Airline reviews Austrian Airlines Business Class lounges

Austrian Airlines Business Class lounges

Austrian Airlines lounge in Vienna The Frequent Traveller Schengen Lounge June 2011
Vienna Schengen Business Lounge The well stocked bar
NEWS: Austrian Airlines has recently revamped all the lounges at its Vienna hub: they are still in the same locations, but now sport new decor.

Austrian Airlines is now just another of Lufthansa's brands, as so it is with the lounges too. There are two types of lounge: The Business Lounge (which is now combined with the Frequent Traveller Lounge, and often called The Red Lounge) and the better quality Senator Lounge.

Business Lounge. Business class ticket holders. Food is normally just nibbles.

Senator Lounge Senator and Star Gold Card holders, get access to the Senator Lounge. This is by far the best lounge to go for. Food can be good, and there's a better selection of wine.

Access to the lounges is with a Business class ticket (or transiting to a First Class flight), or with the right status in Miles and More or Star Alliance. There is no way of buying yearly membership, however at the Vienna hub you can now buy a day pass to the Red Lounge (Frequent Traveller or Business Lounge).

A curiosity is that although on some airlines Business Class travellers gain access to a better quality lounge than mere Frequent Flyers with status (such as Singapore, or Qantas), at Austrian Airlines, buying a Business Class ticket gets you into the poorer lounge.

Vienna Austrian Airline's lounges

Landside, pre security, pre & post passport control

One of the great delights about Vienna airport are that as a Star Alliance Gold, you've got great opportunities for lounge hopping, with four different ones to try, so long as you have a Schengen Area passport (EU (except for UK)) which means you can transit both sides without problems.

Alas, they are all run by Austrian Airlines, and as such they are all pretty similar inside, with just slightly better booze in the Senator side, and slightly better food in the non-Schengen area (perhaps because there is an expectation that you'll be on a long haul flight on this side).

Austrian Airlines lounge in Vienna The Frequent Traveller Schengen Lounge June 2011
Austrian Airlines lounge in Vienna The Business Lounge viewing area

Lounge locations are slightly odd in Vienna. The lounges are technically landside, as the Schengen lounges are in the shopping area before any of the security checks (Vienna has US style security, in that security is at the gate at Vienna before the small holding pens) or passport checks (two are in the Schengen area, where you don't need a passport), however make no mistake, the lounges are right in the heart of the airport.

Austrian Airlines lounge in Vienna The Frequent Traveller Schengen Lounge June 2011
SchengenBusiness Lounge The rear room from the bar

Austrian Airlines lounge in Vienna are composed of two lounges on the Schengen side, with the vast Frequent Traveller lounge, and a smaller Senator lounge, all along the main shopping corridor. Then, once past passport control there is a smaller Austrian Airlines Frequent Traveller lounge, and a really very tiny Senator lounge on the departure floor. If you're travelling on an intercontinental flight, you're best waiting in the larger main lounge before going through to the non-Schengen area.

Finally, if you're going through to the UK, you're pretty much stuck. These flights count as inter-Europe but non-Schengen, and so they use gates in a separate International-Non Schengen security area. It can take some time to get to these gates from the lounges, and your best bet is to wait in the The Red Lounge, before walking down to these gates some time before your flight departs.

Austrian Airlines lounge in Vienna The Frequent Traveller Schengen Lounge June 2011
Austrian Airlines lounge in ViennaThe Business / Frequent Traveller Lounge

Vienna - Austrian Airlines - Business Lounge Plaza (The Red Lounge) - Schengen area

Shopping concourse, Schengen Area, first floor. 0530-2330
Access for Business Class, Miles and More Frequent Travellers & Senators, Gold Star Alliance, or daypass at 35euro

Austrian Airlines lounge in Vienna The Frequent Traveller Schengen Lounge June 2011
Vienna Business Lounge The second Viewing Areas bar
This lounge goes under various names: the Business Plaza, the Frequent Traveller lounge, or the Red Lounge seem to be favourites. However in effect it is the largest lounge at Vienna for all Business Class passengers, and those who haven't got Senator or Star Gold status. If all else fails, it's also the paid for lounge at Vienna Airport, at 35 euro per person, also this perk is rarely advertised.

