Is The Lufthansa First Class Terminal Overrated?

Historically I’ve ranked the Lufthansa First Class Terminal Frankfurt as the world’s second best first class lounge. In the miles & points world, visiting the First Class Terminal is basically a rite of passage.

Well, I think my opinion on the First Class Terminal is starting to change. No, not in absolute terms, but in relative terms, as I no longer think the First Class Terminal is Lufthansa’s best lounge.

The Lufthansa First Class Terminal Frankfurt is great, but…

The Lufthansa First Class Terminal Frankfurt is a one-of-a-kind concept in commercial aviation. It’s literally completely separate from the main terminals at Frankfurt Airport, allowing you to skip the main part of the airport altogether. You can pull up directly to the First Class Terminal, clear security there, and then be driven directly to your plane.

That’s the single biggest selling point of the lounge, in my opinion. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a perfectly nice lounge otherwise, with restaurant quality food, beautiful shower suites and nap rooms, a great drink selection, and collectible ducks. The decor is admittedly a bit sterile, but that’s true across Lufthansa lounges.

However, there are some downsides to the lounge. The two things that stand out to me the most are the following:

• The lounge has no views of the airport, really, and just overlooks the airport crew building
• If you’re not originating your travels in Frankfurt, the only way to get here is to clear immigration (if coming from a non-Schengen destination), leave security, and walk along the outside roadway of the terminal; getting there is anything but first class, so as an alternative you can use the First Class Lounge in the terminal
• Even if you’re originating in Frankfurt, the First Class Terminal is only convenient if arriving by car; if arriving by train, it’s still a bit of a trek to get there

…is the Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich better?

The Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich in the satellite terminal has reopened in recent months, and I’ve now visited it a couple of times (not to be confused with the other Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich). This has made me realize something — I prefer this lounge to the First Class Terminal.

Okay, the lounge doesn’t have the same convenience for those originating in Munich. The lounge is in the satellite terminal, and if you’re starting out in Munich, it’s quite a trek to get here. However, if you take that out of the equation, I actually prefer just about everything else about this lounge.

The Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich is located on the sixth floor, and has epic runway and apron views, which you don’t get at the First Class Terminal. Furthermore, it has floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the lounge, so has a lot more natural light.

The Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich has an open-air terrace, which you don’t get at the First Class Terminal.

Furthermore, I like how you can actually be driven to this lounge if you’re arriving at a remote stand, unlike at the First Class Terminal. A majority of Lufthansa’s passengers in Frankfurt and Munich are connecting rather than originating at the hubs.

Lastly, while both lounges have great service, I do in general find Lufthansa’s Munich staff to be superior. They’re the best at the airline, in my opinion.

In fairness, a lot is similar between the lounges. Both have good food and drinks, and great bathrooms, showers, and nap rooms. I guess the way I would sum it up is that if I could only ever visit one of the lounges again for the rest of my life, I’d chose the First Class Lounge Munich over the First Class Terminal Frankfurt.

So I guess to sum up my take:

• If I had the choice of originating in Frankfurt or Munich, I’d probably pick the First Class Terminal Frankfurt, because the convenience of skipping the terminal is great
• However, if connecting, and in terms of the overall lounge experience, I think the First Class Lounge Munich is superior

So, the next time I update my lounge rankings, how exactly do I weigh those factors? I’m curious to hear what y’all think!

Bottom line

While the Lufthansa First Class Terminal Frankfurt offers unrivaled convenience for those originating in Frankfurt, I’d argue that the Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich offers an all-around better experience. The lounge boasts amazing views, a beautiful outdoor terrace, and you can actually be driven to the lounge when connecting, unlike at the First Class Terminal.

What’s your take — do you prefer the Lufthansa First Class Terminal Frankfurt or Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich?