The World’s Most Luxurious Airport Lounges

Layovers can be a hassle, or they can be a slice of heaven. If you have the opportunity to visit one of these airport lounges, you may keep your fingers crossed for flight delays. Lounges have gone way beyond free cocktails and Wifi.

Now, you can savor your trip by indulging in spa treatments, taking a nap, or enjoying a gourmet meal, blogs

Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge, Singapore Changi International Airport

Known as one of the top airport lounges in the world, the SilverKris Lounge at Changi airport is huge and accommodating. Fish tanks, orchids, low lighting and great food help make this lounge a soothing oasis. Take a hot shower, get a massage at the spa, or take a nap in your own slumberette.

British Airways Concorde Room, London Heathrow Airport

Decadent Swarovski crystal chandeliers illuminate the gold leaf “Gold Bar” at the elegant British Airways Concorde Room in Heathrow. Fireplaces, gourmet dining, and luxurious furniture create a relaxing pre-flight retreat. You can enjoy a complimentary massage at Elenis Travel Spa, or chill out in your own private room that features a TV, chaise lounge, desk, and shower. For fun, sit in a chair pulled from a Concorde jet made into seating for the Boardroom.

Air France La Premiere Lounge, Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris

Have a massage, enjoy a fine French meal with wines from France’s premiere wineries, take a shower, lounge in a chaise, and then be escorted via Mercedes to your plane.

Swiss Lounge EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse, Freiburg

Relax in a leather recliner surrounded by palm trees under a giant glass dome while you enjoy the views. Hot and cold buffets and a bar offer plenty of sustenance in a bright uplifting atmosphere.

Star Alliance Lounge, Los Angeles, Tom Bradley International Terminal

Enjoy cocktails by the outdoor terrace fireplace and take in panoramic views of the Hollywood Hills while you wait for your international flight at the LAX Star Alliance lounge. Amenities include a library, shower suites, food and beverages, and iPads upon request.

Qantas First Lounge, Sydney

Luxe Italian marble, Swiss quartzite, glass, stainless steel and modern furniture juxtaposed against vertical foliage make a dramatic yet soothing atmosphere for pre-flight relaxation. Qantas First lounge in Sydney boasts complimentary spa treatments, concierge service, shower suites, gourmet dining, private business suites, and spectacular views of Sydney and Botany Bay.

Virgin Atlantic JFK Clubhouse, JFK International Airport, New York

Mood lighting, a brassiere dining area, and a spa with hair salon are all part of Virgin’s unique Clubhouse experience. Fun, vibrant furniture, like a ruby-red ball sofa and bubble chairs make this lounge seem a little futuristic, and is simultaneously soothing and invigorating.

Finnair Lounge, Helsinki Airport, Finland

Finnair Lounge is known for its fabulous midnight buffet, perfect for those on their way to Asia. Marimekko tableware and Nordic design fill surroundings with a relaxing modern aesthetic.

Etihad’s Diamond First Class Lounge, Abu Dhabi International Airport, United Arab Emirates

Drop the kids off with their own personal nanny and head for the spa. You can relax and get a massage while the children enjoy the colorful playroom.

Lufthansa First Class Lounge, Frankfurt

Located in its own terminal, Lufthansa’s First Class Lounge offers concierge service, fine dining, showers and bathtubs (sometimes with Lufthansa’s coveted rubber duckies). After an over-the-top lounge experience, you will be driven to your plane in a Porche or Mercedes. Very James Bond.

Check our AirGuideAirports – Top 50 World Airport Maps displayed with popups, including POI search capability for the busiest airports in North America, Latin America & Caribbean, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Asia Pacific.

Source: www.airguideonline.com 

Europe’s Fastest-Growing Airline Eurowings Launches Service From New York’s JFK – Düsseldorf, Germany

·         Starting April 28, Eurowings will offer a six-times-weekly, non-stop service between New York and Düsseldorf, Germany

·         Airbus A340-300 aircraft features Eurowings’ all-new BIZclass

·         Flights have a codeshare with United Airlines, Lufthansa Group airlines’ joint venture partner for transatlantic flights

·         Passengers can connect in Düsseldorf to onward destinations due to vast Eurowings/Lufthansa Group European network

On April 28, 2018, Eurowings will begin its new, non-stop service between New York (JFK) and Düsseldorf, Germany. Eurowings, Europe’s fastest-growing airline and a Lufthansa Group subsidiary, operates long-haul flights from its Düsseldorf and Munich hubs, where it offers connections to other destinations throughout Europe.