To get to the lounge walk to the middle of the shopping centre, then take the lift opposite the Restaurant Air Quick, or (as the lift is one of the slowest in the universe) walk up the spiral stairs, and you'll find the lounge desk behind the entrance to the Irish Pub The Dubliner.

There are two parts to the lounge, separated by a long green corridor: most people stay in the small room at the rear of the main arrival desk, which is a shame, as the front lounge is so much bigger, nicer, and generally more welcoming down the hidden corridor in the viewing area.

Austrian Airlines lounge in Vienna The Frequent Traveller Business Schengen Lounge June 2011
Austrian Airlines lounge in ViennaThe Frequent Traveller Lounge

The rear room lounge has the same parquet flooring it has had for a couple of decades, the same book cases, infact everything is the same as when it was built. It really isn't very impressive. You decend half a flight of stairs to a room with no view, which has just a couple of large widescreen TVs.

Austrian Airlines lounge in Vienna The Frequent Traveller Schengen Lounge June 2011
Vienna Business centre & PSP in eggshell
To get to the much nicer part of the lounge turn around at the front desk and walk through the green curtained door marked Relax Area & Panoramic View. Turn right, and there are a couple of tables in the corridor, and then you enter a large room with a long bar, and vast floor to ceiling windows with an amazing view of the runway. Here there is a large magazine rack, and further in another fresh modern room with 1970s style blue lounge chairs that are great for a short nap. Indeed, the wall hanging, and even the flowers match the 1970s theme.

There are two bars in the two halves to the lounges: and they too have a split personality. There is one bar right next to the main reception desk, styled around concrete blocks. I'm not kidding: the small tables are either hideous creations, or modern art personified, depending on your Aesthetic bent. There is also an incredibly thin bar waving through the whole edifice. Here however is the best booze with 10 spirits, two whites and two reds. The other bar in the main viewing area has a much better view, great seats at the white bar top, but fewer spirits. However here there is a good rack of beer inset into the counter top.

Austrian Airlines lounge in Vienna The Frequent Traveller Business Schengen Lounge June 2011
Vienna Business Lounge Viewing Area newspaper rack

Food is identical at either bars, with one heated cabinet (hot breakfast to 10am, lunch 12-2, dinner 5pm onwards) however this is often just a few sausages and scrambled egg. There are rolls and muffins during the day, but plenty of fruit on the worktop.

Newspapers are pretty poor: in the rear room there are just a few German language newspapers, nothing from the UK, and for English language newspapers you'll be stuck with a Herald Tribune. There are plenty of magazines in the viewing room, however all of these are in plastic wallets with a strict warning that you can't take them out of the lounge.

There is a small workzone with four computers on the balcony of the rear room, along with a printer and fax. Here, in a small eggshell creation you'll also find a couple of PSP playstations loaded with games, and headphones. However at busy times it can be very hard to get hold of one.

Austrian Airlines lounge in Vienna Schengen Senator Lounge June 2011
Austrian Airlines lounge in Vienna Schengen Senator Lounge

Vienna - Austrian Airlines Senator Lounge - Schengen area

Before security, by C gates 0530-2330
Access for Miles & More Senators, and Gold Star Alliance

The Senator lounge is up by the C gates, a long walk from the main shopping centre. Unlike the Business (Frequent Travellers) Lounge, it is on the ground floor, beside the duty free shop. There is a vast desk by the door, which is odd as the lounge is really quite small seating only 80, with just one main room divided into two by a large newspaper rack, and a small bar and food area at the far end.

Austrian Airlines lounge in Vienna Schengen Senator Lounge June 2011
Schengen Senator Lounge Vienna food area

There is no view of anything much in this lounge: if you're here for a long wait before your flight, you might be better off visiting the Red Lounge along the corridor and upstairs, however as a true Senator lounge, it does have some perks over its Frequent Traveller rival, namely a better bar and slightly better food.

