March 12, 2016

Review: Washington Dulles Lounge Hopping

Introduction
Planning & Booking
Planning & Booking II
Washington Dulles (IAD) Lounge Hopping
United Airlines 777-200 Global First Washington to London
United Arrivals Lounge London
Andaz London Liverpool Street
Etihad Airways First & Business Class Lounge London
Etihad Airways A380 First Class Apartment London to Abu Dhabi
Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi
Etihad Airways Premium Lounge Abu Dhabi
Etihad Airways A380 First Class Apartment Abu Dhabi to New York
American Express Centurion Lounge LGA

After an easy flight from Denver, we landed at Washington's Dulles airport around 4:30PM.  Our flight to London was scheduled to boarded around 9:15 so we had nearly 5 hours to work/eat/drink/shower before boarding.  We deplaned and took the train over to the B concourse and the Lufthansa Senator lounge.  I lived in the DC area for a few years before moving to Denver and this was my first time on the IAD train.  While I still enjoy the people movers, the train is so much more efficient.  The walk from the train stop to the Lufthansa lounge took maybe 5 minutes. 


IAD train
Boarding passes were scanned and we entered the lounge.  Lufthansa actually has two lounges at this location - a Senator lounge and a Business Class lounge.  


Lufthansa IAD lounge entrance

Since we were flying in a premium cabin on a Star Alliance partner, we were admitted to the Senator Lounge.  While no Lufthansa First Class Terminal, the lounge was perfectly acceptable for our needs.  Fast wifi, decent food options, and an open bar.  Unfortunately, the lounge was absolutely packed for the first hour prior to Austrian and South African Star Alliance departures.  Sorry for the low quality iPhone pics - the lounge was just too crowed to get anything better.


Lufthansa Senator Lounge IAD

I was ready to shower so we left the Lufthansa lounge (no showers in the Senator portion of the lounge) for the Air France/KLM lounge which is now a Priority Pass lounge.  


IAD Terminal A
It took a few minutes to get in the lounge given my large stack of Priority Passes, several of which belong to cancelled cards.  Once we found one that worked, we were in the (much quieter) lounge.  There was a decent bar although I twice asked for Johnnie Walker on the rocks only to be served Jack Daniel's.  The buffet looked pretty sad but we were both full from the Lufthansa lounge anyway.  


Air France/KLM Lounge IAD

The highlight of the lounge is definitely the shower room.  Absolutely huge with a rain shower head   The even provide an Air France amenity kit - a very nice touch.



Rain shower

Shower room

Air France amenity kit

We then made our way over to the United Global First lounge closer to our departure gate.  The lounge is about 20 years past its prime.  I can't say a single redeeming thing about the lounge other than the wifi was fast.  There was a self serve bar and buffet with food that looked to be at least a day old.  I certainly wouldn't return unless it was the only option.


United 777-200 Global First
At 9PM we headed over to our gate ready for the quick hop across the pond!

Final Thoughts:

There is not shortage of available lounge options at IAD.  I wouldn't go out of my way to spend time in any of them although the if you're in need of a shower, checkout the Air France/KLM lounge in the A concourse.

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