The refreshed Lufthansa Lounge at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) opened this week to much fanfare. It joins a slew of other lounges in the busy international terminal in Terminal B.
Earlier this year, Jens Ritter, CEO at Lufthansa Airlines, confirmed that the carrier would take delivery of an aircraft fitted with the Allegris cabins every month for the remainder of 2024.
To match its in-flight product, the German flag carrier has also begun rolling out a premium lounge experience on the ground. The airline has committed to spending $2.75 billion on product enhancements through 2025.
Here’s everything you need to know about the transformed Lufthansa Lounge at Newark Airport.
Lufthansa Lounge at EWR — Overview
The Lufthansa Lounge is officially open for passengers — and it’s a beauty. Lufthansa invited several journalists, including Upgraded Points, to tour its updated lounge. It’s easy to see that the lounge got more than just a simple paint job. In fact, Lufthansa spent $10 million on the refurbishment.
“The quality of the overall customer experience, on the ground and onboard, is of utmost importance to us, and therefore upgrades, refurbishments and newly introduced products are occurring at a rapid pace,” said Dirk Janzen, Vice President Passenger Airlines Sales, The Americas, at Lufthansa Group.
The renovated Lufthansa Lounge is located inside Newark Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)’s Terminal B. It is a short walk from the security screening area and is adjacent to the SAS Lounge. This terminal serves as EWR’s main international terminal, and many airlines flying out of Terminal B are part of the Star Alliance.
At more than 6,370 square feet, the Lufthansa Lounge comfortably seats 165 guests. According to the airline, this is a 25% increase in capacity from the previous lounge. This should provide travelers plenty of space to relax or work, and the airline should be able to accommodate its top-tier members.
Lufthansa has been slowly but steadily rolling out its Allegris brand to customers, but the airline made clear that this lounge is not part of that rollout. Instead, this is a refresh of its existing lounge at EWR.
Upgraded Points had the opportunity to sit down with Victoria Schuster, VP of Product & Customer Experience at Lufthansa, to talk about the refreshed lounge, why it’s not under the Allegris umbrella, and what’s next for the lounge network.
“We decided we won’t use Allegris as a means to differentiate our products because we have a clear differentiation of our products and our lounge portfolio, and we decided it’s not necessary to do,” said Schuster.
Schuster noted that instead, the airline used some brand signatures from Allegris throughout the lounge, like the wood paneling in the first-class dining area.
Hot Tip: The lounge is open daily from 2:15 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. to accommodate Star Alliance flights departing Newark at various times during the day.
The Amenities
At first glance, it’s clear that the Lufthansa Lounge is a much-needed addition to a dark, gloomy Terminal B. Once you step into the lounge, it feels like you’ve been transported to Frankfurt.
The lounge is bright and airy, with Lufthansa signatures — like muted colors and contemporary furnishings — throughout.
Lufthansa clearly built this lounge to cater to a combination of travelers: those traveling on business who need to work and those traveling for leisure and want a space to relax.
One-third of the lounge is for working travelers: those who need to take a quick call before a flight or need a quiet space to work. Here, the lounge offers 2 small phone booth-style rooms, a long table with ample charging outlets, and seats offering some privacy.
The other two-thirds of the lounge is dedicated to relaxation.
With many places to sit, you can enjoy a drink at the bar or in the main dining area.
A separate dining area offers a mix of high-top and table seating.
A small but functional timetable displays departing flights out of Terminal B.
The bathroom is compact yet functional. Unfortunately, if you were looking forward to taking a shower before your flight, you’d be let down. The Lufthansa Lounge lacks shower facilities, which can be seen as a significant drawback for a lounge of its caliber.
Food and Drinks
The Skyline Bar takes up sizable real estate in the middle of the lounge, and with good reason.
The bar serves up a combination of beers, wines, co*cktails, and mocktails that can be made to order. Soft drinks, tea, and coffee are also available.
The signature co*cktail is the Avionic, Lufthansa’s branded aperitif, which can be served over a tonic or champagne. (If you love it, you can also purchase it from Lufthansa’s online shop!)
A nod to New Jersey, the lounge will serve locally farmed ingredients from the Garden State. The airline will also serve New Jersey craft beer on tap.
Food is served buffet style, with dishes including BLT sandwiches with trumpet mushrooms, bacon, crispy lettuce and Jersey tomato jam on sourdough bread.
But the highlight, by far, is the First Class Wining and Dining section, a separate area exclusive to First Class passengers.
Here, guests can enjoy an appetizer, entree, and dessert, which can be paired with wine or a co*cktail. Dishes on the menu include a brown sugar pork tenderloin and squash risotto.
“What’s very important for me and the entire team is that we want to make sure the experience is tailor-made for our customers,” said Schuster. “[If you] want to relax and have a lovely drink, a co*cktail at the bar and then relax afterward, it’s possible.”
How To Access the Lufthansa Lounge at EWR
Now that you know about the newly-remodeled Lufthansa Lounge, you’re probably wondering how to get access. Here’s what you’ll need to qualify:
- Lufthansa First Class, Business Class, HON, and Senator passengers
- Business- and first-class passengers flying on other Lufthansa Group airlines, such as Austrian Airlines and SWISS
- Business-class passengers with a same-day boarding card when traveling on a Lufthansa or Star Alliance flight
- Frequent Traveller and Star Alliance Silver when flying on a Lufthansa or Star Alliance flight
Lufthansa operates around 60 lounges at 17 destinations worldwide. The airline confirmed to Upgraded Points that several U.S. lounges, including New York (JFK) and Washington (IAD), would see a refresh. However, the airline did not provide a timeline for when these upgrades would take place.
Bottom Line: Lufthansa joins a crowded lounge offering in Terminal B but will be a welcome addition for Star Alliance elites. Other lounges include British Airways Lounge, Delta Sky Club, SAS Lounge, Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse (temporarily closed), and the USO Center.
Final Thoughts
The Lufthansa Lounge is on the smaller side, but it offers a high-end Lufthansa experience through dining, beverages, and service.
If you’re flying out of Terminal B any time soon — and you’re eligible to enter — check out the beautifully renovated Lufthansa Lounge!