The lounge had a partial revamp recently: it keeps the parquet flooring, bookcase, and large overhead CRT old style TVs, but the furniture is new and funky. However, this doesn't mean it is specially comfortable. The purple and orange are eye-popping, as are the large flowers painted on the wall, giving the impression of a 1970s downmarket lounge bar. It also manages to be just that slight bit sterile, as most of Lufthansa's creations are. By far the best place to sit seems to be on the long wooden plank overlooking the food bar, which has comfortable orange chairs and a little bit more atmosphere.

Austrian Airlines lounge in Vienna Schengen Senator Lounge June 2011
Austrian Airlines lounge in Vienna Schengen Senator Lounge

The bar is pretty standard, but with slightly better wine than in the Business lounge, and it includes sparkling wine. Beer is in the silver trough, and it has three types including a weizen (wheat) beer in bottles. Alas, spirits are hidden at the far end of the counter, and the only increase over Business is the addition of Baileys, Jack Daniels and Jim Beam.

Austrian Airlines lounge in Vienna Schengen Senator Lounge June 2011
Vienna Schengen Senator Lounge the bar area

Food again gets a slight notch above business, with the addition of trays of cold meats and cheese, and salad during the day, in addition to the hot tray with sausages and potatoes. Breakfasts are good with tomatoes and scrambled egg, plus a cereal, rolls, croissants and jam.

There are no computers in the lounge (only free Wifi) or showers, however there is a good selection of newspapers including the USA Today (alas no English ones, and the only English language newspapers are American) and a healthy supply of magazines (in plastic covers to stop you removing them from the lounge).

Vienna - Austrian Airlines Senator Lounge East - Non-Schengen international area

Before security, after passport control, international pier East, ground floor 0530-2100
Access for Miles & More Senators, and Gold Star Alliance

This lounge is in the area for all flights out of Vienna to non-Schengen locations, such as Asia, and the US (but not the UK: these have separate gates). As such it is past passport control, but before security (which is at the gate at Vienna).

Austrian Airlines lounge in Vienna Non-Schengen Senator Lounge June 2011
Austrian Airlines lounge in Vienna Non-Schengen Senator Lounge

By far the smallest lounge at Vienna, this lounge has a capacity of just 38, and with the rise in international flights, plus the planned move of UK flights to this area, it gets packed enough as it is, without the addition of all Star Alliance Golds being allowed in too: as a result it can get packed. Don't be surprised if you see people sitting on the floor when there is a rush of international flights to Asia. This is not perhaps what you expect from the top level of lounges before an international flight: it is much quieter upstairs in the Business lounge.

Austrian Airlines lounge in Vienna Non-Schengen Senator Lounge June 2011
Austrian Airlines lounge in Vienna Non-Schengen Senator Lounge

It also has a pretty poor view - the windows are obscured by bars, which stop an otherwise great view of the runway. The atmosphere is however pretty good, with lots of stripped pine, and comfortable armchairs in eye popping colours. The painted flowers on the wall are however an acquired taste, as is the small patch of fake grass in the middle of the lounge, with a table & chairs daintily placed upon it.

Food is in a small cubbyhole opposite the reception desk. There are a couple of hot trays of noodles and rice, along with ham, cheese, and lots of fruit. At breakfast time there are croissants and cereal, plus scrambled egg and sausages. Technically, this counts as pre-flight dining, but don't get your hopes up, there really isn't a lot here. On the reception desk there are also a collection of Austrian logoed chocolates.

Austrian Airlines lounge in Vienna Non-Schengen Senator Lounge June 2011
Vienna Non-Schengen Senator Lounge Bar & juice selection

The bar is quite good - there are lots of different types of beer - white beer, Hoegardden, Stella, you name it - all in bottles. There are a couple of red and white wines, and Sparkling Wine. Spirits are pretty decent, with 3 types of Martini, 4 types of whisky, plus a couple of assorted Viennese rocket fuel and Baileys. There are also four jugs of juice. Cans are in the fridge under the worktop.

Austrian Airlines lounge in Vienna Non-Schengen Senator Lounge June 2011
Vienna Non-Schengen Senator Lounge food selection

Newspapers are on the rack by the reception desk, but there are no English ones - just the USA Today, and the European version of the FT, along with a lot of German papers. This is also the case for magazines which are in the low case by reception, in plastic wrappers.