“Eurowings is now the fastest growing airline in Europe and is also seriously ‘upping the ante’ on the long-haul,” said Oliver Wagner, Chief Commercial Officer at Eurowings. “New York is definitely a must for our ever-growing network, especially as we develop our fleet in Düsseldorf and expand our leading position in the region.”

Flight EW1101 will depart New York’s JFK at 10:30 p.m. and arrive at Düsseldorf airport (DUS) at 11:55 a.m. the next day (for departures on Saturdays: 6:55 p.m. and 8:20 a.m. respectively). Westbound flight EW1100 departs Düsseldorf at 11:05 a.m. and arrives at JFK at 1:25 p.m. (for departures on Saturdays: 2:35 p.m. and 4:55 p.m. respectively). Eurowings will operate a six-times-weekly service on the new route, flying every day except for Tuesdays.

The Airbus A340-300, which Eurowings will deploy on the JFK-DUS route, offers a three-class configuration that includes 18 BIZclass seats, 21 BEST seats and 261 Economy Class seats, for a total of 300 seats. The all-new BIZclass features a fully flat bed and a unique food and drink concept with specialty products such as poke bowls, craft beer from local breweries, apple crisps from a start-up in Hamburg and liquorice specialties by Lakrids from Denmark. BEST is Eurowings’ premium economy product, offering à la carte dining, preferred seating and extra legroom.

When arriving in Düsseldorf, passengers can take advantage of the extensive European network that Eurowings and other Lufthansa Group airlines provide, for their onward journey.

Düsseldorf lies at the center of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, one of the economic backbones of Germany with over 10 million inhabitants. The city serves as the capital of the North Rhine-Westphalia region and, as an international business center, hosts numerous trade fairs. Only a short ride away from the city of Cologne and Germany’s neighboring countries, Belgium and the Netherlands, it is also a perfect base for those who want to explore the broader region.

These flights, as well as all other Eurowings services between the U.S. and Europe, can also be booked through United Airlines due to a codeshare agreement.

About Eurowings
Eurowings, a Lufthansa Group subsidiary, is Europe’s fastest-growing airline. It specializes in affordable point-to-point flights within Europe and flies to long-haul destinations from its hubs in Cologne/Bonn, Munich and Düsseldorf. Summer schedule destinations in the U.S. in 2018 are New York’s JFK, Miami, Fort Myers, Las Vegas and Seattle. Eurowings currently employs approximately 10,000 people and operates more than 185 aircraft to over 160 destinations in 50 countries. The airline’s platform structure allows for its rapid development. For more information, visit www.eurowings.com or download the Eurowings app.

Lufthansa Introduces “A La Carte Dining” Meals In Economy And Premium Economy Class

• In the future, seven selected menus can be ordered on long-haul flights for an extra charge

From summer 2018, Lufthansa Economy and Premium Economy Class passengers will be able to order one of seven selected “A la carte dining” meals on long-haul flights, for an extra charge.

The menu, which offers different variations to choose from depending on your taste and preference, includes meals such as:  grilled steak, Bento Box with a selection of classic Japanese sushi specialities, hearty Bavarian snacks, an Asian healthy menu with quinoa, or Mediterranean pasta with choice of shrimp or exotic Thai curry. All items are served to the passenger on stylish porcelain.

The multi-course menus are offered on almost all Lufthansa intercontinental flights from Frankfurt and Munich and are served on order instead of the regular first meal. They cost between 19 and 33 euros and are expected to be available beginning May 2018. The “A la carte dining” meals can be booked on lufthansa.com up to 24 hours before departure.

The “A la carte dining” meals do not replace the existing food and drink offerings in Economy and Premium Economy Class, but complement them at the passengers' individual request. Availability per flight is limited.

About The Lufthansa Group
The Lufthansa Group is the world’s biggest airline group in in terms of revenue, and is also the market leader in Europe’s airline sector. The Group strives to be the “First Choice in Aviation” for its customers, employees, shareholders and partners. And safety, quality, reliability and innovation are the prime credentials and priorities of all its business activities.
The Lufthansa Group is divided into the three strategic areas of Hub Airlines, Point-to-Point Business and Service Companies. The Group’s network carriers, with their premium brands of Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian Airlines, serve its home market from their Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich and Vienna hubs. With its Eurowings brand, the Group also offers short- and long-haul point-to-point services in the growing private travel market. And with its service companies, which are all global market leaders in their individual industries, the Lufthansa Group has found success in further areas of the aviation business.
The Lufthansa Group’s airlines currently (winter schedule) serve 288 destinations in 106 countries on four continents and offer 12,461 weekly frequencies. The Group’s total fleet comprises some 617 aircraft and its member airlines will be taking delivery of 205 new aircraft between now and 2025. In 2017, the Lufthansa Group employed around 124,000 personnel, welcomed 130 million passengers aboard its flights and generated sales of around EUR 31.7 billion.

