Lufthansa pulls back the curtains on two new Berlin lounges

Frequent flyers and business class guests visiting Brandenburg Airport will notice a welcome change in the Berlin hub’s lounge offering from early next week, as Lufthansa opens not one but two new lounges. 

Until now, the airline’s premium travellers and top-tier frequent flyers have been directed to the independent Lounge Tegel, a rather underwhelming contract lounge known for being particularly crowded in peak times.

Opening on April 3, the new Senator and business class lounges are a significant improvement: social and inviting, embracing a “modern room concept” dividing the spaces into zones for rest, conversation and work. It’s all very boutique hotel-like.

That said, decor isn’t a huge departure for Lufthansa – the familiar tan and grey leather lounges are still present, as are incandescent bulbs and timber flooring. However, there are some noteworthy features.

The Lufthansa Berlin Business Lounge is more decidedly more inviting.

In the Senator lounge, reserved for the Star Alliance member’s elite flyers, there’s a cosy ambience thanks to a steam fireplace (sure to be a popular hangout), while a digital art concept invites guests to design their own piece to adorn the walls via an app.

Over in the business class lounge, which debuted in a scaled-down version designed for social distancing in 2020, we now have our first taste of its fully-realised concept. Wiping away the cavernous feeling of old, it’s light and bright with a living room-like feel.

Those looking to relax will be drawn to the cinema-like TV Club, playing various movies and broadcast concerts, along with rousing classical music to get you feeling inspired. There’s also a wall of illustated books. 

Travellers hankering for some pre-flight bites will find an array of healthy all-day buffet options, together with a large selection of hot and cold drinks. Vegan and vegetarian travellers are also well catered for.

A steam fireplace (far right) adds to the ambience of the Senator lounge.

In addition, there’s also a separate retreat delivering added privacy for HON Circle members, who hold the highest status of the Miles & More program’s three tiers. 

The Senator Lounge is open to all Star Alliance first class and Star Alliance Gold frequent flyers (that includes Lufthansa Senator and HON Circle), while the business class lounge welcomes passengers seated in business class on Star Alliance carriers and elite Miles & More members.

Lufthansa has been embracing alternate lounge concepts in recent years, including its ‘Bistro Lounge’ in Frankfurt and the ‘Delights to Go’ counter in Munich, which is a mostly-automated get in, get out affair where time-poor travellers can pick up snack boxes en route to their gate.

The Bistro Lounge at Frankfurt Airport, complete with healthy snacks.

The airline’s lounge reveal follows the recent unveiling of its flagship ‘Allegris’ first and business class seating, with the latter set to make its debut on the factory-fresh Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners later this year.