There are no showers in this lounge - you have to go upstairs or to the Central Schengen Area for one. Equally there are no computers, however there is wifi. There is one large TV at the far end of the lounge, and this is normally on BBC World.

Vienna - Austrian Airlines Business Lounge East - Non-Schengen international area

Before security, after passport control, international pier East, upper floor 0530-2330
Access with a Business Class ticket, or for Miles & More Frequent Travellers and Senators, and Gold Star Alliance
Vienna Business lounge Oct 2004
Vienna Business lounge

Vienna Business lounge Oct 2004
Vienna Business lounge
This lounge is on top of the Senator lounge - access is via the remarkably slow lift facing the door to the Senator lounge, and then on the first floor, walk down the corridor past the small sleeping rooms. It is much larger than the Senator lounge, with a capacity of 78, and has a much better view of the runway.

Food is on the counter running along the inside of the lounge - however it is quite poor. There are two types of hot omelette, some ham, and some nuts. And that's about it, although there are some rolls at breakfast time.

The bar is also much poorer than downstairs, although both beer and Sparkling Wine is in the fridge.

Vienna Business lounge Oct 2004
Vienna Business lounge

There is one shower, in the small room just past the food counter, which is often busy, particularly after the early morning arrivals from Asia. The door feels a bit insecure - and it opens right into the main lounge area.

There is a small newspaper rack (with no English papers) beside the TV at one end of the lounge, but it isn't very well stocked.

There is one (fairly fast) computer, plus a copier and fax, in the small business unit in the small corridor at the far end of the room.

London Heathrow LHR - Austrian Business Class lounge

Terminal 1, after security Open 0500-2200
Access for business class, Miles & More Senator & Frequent Traveller, Gold Star Alliance No Access to bmi Diamond Club Silver.
London LHR Star Alliance lounge March 2009
London LHR Star Alliance lounge used by Austrian

At London Heathrow, Austrian Airlines make use of the brand new Joint Star Alliance lounge in Terminal 1, to where Austrian has just moved its daily flights. It is after security, and then you walk right through the shops, and right again into the main square: the lounge is hidden in the corner, to the right of WHSmiths.

The lounge is very large, but rather dull. Food is pretty good, with a hot option available for the early morning Austrian Airlines flight so you can eat in the lounge before getting on board. Food is often curry, with salads and sandwiches also available.

London LHR Star Alliance lounge March 2009
London LHR Star Alliance lounge used by Austrian

The bar is rather poor, with bottles of Gin, Vodka, VSOP, Bacardi Rum, and Whisky with Jack Daniels, Famous Grouse, and Jamesons. There is just one type of white, two types of red, and a rose wine. Most of these are pretty cheap and nasty versions. There is a beer pump for Grolsh, and - rare for a lounge - Magners cider in bottles in the fridge, along with bottles of Becks and cans of Guinness.

There are showers in the lounge, and free Wifi, but no computers.

Full details of this lounge are contained in the bmi pages, under the Joint Star Alliance LHR Lounge section.

Frankfurt FRA - Austrian Airlines Lounges

Austrian and Lauda borrow lounges from Lufthansa. The vast hub that is Frankfurt has both types of lounge on Schengen side, on two levels, while on the International side there are two business lounges in the round piers, and a Senator lounge right in the middle of the central pier B. On this level there is also the United Red Carpet club - a bit of a hike, but worth the trip. Gold Star Alliance holders can use this lounge, which is more pleasant than the crowded and stuffy Senator lounges.

At Frankfurt, remote stands are used a lot and this involves a sometimes lengthy bus ride once you're off the plane. Once inside, the Lufthansa terminal in Frankfurt airport is vast and confusing; I recommend asking for a map of the lounges. The lounges can be quite a hike from the gates, and they don't always announce departures, so watch those monitors carefully and give yourself a little extra time to make your boarding.

