After a hectic and slightly chaotic few days visiting Salzburg and Munich, it was over all too soon and we were soon wandering Munich Airport’s much-improved Terminal 1 in search of Airport Lounge World.
Airport Lounge World, which we found after a few brief moments of dedicated effort, is tucked away to the left behind a restaurant very shortly after passing through the main duty free space, almost directly facing the dedicated Emirates lounge, across the other side of the concourse.
Airport Lounge World is of course Munich Airport Terminal 1’s main airport-run lounge, catering to a selection of airlines including Aer Lingus, American, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Condor, Etihad, Qatar, and many more – as well as Priority Pass, Dragonpass, and a number of other lounge access programs. In addition, for the not insignificant sum of €72, you can book in advance directly through the airport’s own website.
I always have relatively low expectations of airport-run lounges, but heading inside, the view from beyond the lobby actually surprised me to the point of confirming with the staff if this was definitely the lounge for Aer Lingus guests. It was – but unfortunately my boarding pass (and Vannesha’s) stubbornly refused to permit us access through the gates, so some manual intervention was required.
While that happened, the main lounge attendant greeting guests let me know the main amenities of the various spaces within the lounge, before insisting we try upstairs, which he told us was the most quiet and notwithstanding the food selection, had the same seating as well as great views. Who am I to not listen to the person most likely to have explored the full lounge and seen it at its busiest and quietest?
Upon entry, and immediately to the left, was the food selection, which was extensive and covered both hot, food and sweet options – including a selection of breads, meats, hot food options on the counter behind, as well as muffins and cake slices. It all look very appetising, and was clearly marked.
To the right were dining tables and chairs set alongside the magnificent double-height floor-to-ceiling windows, offering fantastic views out across the nearby gate areas.
Behind and further into the lounge, was an additional seating area with private lounge-style seating, definitely better for individuals or couples planning to just chill out with a drink and a few nibbles, rather than devour a complete meal.
As I say, I am not one to shun the advice of an expert, and so we high-tailed it upstairs as quickly as possible, where I mercifully found a well-equipped self-serve bar with a selection of spirits, wines, soda taps (including water), mixers, and a coffee machine (obviously not necessary in my particular case).
The upstairs is definitely the place to be – arranged in a circle around the bar and facilities – the whole area also benefits from great views and was much quieter again than downstairs. Along with plenty of different types of seating to suit all needs, there is also power sockets in abundance to charge electronics and ultimately we only went back downstairs to stock up on food and return, which we had been told is perfectly fine.
In the end, I enjoyed several glasses of wine while waiting as well as devouring a few treats, before it was time to head to our gate, having enjoyed watching the comings-and-goings out in the airfield for a little under an hour.
Overall, considering the state of many airport lounges, Airport Lounge World in Terminal 1, Munich Airport was a really impressive treat – peaceful, with lots of seating and F&B choice, lots of space, and great views.
