The Lufthansa First Class Terminal is considered one of the worlds finest first class lounges, so much so that Lufthansa has dedicated an entire terminal that first class passengers can call their own.
Upon entering the First Class Terminal, you are warmly greeted. You will go through security with the utmost privacy, and it is doubtful that you will encounter another passenger.
We were asked for our boarding passes, which was taken by the staff. We were informed that they would be returned to use prior to boarding.
After going through security, there is a Duty Free shopping area if you choose.
Upon entering the actual terminal, there is a display of the coveted Lufthansa First Class Terminal ducks.
There is an impressive display of newspapers and magazines.
To the right is the bar with an impressive display of almost every imaginable liquor you can imagine.
There are six towers of gummy bears sitting atop the bar.
There is a restaurant inside of the lounge with an impressive display of buffet food.
Although the buffet looks very tempting as it catered by DO & CO, there is also a menu from which food can be ordered.
We started off with the dim sum, perhaps not the best choice from an Austrian catering company. The dim sum was overcooked and not well put together. As it was overcooked, the skin just fell off of the dumplings.
The omelet was overcooked, as it evident by the browning. This made the omelet tough instead of silky, and creamy.
The Eggs Benedict were served on toast rather than English muffins. The eggs were poached perfectly, but the ham was slightly overcooked and dry. The Hollandaise was thick, and chunky instead of velvety smooth. There was also a ton of sauce instead of just a drizzle, like the classic Eggs Benedict.
During our meal, a staff attendant came by with new boarding passes in a Lufthansa First Class ticket jacket. The boarding passes we had received in Vienna were normal boarding passes, but the ones obtained in the Lufthansa First Class Terminal had the ominous “SSSS” designated in the lower left hand corner. This was likely the result of us going to Istanbul earlier in the trip. I had read many reports that had indicated we were likely to get that designation following our trip to Istanbul, and for that reason many people have avoided traveling to Turkey as it can, and will likely cause delays. From what I gathered, the “SSSS” remains in your profile for up to three years.
Unfortunately, this did affect us during our trip home which resulted in a missed flight, but I was able to get the “SSSS” issue fairly quickly which will I will post about shortly.
There is also a Cigar Lounge in the terminal, but I did not go in there and am unaware of their offerings.
The lounge is very big, considering the number of passengers coming through the lounge.
There are plenty seating areas, which are set in different sections to provide the most privacy available for each guest.
There are also several massage chairs, unfortunately they were not functioning at the time.
Once boarding is ready, you will be retrieved by an attendant. They will escort you downstairs, at which time you will go through immigration in a private setting.
You will be driven to the plane in a private car. The kind of car depends on how many other passengers are in first class as well. Unfortunately, on our trip we were driven to the plane in a Mercedes van with two other passengers. The plane ride to the van was actually a little crowded and uncomfortable, but the experience is memorable no matter the circumstances.
Since the devaluation of the Aeroplan program, flying first class on Lufthansa has risen from 62,500 miles to 70,000 miles plus fuel surcharges for a one-way ticket which is still pretty reasonable to me given the treat that awaits you.