Frankfurt Senator lounge Pier B Sept 2003 Frankfurt Senator lounge Pier B International
Frankfurt Senator Lounge International
Pier B - International (top floor) Open 0530-2230
The main, central, Senator lounge is a bit of a hunt to find at the top of the shopping centre that is pier B. A crowded room many people have reported it as terrible. Its not, but it will never win any prizes as the best lounge in the world either. When the flights to Asia leave, in late evening from 2100 onwards, there is a queue for seats.
Frankfurt Senator lounge Pier B Sept 2003 Frankfurt Senator lounge Pier B

It opened in 1996 and at the time was very smart, but now looks very tired and worn. The chairs, which are the same dark grey as in any Senator lounge anywhere in the world are showing their age and not very comfortable. Its filled with smoke and filthy carpets.

There is a grid of 4 TV screens on the wall, and remote headsets on the glass table. All the screens show different channels (normally BBC World, Eurosport, and 2 German channels) - select the channel on your headset to the one you want.

There are phone booths, no computers, but Wireless LAN technology (WiFi) if you bring a laptop.

Frankfurt Senator lounge Pier B Sept 2003 Frankfurt Senator lounge Pier B
Newspapers are on the rack in the middle of the lounge, an ok selection. Naturally there are all the German papers, plus a full selection of US papers, and sometimes even some Asian papers. There are never any UK papers or magazines.

Food is limited to the odd sandwich, containing cheese or ham on dark German bread.

Drink is ok, with some good wine, with white being Reisling, while red is Cabernet Savignon. Sparkling Wine is available if you ask but there are no signs telling you this. There is a Becks beer fountain, and two buttons to press - one will give you a German style head, the other a US/UK style non-froth head. There are even decent logoed glasses.

Frankfurt Business Lounge International
BOTH Pier B - International (left and right rotundra) Both Open 0600-2200
There are two Business lounges in the central part of both rotundra in pier B. They are identical, and both reached by the spiral staircase right next to the gates. This actually makes them ideal to use right up until the flights depart, so there is frequently a last minute flurry of people who spend their time in the Red Carpet Club, and then the last 15 minutes in this lounge.

Frankfurt Business lounge Pier B Sept 2003 Frankfurt Business lounge Pier B
There are drinks and nibbles provided, although these are, irritatingly, right next to the smoking zone, making getting your refreshments unpleasant if you don't like cigarette smoke. It has much better amenities than the Senator, like showers, and free Internet. There is also a big sleeping room. Take a circuit of the lounge as you walk in to check out all the facilities - its on a circle, so you can walk all the way round.

Newspapers are on the rack right after the desk. Naturally there are all the German papers, but it only stocks Time or Newsweek as English magazines.

Food is the usual stale biscuits and dried out, seen better days peanuts.

Drink The choice is good with excellent coffee, two types of wine, and, delight, Sparkling Wine is avalible all the time. True, its "Lufthansa Brut", but its good. Really it is.

Frankfurt Schengen side

Frankfurt Business Lounge A
Frankfurt Business lounge Pier A Sept 2003 Frankfurt Business lounge Pier A
Pier A - Schengen (Right hand side) Open 0530-2200
An ok lounge, but it can be difficult to find a seat when flying at peak business times (such as late afternoon Monday - Friday) in one of the slipery light grey armchairs. There are more seats in the "quiet zone"s which aren't as busy. It is expected that you keep quiet in them though, as people may be trying to rest between long-haul flights. Almost all of this lounge seems to be a smoking lounge. There are small boxes with telephones in them. There are 5 sleeping couches at the back of the "wings" of the lounge. A big TV screen on the wall, made out of 4x3 CRTs completes the mix.

NewspapersThe usual selection of German papers, but in deference to the UK flights there is often an FT.

Food is decidedly limited, consisting of bowls of nuts, crisps, and pretzels.

Drink is ok, with just one white, one red but no Sparkling Wine. Beer is just Becks, in bottles.

Frankfurt Senator Lounge A
Pier A - Schengen (Right hand side) Open 0700-2230
Frankfurt Senator lounge Pier A Sept 2003 Frankfurt Senator lounge Pier A

Much smaller and more cosier than its neighbouring business lounge. There are comfortable leather armchairs in the dark grey livery of Senator class, plus all the usual amenities such as laptop points. Up one end of the room are some departure screens (for European flights only). Behind this is a room with 5 sleeping couches. In the middle of the room is a small TV, with infra-red headsets in a rack to the right of it.
Frankfurt Senator lounge Pier A Sept 2003 Frankfurt Senator lounge Pier A

Up the other end of the room is a bar with 3 small tables for eating.

