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 Vienna Schengen Business Lounge The well stocked bar |
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.
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 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.
 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 ViennaThe Business / Frequent Traveller Lounge |
 Vienna Business Lounge The second Viewing Areas bar |
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 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.
 Vienna Business centre & PSP in eggshell |
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.
 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 |
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.
 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 |
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.
 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).
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 |
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 |
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.
 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.
 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.
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| Vienna Business lounge |
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| Vienna Business lounge |
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.
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| 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 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 used by Austrian |
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.
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 International |
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 |
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 Pier B |
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 Business lounge Pier A |
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 Pier A |
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.
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 |
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 Senator lounge |
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 |
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 |
Cologne Senator lounge |
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 |
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.
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.
Munich Senator Schengen lounge |
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 |
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 |
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.
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 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 - 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 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 |
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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.