment room of sorts, with a few TVs facing in different directions, with seats along the edge.
Across from this is an area with some booths, which is one of the cozier places in the lounge to sit.
This then leads into the main part of the lounge, which features a bunch of dining tables, most of which accommodate two people. Some tables just have two chairs, while some have a bench on one side and a chair on the other.
The buffet and bar are past that, and have a few counters with high-top seating as well.
Then the very back of the lounge has your typical seetup of lounger chairs arranged in rows facing one another, right by the windows.
There are also some more booths in this area, as well as an area with a few day beds.
As usual, I found Lufthansa’s lounge design to be quite functional yet sterile.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Munich food & drinks
The main difference between Lufthansa Senator Lounges and Lufthansa Business Lounges is their food and beverage offerings. I wouldn’t say the difference is huge, but the upgraded offerings during my visit were definitely noticeable in this lounge.
There was a self-serve buffet consisting of cold cuts, veggies, fresh fruit, muesli, yogurt, cereal, cake, and several hot dishes, like scrambled eggs, cherry tomatoes, meatballs, hash browns, and baked beans (why are they bringing this awful British breakfast tradition to Germany?!).
As is standard in Lufthansa’s lounges, there was also a selection of sweets, as well as a freezer with ice cream.
As far as drinks go, there were a variety of self-serve juices, a soda fountain, beer, wine, and liquor. Interestingly, the liquor in both lounges seemed to more or less be identical, while I’ve in the past found that this is a point of differentiation between them.
While there was a standard coffee machine, what delighted me most about the lounge was the barista coffee available at the bar. I haven’t seen that in many of Lufthansa’s lounges, so I was happy to see that.
I enjoyed an excellent cappuccino.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Munich bathrooms & showers
The Lufthansa Senator Lounge Munich has bathrooms just inside the entrance and to the right, near the business center.
While the sinks in the men’s room were quite nice, I think the bathroom may have otherwise been at least somewhat under construction, as it felt really narrow, and there were no urinals.
The lounge also has showers, which are identical to the ones that you’ll find in the Lufthansa Business Lounge next door.
Bottom line
The Lufthansa Senator Lounge Munich is a perfectly nice lounge to spend some time if you’re a Star Alliance Gold member, or otherwise have access. The lounge has a comfortable design with a few different seating options, an extensive selection of food and drinks (including barista coffee), and shower rooms.
More broadly speaking, I find it interesting how different airlines treat business class passengers vs. elite members. Lufthansa offers Star Alliance Gold members access to better lounges than business class passengers, while Singapore Airlines and United Airlines offer business class passengers access to better lounges than Star Alliance Gold members.
What do you make of the Lufthansa Senator Lounge Munich?
Regarding baked beans: incorrect. They're extremely delicious. Fact.
Looks like your visit took place far off normal traveling hours. The times I've used the lounges, they've been very crowded among it difficult to find a seat. While well outfitted with a good choice of food / drink options, these lounges are not a lot of fun at peak hours.
@Ben, are there any big differences between the satellite lounges and the ones near the G gates (Schengen)? Will you be reviewing the Senator Cafe?
From the food offerings, the Senator lounges are the same. The satellite lounges have tarmac views. The G Senator lounge Schengen have no windows - non Schengen has windows facing the security check.
If you have the time, use the non-Schengen lounge or the satellite lounges for the windows…and to waste some time at passport control or in the train
"why are they bringing this awful British breakfast tradition to Germany?!"
You mean this yummy British breakfast?
What lounges are there in this terminal outside of Schengen? Or does the terminal only have Schgengen flights?
No. There is a non Schengen lounge and also a first Class Lounge next door in the satellite. The non Schengen lounge is one level up so you would’ve to go through passport control twice (enter non-Schengen and then leave non-Schengen again for your Schengen flight). With a German/EU/USA/CH etc. Passport you can use the automatic border control. Non-Schengen is much less crowded and from time perspective: the train frequency of the non-Schengen train is...
No. There is a non Schengen lounge and also a first Class Lounge next door in the satellite. The non Schengen lounge is one level up so you would’ve to go through passport control twice (enter non-Schengen and then leave non-Schengen again for your Schengen flight). With a German/EU/USA/CH etc. Passport you can use the automatic border control. Non-Schengen is much less crowded and from time perspective: the train frequency of the non-Schengen train is twice as often as the Schengen train. So in the end you wouldn’t even loose too much time if you directly enter non-Schengen area and then take the train to the Satellite.
In case you’re wondering why the Non-Schengen train leaves more often than the Schengen train: there are two tracks and three platforms. The non-Schengen platform (2) is in the middle serving track 1 and track 2.
The Schengen platforms are left (1) and right (3). As described by murphys law, if you wait for your non-Schengen train on platform 1, the next train will always depart from
Platform 3 and vice versa.
Pro...
In case you’re wondering why the Non-Schengen train leaves more often than the Schengen train: there are two tracks and three platforms. The non-Schengen platform (2) is in the middle serving track 1 and track 2.
The Schengen platforms are left (1) and right (3). As described by murphys law, if you wait for your non-Schengen train on platform 1, the next train will always depart from
Platform 3 and vice versa.
Pro tip: do not use the escalator. Take the elevator. (And if you use the escalator, enjoy the views and take some pictures for your review :) )
Schengen vs non-schengen confuses me. In two weeks I'll be departing MUC (not a connection) on UA 952, which typically leaves from H-14 in Terminal 2. I'm in Polaris (also Star Alliance Gold) so I can use the top tier lounges. Lufthansa has lounges at H-24 (non-Schengen) plus G-24 & G-28 (both Schengen). Can I use any of these?
Schengen: Before passport control. (“Domestic”). Non-Schengen: After passport control (“international”).
My suggestion would be that you go through security and after that directly through passport control into the non-Schengen lounge.
You could however first go into the G-Lounges, then through passport control and then into the H-Lounge.
The baked beans has got to go. No one needs disgusting British food anywhere in the world except that island nation itself.
While I am personally on Team Continental Breakfast, maybe some people might want to eat such items?
@ Matt - While I agree that British food isn’t my favorite, from the looks of this spread, they have everyone covered with plenty of options. I’m with @Jacques, on Team Continental but I can’t argue with the diversity.
Baked beans? I am on Team flatulence…and on team individual air nozzles
This lounge looks absolutely incredible! Thanks once again for so much great content about the world's best airline, Lufthansa.
I am sure someone will be able to better define this, but to me the lounge just looks just so uninspiring. All those tables in straight rows and columns and those chairs looking like they were stolen from a large office...
Food presentation also seems to be very sub standard - must have been designed by the same person advsiign the Qantas Business Class lunge in Sydney.
(my only small beef with Ben here is that I think baked beans are amazing)
My first thought is that it looked like a cafeteria not a lounge
Amex Platinum Card holders can also access the Senator Lounge when traveling in LH business class.
That’s my fav of the Lounges at MUC. Remember it takes quite an effort to get the Senator status (it gets abit easier from next year) so LH values the Senators more. Star Gold members just happen to fall in the category of those allowed entry.