NewspapersThe usual selection of German papers, plus an ok selection of magazines, such as Time.

Food is ok, with sausages, and ham & cheese slivers.

Drink is good, with 1 white, 1 red, no Sparkling Wine, but a good spirits selection. There are real full sized wine glasses with a Lufthansa logo. There is a Becks beer fountain.

Dusseldorf Lounges

Terminal A - Schengen Side, up spiral stairs opposite transfer centre near gate 76 Open 0515-2115 (Sat to 2000)

Again in Dusseldorf Lauda and Austrian use the Lufthansa lounges. Both the Senator and the Business lounge are on the Schengen side. There are no lounges on the non-Schengen side, however the passport guards are so used to passengers nipping to/from the lounge they will just wave you through.

Dusseldorf Senator lounge Sept 2004 Dusseldorf Senator lounge
Dusselforf - Lufthansa Business Lounge

This is a fairly normal Business lounge, in the heart of the new terminal. Vastly better compared to the old lounge in the old terminal before it was destroyed by fire, it is still fairly soulless, with lino and plastic chairs in a glass and steel emporium.

Dusseldorf - Lufthansa Senator Lounge

Dusseldorf Senator lounge Sept 2004 Dusseldorf Senator lounge
For a Senator lounge, this is a large version, and there are good views over the apron. As you go in there are phone booths on the right, loos at the far end, and one shower close to the door. There are no computers. There are two TV screens (annoyingly, just by the door) showing departures; watch these carefully, as all departure information is made very quickly, just once, and only in German. It can make less regular travellers rather nervous.

Newspapers are on the rack in the middle of the lounge, an ok selection. Naturally there are all the German papers, the European FT, plus a full selection of US papers such as USA today and the Herald Tribune. There are never any UK papers or magazines, and if you ask for them you are directed in a bemused fashion towards the US ones.

Dusseldorf Senator lounge Dec 2004 Dusseldorf Senator lounge

Food varies according to the time of day. There is breakfast until 11am, with croissants, rolls, and some amazingly good jam. Plus there are cornflakes, and genuine German gummy bears to sprinkle over them. At exactly 11am breakfast changes to lunch, with a very good potato salad, herb and lard mix (great name!) and ham and cheese croissants. All day there is fruit and biscuits.

Dusseldorf Senator lounge Sept 2004 Dusseldorf Senator lounge
Drink is ok, with some good wine, with white being Reisling, while red is Cabernet Savignon. Sparkling Wine is available if you ask but there are no signs telling you this. However, being Dusseldorf, the lounge has the local speciality - Hannen Alt beer, served in bottles.

Austrian Airlines Cologne (Koln/Bonn) Lounges

Terminal 1, Pier A Before Security, opposite checkin Open 0500-2200
In Cologne Austrian & Tyrolean use the Lufthansa lounges. Very unusually, in this rather old and decrepid airport, the lounges are before security, following the American system. Despite the uprated shops after security, there are no lounges after this point.
Cologne Senator lounge Jan 2005 Cologne Senator lounge
Austrian (Lufthansa) Cologne Senator Lounge

This lounge is one of Lufthansa's oldest, and despite serving some of the most modern food, in the global lounge sphere, it's never going to cut it. If you are on a Tyrolean service, you will be disappointed. Many of it's problems stem from being before security - so many Senators use it, even when flying dba or Germanwings. It therefore gets a lot of traffic, some of which use it roughly.
Cologne Senator lounge Jan 2005 Cologne Senator lounge

You enter through the mirrored doors onto the main concourse. The reception desk then faces the large non-smoking seating area, so you are observed throughout your stay - not a nice experience. Much better is to walk up past the food to the smoking area, where there are unobserved seats, but alas on cold hard benches. By the food counter there are also a few dining seats, which are the most popular areas to sit a - although they get a lot of smoke drifting over.

