Lufthansa

✅ Trip Verified | Non-Schengen departure, in concourse B. Visited both Lufthansa’s Premium Senator and regular Business Class Lounge. Interestingly Lufthansa pampers Star Alliance Gold Card Members more than their paying business class passengers. At least, that is what Lufthansa still says. While this definitely was true before Covid, now it is not the case. Though furniture and setting are superior in the Senator Lounge, there is basically no real difference between the two lounges: same drinks, same dull and definitely not premium food in both lounges.

✅ Trip Verified | On April 17, 2023, we arrived at the Lufthansa Business Lounge in Athens around 3:45pm. The lounge was quite empty but we didn’t think much of it. I went up to get a glass of wine for myself, and some juice and water for my kids. Each time I took a glass, the same lady was on the other side of the kitchen replacing the glasses with clean ones and slamming them down aggressively. I thought it was strange but excused her behaviour as a cultural difference. Afterwards, I poured two small glasses of wine, to determine which varietal I would like to enjoy with my salad. Before I was done, one of the kitchen staff came over and gasped and looked at me. She had a container of ice in her hands so I moved the two glasses out of the way so she could put the ice down. She took the ice bucket and slammed it down on the counter which startled me and my son. She then proceeded to stare at me and then at the empty wine glass. I moved the glass out of the way and asked if there was somewhere else she would like me to put the glass as it was clear that she was angry with me. From there, the lady that was restocking the water glasses yelled that I should leave the glasses on a table by the kitchen. I explained that I wasn’t done and that it would be simple to ask if I could bring the glass to that table rather than coming over and yelling at me and having her colleague slam a bucket of ice on the counter next to me and my young son. I thought I was doing them a favour by bringing the glass back to where they were working and this is what I would do in Canada, and it would be viewed as a gesture of kindness. The kitchen staff continued to slam things down on the counter and dominate the area where people were trying to get drinks and food, making it very awkward for everyone. They had no respect for the travelling passengers and cared more about their unwritten rules of keeping the counter clean and the glasses stocked, than trying to maintain a happy environment with good customer service. When I went back to my table, some passengers sitting next to us explained that they observed the staff being confrontational and rude with other guests. This didn’t surprise me but I said I would go and speak to the ladies at the front desk to determine how I could provide some additional feedback about this incident and I would also go and see if we had access to the lounge next door. Before leaving the Lufthansa lounge I stopped at the front desk and spoke to the two ladies and requested an email address so I could file a complaint. They refused to provide me with this information and told me that as a lounge customer I should know better, and that I should leave empty glass on the table by the kitchen rather than bring it up to the counter. At that stage, it was clear that the kitchen staff spoke to the ladies at reception and rather than work to diffuse the situation they made it worse. I explained to them that rules are different in every country and if we are required to leave glassware on a table by a kitchen, that can’t be viewed from the lounge area, then they should have signage within the lounge that explains that to international passengers. If you are a Star Alliance member, do yourself a favour and do not use the Lufthansa business lounge until they change the attitude of the staff. Go next door to the Aegean Lounge where you will be greeted with a smile and kindness.

✅ Trip Verified | Overcrowded and no possibility to sit anywhere except on a high barstool. Very nice Lufthansa representatives at the welcome desk, very helpful checking me in for the return flight (Lufthansa’s App was down, again). Totally different story with the others working in the lounge, obviously not Lufthansa employees but rather working for some service provider. No eye contact, no smile or nice word. I understand it is tough sometimes, but still one can make an effort. Food so-so, drinks okay this time.

✅ Trip Verified | The lounge is a very quiet place - excellent reception desk people and service was outstanding. It was breakfast time so I had everything I needed. There is plenty of food, decent quality however cannot match the lounges by the mid Eastern companies. Unfortunately the quality of the Champagnes was sub par in comparison with all the premium whiskies and hard liquors. Extremely clean restrooms as well and a very personal goodbye when leaving the lounge.

✅ Trip Verified | Due to Star Alliance Gold Status got granted access to the Sala Leonardo lounge. A fairly ok generic frequent flyer lounge, with a reasonable choice of drinks and food. Bit of too much plastic wrapped food, plastic forks and glasses, which of course is sending a wrong message, besides transmitting cheapness (which definitely doesn’t reflect Milan).

✅ Trip Verified | Seems Lufthansa‘s management added a new feature to the many measures, which already miserably downgraded this airline. Not to replace empty bottles. Furthermore, one cannot understand why with all excellent white wines Germany has, Lufthansa insists on disgusting Italian and French sparkling wines. Food, for a premium lounge was average, though acceptable.

✅ Trip Verified | We were on a 6am Austrian Airlines flight, so had a short stay in the Senator lounge - access gained by a business class ticket. The lounge opened at 5am sharp - there was quite a queue of people waiting. The Senator lounge is slightly better than the main business class lounge, but there isn't much in it. It was significantly quieter though. Good breakfast selection. Full range of drinks including sparkling wine. Very good coffee machine. Best of all, a magazine selection is back! After 2 and a half years of no mags. Overall, I was pretty impressed.

✅ Trip Verified | Because of Gold-Status with Star Alliance, have access to this lounge also when flying in Economy. Senator Lounges are “on level above” regular Business Class lounges with Lufthansa. Food is uninspiring as it has been over the many years (except one adores meatballs or Frankfurters). Wine selection is quite satisfactory, though the champagne once offered in the lounge disappeared and now all kind of more or less poor quality Italian alternatives are being offered (Italy has great sparkling wines, but they are not to be found in any Lufthansa lounge, unfortunately Lufthansa seems also not to have a clue when choosing own German sparkling wines, but that’s another story). This lounge has a nice feature, being the only lounge (except the First Class Terminal) with a bar service. Though staff in the lounge is kind and helpful, this morning/early afternoon at the bar the level of service was dreadful: clearly the lady had a problem coping with people.

✅ Trip Verified | Undoubtedly Lufthansa went from good to mediocre and nearly all recent reports confirm this. But this experience was surprising. Having missed a connection through Munich and being it impossible to get me on the last flight to final destination, being LH-Gold I went straight to the lounge to get re-booked. Within minutes this was done, boarding card for the first next day’s flight was given, plus vouchers for an airport hotel (they booked directly, I had not to bother) and transfers by taxi. Within 30 mins I was in the hotel: I was surprised. Visit to the lounge leaving next day was good, with reasonable breakfast and good selection of drinks (appreciated very much the freshly squeezed orange juice). Was nice to see newspapers and magazines back, which one is free to take with.

✅ Trip Verified | Terribly underwhelming, from seating to food and beverage. Poor selection of food and drinks, not to speak of the practically no seating for the many visitors. However, better than what happens in the terminal, so even if one doesn’t find seating, it’s recommended to stay inside, as outside it is worse!