How Amex cards can unlock Lufthansa Business and Senator lounges

You probably know that American Express’ highest-tier cards include lounge privileges. For instance, Amex Platinum and Centurion Members can visit lounges operated by Virgin Australia, Delta, Plaza Premium and more. But one lesser-known American Express benefit is being able to access eligible Lufthansa lounges as well.

At the baseline, the arrangement grants entry into most Lufthansa Business Lounge locations even if flying Economy Class. But the policy goes one better. If you’re flying Business Class – and thus, you can already get into the Business Lounge from your ticket – you can slip into Lufthansa’s higher-tier Senator Lounge instead.

In fact, the benefit doesn’t merely work when flying with Lufthansa. An eligible boarding pass on Austrian Airlines or SWISS also qualifies. Here’s a look at how and where this benefit works.

Lufthansa lounge access via American Express

When it comes to relaxing in Lufthansa lounges, courtesy of an eligible Amex Card, there are a few key rules to understand. Here’s a quick rundown to get started.

• You’ll need an onward flight on Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines or SWISS. Even though Brussels Airlines is also a Lufthansa Group carrier, those flights don’t qualify – nor do flights on other Star Alliance partners.
• This is only possible at selected lounges operated by Lufthansa itself. Lounges that are run by Lufthansa Group’s other carriers – Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and SWISS – don’t qualify. All other partner lounges are excluded, too.
• You’ll need to present your physical qualifying American Express Card at reception. You can’t merely display your card via a mobile wallet or the Amex app.

We’ll get to a list of the qualifying lounge locations in a moment. But first, here’s an outline of which card and boarding pass unlocks which lounge. Note that access differs depending on Amex Card and travel class.

• American Express Platinum Card Members flying Economy or Premium Economy on Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines or SWISS can visit eligible Lufthansa Business Lounge locations.
• Amex Platinum Card Members flying Business Class on these airlines can instead use the Lufthansa Senator Lounge, where available at eligible airports.
• Amex Centurion Members can visit the Lufthansa First Class lounges in Frankfurt and Munich when flying in any travel class on the same airlines. Additionally, Lufthansa Senator Lounge access is available even when flying Economy and Premium Economy. Lufthansa’s First Class Terminal is not included.

Here’s a live example from a recent trip. I’m booked to fly in SWISS Business Class from Hamburg to Zurich and onwards to Dubai. In Hamburg, the lounge is operated by Lufthansa – so with a Business Class ticket on SWISS, I’m able to flash my Amex for entry into the higher-tier Senator Lounge. But in Zurich, the lounges are operated by SWISS, not Lufthansa. That means access only to the Business Lounge, in line with my SWISS Business Class ticket.

Which Lufthansa lounges are available to Amex Card Members?

This is a handy trick to know, but it doesn’t work everywhere. For instance, Lufthansa’s lounge in Athens doesn’t make the cut. When travelling on an eligible airline, here’s where you can use an eligible American Express Card for entry into a Lufthansa lounge – and which lounge you can access.

Eligible Lufthansa lounges in the UK and Europe

City	American Express Platinum Card	American Express Centurion Card
Berlin	Economy & Premium Economy: Business Lounge Business: Senator Lounge	All classes: Senator Lounge
Düsseldorf	Economy & Premium Economy: Business Lounge Business: Senator Lounge	All classes: Senator Lounge
Frankfurt	Economy & Premium Economy: Business Lounge and Panorama Lounge Business: Senator Lounge	All classes: First Class Lounge (but not the First Class Terminal)
Hamburg	Economy & Premium Economy: Business Lounge Business: Senator Lounge	All classes: Senator Lounge
Hannover	Economy & Premium Economy: Business Lounge Business: Senator Lounge	All classes: Senator Lounge
London Heathrow	Economy & Premium Economy: Business Lounge Business: Senator Lounge	All classes: Senator Lounge
Milan	All classes: Business Lounge (best available)	All classes: Business Lounge (best available)
Munich	Economy & Premium Economy: Business Lounge and Delights To Go* Business: Senator Lounge and Senator Café Lounge	All classes: First Class Lounge
Paris	All classes: Business Lounge* (best available)	All classes: Business Lounge* (best available)

Eligible Lufthansa lounges worldwide

City	American Express Platinum Card	American Express Centurion Card
Boston	All classes: Business Lounge (best available)	All classes: Business Lounge (best available)
Detroit	All classes: Business Lounge (best available)	All classes: Business Lounge (best available)
Dubai	Economy & Premium Economy: Business Lounge Business: Senator Lounge	All classes: Senator Lounge
Newark (EWR)	Economy & Premium Economy: Business Lounge* Business: Senator Lounge*	All classes: Senator Lounge*
New York (JFK)	Economy & Premium Economy: Business Lounge Business: Senator Lounge	All classes: Senator Lounge
Washington, D.C. (IAD)	Economy & Premium Economy: Business Lounge Business: Senator Lounge	All classes: Senator Lounge

Summing up

This trick won’t be for everyone. After all, Lufthansa doesn’t fly to Australia. But the airline’s lounge footprint is quite prominent, especially for those jetting across Europe. Being able to access lounges – or upgrade your lounge – when also flying with Austrian Airlines and SWISS is quite the bonus, and you never know when it’ll come in handy.

For instance, my flight from Hamburg comes right at the end of a global conference attended by 16,000 people. My Business Class ticket already takes care of priority check-in and security screening. But as I get close, I see that the Lufthansa Business Lounge is quite busy. Thanks to Amex, I’m able to slip into the quieter Senator Lounge.

Without an eligible Amex Card, the Senator Lounge runs a tighter guest list. By travel class, you’d only get through the doors flying First Class on a Star Alliance airline. Otherwise, you’d need to be a Star Alliance Gold frequent flyer.

Speaking of status, the HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card offers a fast track to Star Alliance Gold. These members get access to all Lufthansa Senator Lounge locations even when flying Economy and when travelling on any Star Alliance airline.

Also read: How American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts can elevate your next trip

Feature image courtesy of Lufthansa. Other photography by Chris Chamberlin, who travelled at Point Hacks’ expense.

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