Cologne Senator lounge Jan 2005 Cologne Senator lounge

Food is the usual offering of biscuits (both dark and white chocolate - although after spending a day sitting in the smoke they have the consistency of glue) nuts, gummy bears, rolls, and a couple of types of cream cheese, along with coleslaw and slices of ham. There is also a small pile of fruit.

The Bar has three types of white (although only a sparkling Chardonnay and no Sparkling Wine) in a bucket of ice, and two of red on the top of the shelf, which are hard to spot. There are six spirits, including Baileys and Famous Grouse. Beer, in bottles, is just Becks. However in the dining part of the food area, there is a beer fountain, serving Kolsh beer in proper glasses.

There are a reasonable number of German Newspapers on the rack, but no magazines or English papers. There is a small business centre with a fax and copier, and a phone in a booth, but no computers. There are no loos or showers in the lounge.

Austrian Airlines Munich Lounges

Terminal 2 After Security
Austrian flights from Munich depart only from the Schengen (lower) floor of the Munich terminal.
Munich Senator Schengen lounge Jan 2005 Munich Senator Schengen lounge

At Munich, changing planes can involve a long walk, but at least the layout of the airport is pretty simple - however to find the lounges I recommend asking for a map of their locations. The lounges can be quite a hike from the gates, and they don't always announce departures, so watch those monitors carefully and give yourself a little extra time to make your boarding.

Austrian (Lufthansa) Munich Senator Lounge
Terminal 2, Level G, Opposite gate G28 Open 0515-2130
Munich Senator Schengen lounge Jan 2005 Munich Senator Schengen lounge
This lounge is the main First Class (plus Senator) lounge for Austrian (via Lufthansa) at Munich. As a result it is always clean, tidy, with the best atmosphere - and a great paddling pool in the middle of the lounge. Not that it is designed for paddling, but the water feature does look very good.

As you walk in, you notice that the entire lounge is built around curves. You curve around the initial set of leather armchairs. On the far wall are the TV screens showing departures. Then you hit the dining area, with a curious migration from the Frequent Flier lounge - light grey chairs. On the left is the buffet, and on the right are a load more comfy armchairs.

Food has a pretty good buffet, with burgers and hanks of pork, along with trays of coleslaw and salad. The bread basket is particularly good, and the Gerkins are some of the best in lounges around the world.

Munich Senator Schengen lounge Jan 2005 Munich Senator Schengen lounge

Beer of course, is the Bavarian party juice, and in this lounge there is something special - the beer pumps are manned, and you even get beer served at your seat. There is Lowenbraw and Fransikamer (white) beer on draft, in logoed glasses. Wine is however quite poor, and just comes in with three whites in a bucket of ice. There is no Sparkling Wine, just sparkling Chardonnay.

Munich Senator Schengen lounge Jan 2005 Munich Senator Schengen lounge

There are a reasonable number of German Newspapers on the rack, by the door, but no English papers, just the USA Today the US Herald. There is a small business centre with 4 seats, a fax and copier, but no computers. There are two phone booths. There is an extensive sleeping area, and showers.

Austrian Airlines Copenhagen Business Class Lounge

Terminal 3, next to pier C Open 0600-2300

In Copenhagen, Austrian and Lauda borrow lounges from SAS. Both lounges are in Terminal 3, on the 1st floor. Open 0530-2300. Lounges are on the Schengen side of security, which means accessing them on two non-Schengen flights means going through passport control twice (and security, into Schengen, once). Then again, most of the shopping is on this side too.

Copenhagen - SAS Business Lounge
Access for business class passengers, and Gold card holders
Copenhagen Business lounge Oct 2003 Copenhagen Business lounge

This lounge is vast, with a truly cathedral like experience. Perhaps because of this it seems a bit impersonal, but there is no faulting the Scandinavian design, with white walls, stripped pine floors, and lots of subtle design.

As you go in, on the right hand side there are lots of chairs with reading lights and small tables with power points for laptops. In the far corner there is a real fire. On the left as you go in is a huge TV, normally stuck on BBC World, with chairs arranged in a semi-circle around the TV. Radio headphones are on the rack to the left of the TV. There is a small smoking room if you double back into the glass walled room beside the entrance - so everyone coming in can see you having a puff. Alas this is the only place where you can see the runway, and thats at some distance.