Airberlin Bankrupt : Etihad Airways Issues A Statement. Flights Will Continue On Current Schedule.

Air Berlin, Germany’s second-largest carrier, has filed for bankruptcy today. This came after Etihad Airways announced all financial support.

The airline, which has accumulated debt for almost a decade, reported a record loss of 782m euros in 2016.

Flights will continue to operate thanks to a transitional loan of 150m euros from the German government.

It means: All flights from airberlin and NIKI are operating and the current flight schedule as well as booked flights are valid. airberlin and NIKI are continuing to accept future bookings.

Negotiations between airberlin and Lufthansa among others are continuing and are expected to finalize.

Air Berlin CEO Thomas Winkelmann said: “We’re working hard on this situation to do what is the best for the company, our clients.

 In the meantime UAE based Etihad Airways issued a statement:

“We have been informed that airberlin has filed for administration.

“This development is extremely disappointing for all parties, especially as Etihad has provided extensive support to airberlin for its previous liquidity challenges and restructuring efforts over the past six years.

“In April this year, Etihad provided EUR 250 million of additional funding to airberlin as well as supporting the airline to explore strategic options for the business. However, airberlin’s business has deteriorated at an unprecedented pace, preventing it from overcoming its significant challenges and from implementing alternative strategic solutions.

“Under these circumstances, as a minority shareholder, Etihad cannot offer funding that would further increase our financial exposure. We remain open to helping find a commercially viable solution for all parties.

“We expect airberlin operations to continue during administration. We have a commercial relationship with airberlin across a range of areas, including codeshare operations, and we will support airberlin’s management during these difficult times.

“Germany is an important market for Etihad and Abu Dhabi, and we remain committed to providing comprehensive air links as a key enabler of trade and tourism.

Lufthansa Plans Regular Flight Operations For Thursday December 1st

Lufthansa will operate almost all its scheduled flights tomorrow, Thursday, December 1. Only a handful of services (40) need to be cancelled in the wake of the strike action of the preceding days. Lufthansa regrets these further ramifications of the strike and apologizes for the inconvenience to the customers affected.

Lufthansa asks all its customers intending to fly tomorrow (Thursday) to check the latest status of their flight on LH.com before leaving for the airport. Travelers who have provided contact details in their customer profile will be actively informed via email or SMS text message of any cancellation affecting them.

A total of 890 Lufthansa flights affecting some 98,000 travelers have been cancelled today as a result of the latest strike action by the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) pilots’ union. All in all, the six days of strike action since last Wednesday have caused the cancellation of 4,461 flights affecting over 525,000 Lufthansa customers.

Lufthansa Strike: Special Flight Schedule In Effect For Friday November 25th

Yesterday evening, the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) pilots’ union announced another extension of the strike that has been ongoing since Wednesday.

Tomorrow, Friday, 25 November, all Lufthansa flights within Germany and Europe will be affected. A special flight schedule is in effect for tomorrow.

On Friday, 2,170 of the Lufthansa Group’s approximately 3,000 scheduled flights will be operating as planned. Tomorrow, on the third consecutive day of strikes, over 100,000 passengers will be affected due to the cancellations of 830 short- and medium-haul flights. Long-haul flights will be operating almost as scheduled, although there may be occasional cancellations of these flights resulting from the strikes on the previous days. In total, over 315,000 passengers have been affected by the cancellation of 2,618 flights.

Lufthansa is calling on the pilots’ union once more to develop a joint solution for the dispute through arbitration. Harry Hohmeister, Chief Officer Hub Management of Deutsche Lufthansa AG: “The status quo is that we pay our pilots significantly more than our competitors do. As members of the executive board, we are responsible for more than 120,000 employees and want to keep Lufthansa viable for the future. That will not be possible with a demand for a 20 percent increase in pay.”

