Lounge Reviews! 12/26/23-1/05/24
Welcome back to Brooke In The Air! Today we’re reviewing the bevy of lounges I visited on my trip to Germany, including the Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges (international & transborder), Lufthansa’s Business class lounge, and the United Club lounge of United Airlines. I will say outright I was disappointed with the Frankfurt Airport’s Air Canada International Maple Leaf lounge in every facet it had almost nothing to offer, at all, in terms of food and amenities.
Without further ado, I present my reviews on the lounges.
First up, the, United Club lounge at Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport.
Lounge visited:
United Club lounge
Airport: Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport
Location: Cleveland, OH, USA
Date: 12/26/23
Thoughts: the most food of any Lounge I visited on this trip bar none, the leather interior and relatively spacious surroundings were extremely relaxing. In addition, the various flight information boards were extremely helpful as they were posted like sports scoreboards all around the lounge without being obtrusive. The lounge was not huge but it was spacious and accommodating.
Score: 7.2/10.0
One the United Club’s food bars at CLE Airport.
Entry area Christmas tree at the United Club at CLE
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One of the international lounge’s food bars at YYZ
Air Canada International Maple Leaf Lounge
Operator: Air Canada
Airport: Toronto-Pearson International Airport
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date: 12/26/23
Thoughts: this Lounge was very disappointing for an alleged flagship lounge. They had a moderate selection of food at best. Flight information boards are always helpful and they are plastered everywhere in the Maple Leaf Lounge as you would expect. The attendants were rude and there was a short supply of drinks (no fountain drinks were available). TV screens are a nice afterthought but the shower facilities showed neglect. Most foods were simple carbs or breads, and little else.
Overall Score: 4.8/10.0
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Air Canada Signature Suite
Operator: Air Canada
Airport: Toronto-Pearson International Airport
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date: 12/26/2023
Thoughts: Much better than the lounge itself; upstairs at YYZ and around the corner from the Lounge, you’ll find the Signature Suite; you must be booked in Signature class to be admitted, the Signature Suite offers a la carte dining or a complete menu. Great food, fantastic service, luxurious accommodations but no shower facilities though the bathrooms were quite luxurious featuring Molton Brown skincare and soaps in their bath facilities. Not sure what more to say; the lack of people was definitely appealing.
The Signature Suite sandwich bar at Toronto-Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Air Canada Signature Cocktail made with Maple Syrup
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Lufthansa Business Class Lounge
Operator: Lufthansa
Airport: Frankfurt (FRA) International Airport
Location: Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany
Date: 01/05/2024
Main food bar at the Lufthansa Business lounge at FRA Airport (Frankfurt)
Thoughts:
Amazingly, this was not one of Lufthansa's better lounge offerings despite being at the flagship airport. I can only assume they keep the better service and food and views for their Schengen Senator lounge or First Class Lounge. The food was mediocre at best though the hot soups weren't bad. The furniture was mildly comfortable and mostly consisted of bar stools and tech chairs. Half the electrical outlets did not work on the lounge and the attendants were gruff even by German standards and I was increasingly yelled at for filming / taking pictures even of the lounge itself.
Score: 5.5/10.0
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Lounge visited:
Air Canada Maple Leaf lounge
Airport: Frankfurt International Airport
Location: Frankfurt-am-Main, Deutschland
Date: 01/05/24
Entrance to the Frankfurt Air Canada Maple Leaf lounge- there wasn’t much inside, frankly.
Thoughts: Incredibly disappointing lounge; there was no food to speak of aside from a few packaged cold plates. There was no alcohol either, though there was a soda fountain and clean glasses. The furniture was cozy for what there was, and the tarmac views were incredible. I caught a long-form video of a massive Lufthansa 747-8i taxiing out from the gate and taking off. Other than this feature, the lounge was depressing.
Score: 2.4/10.0
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Lounge visited:
Air Canada Maple Leaf lounge
Airport: Toronto-Pearson International Airport
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date: 01/06/24
Foodspread at the YYZ transborder Maple Leaf lounge
Thoughts: This lounge was better than the previous Maple Leaf lounge, with plenty of breakfast food, an omelet bar, good views of the apron despite it being about 6 AM. The staff were not awake and it showed. I had a decent bowl of chocolate-flavored oatmeal (that I created myself) before we headed to our flight.
Score: 3.8/10.0
Side-view of food bar #3 at the United Club lounge at CLE, entrance is opposite this shot and down the hall.
THE WINNER…BY A BALANCED MARGIN, UNITED AIRLINES’ UNITED CLUB AT CLEVELAND-HOPKINS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (CLE)!