Copenhagen Business lounge Oct 2003 Copenhagen Business lounge - the Library

Through the archway are 6 computers, which are dreadfully slow, plus a photocopier, lazer printer, and fax. Further through the archway is a very pleasant area with several loungy type chairs and a small library with books on Scandinavian design. Here there are also conference rooms, for up to 14 participants.

Food and drinks are on the left of the archway, however the selection is remarkably poor. There are two serve-yourself beer pumps, with Tubourg and Carlsberg on draft, and bizarrely white and red wine on draft too. Thats it, no other bottles and no spirits. Food is also very poor, with just a few pastries in the morning, followed by cream cheese and vegetable dips during the day, along with some miniature pork sausages.

Copenhagen SAS Scandinavian Lounge
Access for Gold card holders
Copenhagen Scandinavian lounge Oct 2003 Copenhagen Scandinavian lounge - the Library

A much smaller more intimate lounge, access is through the door to the right of the main business lounge, and then once past the rather fierce lady on reception go up the stairs over the main lounge, past the giant model of an A320, and then up to the top to be greeted by a strange orange budda, and a mobile phone cubicle. That sets the tone of this place - its much quieter, for people who fly business just because they can.

Through the arch there are more computers - faster ones this time - and settee areas with potted plants, like a comfy sitting room. There are big squashy arm chairs and another library with design books. Doubling back over the entrance is

Copenhagen Scandinavian lounge Oct 2003 Copenhagen Scandinavian lounge
the smoking room, which also has a small bar area - and a view of the runway.

Most people come up to the Scandinavian lounge for the better food and bar service. This is to the left of the computer archway, and seems like a Nordic kitchen. There are cakes and ham, the same beer on draft as downstairs, but better wine - in bottles! White is Reisling and Savignon Blanc, while the Red is Australian Grenache and Italian Vignia Del Mono. There are even bottles of Tuborg, Carlsberg, and Guinness in the fridge. But, alas, still no spirits.

Kuala Lumpur - Plaza Premium Lounge

Satellite Building, Mezzanine Floor, Trisilco Business Centre Open 24 hours
This is the Generic lounge used by Lauda (and hence Austrian) Airlines, plus Emirates, and a host of other airlines on their stopovers at the vast new Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). An invitation is required - make sure you pick one up at checkin in. Transfer passengers can get one at the transfer counter. If you then want to leave the lounge and get in again, you have to get a sticker from the desk. The capacity is 160, so it rarely gets crowded.
Kuala Lumpur Plaza Premium Lounge Oct 2004
Kuala Lumpur Plaza Premium Lounge

There are two entrances - the usual side for Lauda's use is at the far end, although you can go into both, and both offer pretty much the same food and drinks. At night the glass doors between the sections is opened up so you can walk between the two.

Food is pretty good - There are chicken wings, chickpea curry, and hot rice. Normally there is a rather bland salad, and a selection of four dips with loads of dippy type things, such as carrots. On plates there are cheese or ham sandwiches, wrapped very tightly in clingfilm, some rather dry pastries, and some watermellon pieces.

Kuala Lumpur Plaza Premium Lounge Oct 2004
Kuala Lumpur Plaza Premium Lounge

Drinks are exceptionally poor. You either get gin, vodka, or whisky in totally anonymous flasks, with no indications to their provenance. Or there is a Carlsberg beer fountain. And that's it. No wine of any type, and certainly no Sparkling Wine.

Kuala Lumpur Plaza Premium Lounge Oct 2004
Kuala Lumpur Plaza Premium Lounge

Computers are pretty good and fast - although there are only three of them. There is also a copier and fax. There is one big screen TV which is often turned off.

Newspapers are on the stand by the door, although the selection is just from KL, and Japan. There is 1 paper from Amsterdam, 1 Stern, and 1 FT. There is one shower.

Be warned that this lounge will announce that your flight is boarding at the time it is scheduled to board - not the time it actually does.