The Group airlines Eurowings, Germanwings, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Air Dolomiti and Brussels Airlines are not affected by the strike. The pilots of Lufthansa Cargo have also not been called on to strike. Flights to and from Germany that are operated by Group airlines are proceeding as scheduled. Austrian Airlines and SWISS have also increased their capacity on flights to Germany by using larger aircraft for the time being.

Customers whose flights have been cancelled due to the strike have the one-time option to transfer or cancel their booking free of charge. In addition to this, all passengers with tickets for flights travelling to, from or through Germany by tomorrow have the one-time option to transfer their booking at no cost. For routes within Germany, there is also the option to exchange the flight ticket for a Deutsche Bahn voucher. On LH.com, passengers can find additional information under “Aktuelle Fluginformationen” (current travel information).

Lufthansa is doing everything in its power to minimize the impact of the strike on its guests. Thousands of hotel rooms have been booked in the Rhine-Main and Munich areas. For passengers who cannot enter Germany due to visa restrictions, Lufthansa has set up folding cots in cooperation with Fraport. Employees are providing passengers in the terminals who have been affected by the strike with beverages, snacks and telecommunication options. Lufthansa is notifying all passengers that have provided contact information in their customer profiles of any cancellations by e-mail or SMS.

Lufthansa is asking all its customers to take precaution by checking the status of their flight on LH.com before travelling to the airport. Customers in Germany can also call our free hotline at 0800 850 60 70 for information (free from German landlines).

New European Summer Destinations In Lufthansa’s Upcoming Flight Timetable

• Santiago de Compostela, Shannon, Bordeaux and Nantes added to the program
• Bookable now for the next summer holidays
• Funchal on Madeira can now be booked all year round

Today, Lufthansa announced its upcoming 2017 summer flight schedule mainly targeted towards leisure travelers. Five new summer destinations have been added to its European offerings and are currently on sale.

New destinations from Frankfurt:
Beginning March 27, 2017, there will be a flight every Monday, Thursday and Friday from Frankfurt to Santiago de Compostela (Spain). This city and its cathedral are the end point of one of the best known Christian pilgrimages, the Way of St. James, and also the gateway to Galicia. Travelers here can look forward to beaches, charming forests and picturesque villages.

Bordeaux (France) is on Lufthansa’s flight plan from Frankfurt for wine fans and sun-seekers as of April 2, 2017. Flights leave on Thursdays and Sundays for the metropolis on the Gironde, the economic, political and cultural capital of south-west France.

Once a week (Saturday) from April 29, 2017, Lufthansa will offer flights to Shannon (Ireland) from Frankfurt. Shannon is situated in County Clare, one of Ireland’s most popular holiday regions, which is famous for its abbeys and castles. This is also a great starting place for exploring Ireland’s “Wild Atlantic Way” – a spectacular coastal tourism trail that has been declared as the longest coastal route in the world.

The program of summer destinations from Frankfurt is completed by the Baltic resort of Heringsdorf. From April 15, friends of the Baltic Sea and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern can fly once a week (Saturday) to the “Nice on the Baltic Sea” with Lufthansa.

Last but not least, fans of the flower island of Madeira will be happy because Lufthansa will now offer flights to Funchal (Portugal) from Frankfurt all year round, not only in winter.

New destinations from Munich:
Francophiles should mark their diaries for March 28, 2017. That is the date of the first Lufthansa flight from Munich to Nantes (France). The capital of the Pays de la Loire region is one of the most dynamic cultural and artistic centers in France, and Lufthansa will be flying there four times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday) all year round. Nantes is just 33 miles away from the Atlantic.

Santiago de Compostela (Spain) will be having a double premiere within the Lufthansa flight timetable next summer. For the first time passengers can fly to the Galician metropolis once a week (Sunday) from Munich, as well as from Frankfurt. Flights can be booked from the start of the schools’ Easter holidays in Bavaria, April 9, 2017. Pilgrims and other hikers curious to walk the famous Way of St. James can book a special one-way fare from Lufthansa, making an attractive round trip in combination with a flight to Bilbao.

Further information and flight booking services with Lufthansa can be found on the internet at http://www.lh.com/.

The new routes at a glance
Frankfurt (FRA) – Santiago de Compostela (SCQ)
• 3 flights a week (Monday, Thursday, Friday 03/27 – 10/27/2017)
• LH1110: FRA 9.35 a.m. – 12.15 p.m. SCQ (Fri.: 9.30 a.m. – 12.10 p.m.)
• LH1111: SCQ 1.35 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. FRA
• Price: from EUR 129 including taxes, fees and charges
• Duration of flight: 2 hours 40 minutes
• Distance: 942 miles
• Airbus A319

Frankfurt – Bordeaux (BOD)
• 2 flights a week (Thursday, Sunday 04/02 – 10/26/2017)
• LH1084: FRA 4.00 p.m. – 5.45 p.m. BOD
• LH1085: BOD 6.25 p.m. – 8.15 p.m. FRA
• Price: from EUR 119 including taxes, fees and charges
• Duration of flight: 1 hours 45 minutes
• Distance: 562 miles
• Airbus A319

Frankfurt – Shannon (SNN)
• 1 flight a week (Saturday 04/29 – 10/21/2017)
• LH984: FRA 3.50 p.m. – 5.05 p.m. SNN
• LH985: SNN 5.50 p.m. – 9.00 p.m. FRA
• Price: from EUR 119 including taxes, fees and charges
• Duration of flight: 2 hours 15 minutes
• Distance: 773 miles
• Airbus A319

Frankfurt – Heringsdorf (HDF)
• 1 flight a week (Saturday 04/15 – 10/28/2017)
• LH220: FRA 4.10 p.m. – 5.30 p.m. HDF
• LH221: HDF 6.15 p.m. – 7.35 p.m. FRA
• Price: from EUR 119 including taxes, fees and charges
• Duration of flight: 1 hours 20 minutes
• Distance: 356 miles
• Bombardier CRJ900

Frankfurt – Funchal (FNC)
• 1 flight a week (Saturday, from March 26, 2017, all year round with different departure times)
• LH1170: FRA 10.55 a.m. – 2.10 p.m. FNC
• LH1171: FNC 3.15 p.m. – 8.20 p.m. FRA
• Price: from EUR 219 including taxes, fees and charges
• Duration of flight: 4 hours 15 minutes
• Distance: 1,761 miles
• Airbus A321

Munich (MUC) – Nantes (NTE)
• 4 flights a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 03/28 – 10/28/2017)
• LH2242: MUC 4.00 p.m. – 5.55 p.m. NTE (Fri.: 8.20 a.m. – 10.15 a.m.)
• LH2243: NTE 6.45 p.m. – 8.30 p.m. MUC (Fri.: 11.05 a.m. – 12.50 p.m.)
• Price: from EUR 119 including taxes, fees and charges
• Duration of flight: 1 hours 55 minutes
• Distance: 625 miles
• Airbus A319/A320

Munich – Santiago de Compostela
• 1 flight a week (Sunday 04/09 – 10/22/2017) 
• LH1866: MUC 8.40 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. SCQ
• LH1867: SCQ 12.20 p.m. – 3.00 p.m. MUC
• Price: from EUR 149 including taxes, fees and charges
• Duration of flight: 2 hours 40 minutes
• Distance: 1040 miles
• Airbus A320


About Lufthansa
One of the world's largest and most prestigious airlines, Lufthansa, serving 22 North American gateways, currently flies to 194 destinations in 76 countries. The air carrier offers hubs in Frankfurt and Munich. With the Lufthansa Group acquisition of Austrian Airlines, SWISS and a stake in Brussels Airlines, additional hubs include Vienna, Brussels, and Zurich. The entire Group flew a total of 108 million passengers in 2015. In 2016 / 2017’s winter schedule the Group airlines offer more than 9,900 weekly frequencies to 255 destinations in 101 countries worldwide. As an industry innovator, Lufthansa has long been committed to environmental care and sustainability, operating one of the most technologically-advanced and fuel-efficient fleets in the world. Its long-haul fleet to and from North America includes the Boeing 747-8 and the Airbus A380— the industries’ two most environmentally-friendly passenger aircraft. Lufthansa is the largest European operator of the A380 and was also the launch customer for the Boeing 747-8. The Lufthansa Group currently has 251 new aircraft on order to be delivered by 2025. This year alone the Lufthansa Group will take delivery of 52 new aircraft, including two new types – the Airbus A320neo and the A350 – for Lufthansa alone. Known for its premium services, Lufthansa continues to build new or upgrade existing lounge facilities across its worldwide network. Lufthansa’s entire long-haul fleet now features all new onboard products in each class– bringing Lufthansa one step closer to becoming the first five-star airline in the Western Hemisphere. Additionally, the entire Lufthansa long-haul fleet is equipped with its onboard broadband wireless Internet service, FlyNet. For more information or reservations, visit LH.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (‘lufthansa’).