Lounge Review: Berlin Airport Club
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Berlin-Tegel has two public lounges. One of them is the Berlin Airport Club, which is located at Terminal A. We visited the lounge while waiting for a flight to Riga. Please read our review to see how we rated this tiny lounge.
Covered in the Article
Berlin Airport Club Lounge in Terminal A
Berlin Airport Club Lounge or BerlinAirportClub, as it is written on the airport's website, is the public lounge in Terminal A of Berlin-Tegel Airport (TXL). 4S GroundLogistis GmbH operates this lounge.
Location and Opening Hours
Berlin Airport Club Lounge is on Level 2 in Terminal A of Berlin-Tegel Airport before security controls. Berlin-Tegel is not an ordinary airport because every gate in Terminal A has its security control just before the boarding area. This kind of layout makes having a lounge after the security controls impossible.
The lounge is open Mondays to Saturdays from 6:45 am to 9:00 pm and Sundays from 7:45 to 9:00 pm.
Parking Area View
Even a bad lounge can become great if a fascinating view of the tarmac exists. Unfortunately, the view from Berlin Airport Club is to the parking area and nothing is interesting to see. The view is different from the view from the C Lounge of Terminal C. Luckily, a good view is seldom a major motivator to visit a lounge instead, most people are looking for a relaxing atmosphere at the airport.
Access Methods
Berlin Airport Club accepts Priority Pass, Dragonpass, Lounge Key, Lounge Club, Lounge Pass and Diners Club International memberships. Also, a few airlines invite business and first-class passengers to this lounge.
As mentioned earlier, Berlin Airport Club is a small lounge, but the lounge still accepts walk-in guests based on capacity. You can pay the entry fee at the front desk. However, we recommend placing a pre-booking on Lounge Pass to secure your entry time since capacity runs out quickly. The pre-booking price is about 30 euros.
One Man Show during Our Visit
This small lounge was not busy when we arrived at about 5 pm. For this reason, we thought at first that maybe that's why the lounge was manned by only one staff member doing the receptionist's task while also cleaning the tables and refilling the food trays and drinks. As the lounge staff mostly does some tasks in front of his computer, he could not monitor well on time if there was a need for a refill of food and drink.
Our Rating
Easiness to Find the Lounge
The lounge is located before security checks, which are to be blamed on TXL's old layout. There are escalators to Level 2 from the main hall. You can also take an elevator from the pharmacy to the airport's second level. The lounge is right above the customs.
It is easy to get lost in Berlin-Tegel Airport. Ensure you are in Terminal A. Find the main hall (no gates there). In the main hall, signs for the lounges are quite visible.
The lounge may be easy to find, but its location is still bad. Reaching gates after the lounge visit takes a lot of time because you must first find your gate and then proceed to the security check.
Services in the Lounge
This is the only Priority Pass Lounge we have visited with only one person working. We got in with a usual greeting in English, but the staff was reserved, unfriendly and inattentive to the needs of the lounge visitors. Often, incoming customers were almost cleaning tables, for there were no other free places to sit. Due to the lone staff having to do everything, people often wait for quite a bit. We noticed some people who left after a quick check while the staff was not around at the reception desk. Also, one often had to ask the staff to refill drinks and food as he was busy with a phone at his desk.
The lounge has minimal seating; most are hard chairs around small tables. You might get lucky and get a soft one. There are no toilets or showers in the lounge. Wi-Fi is available.
The lounge had a TV turned off during our visit. There was also a flight information screen. Unfortunately, only a few sockets were available to charge devices.
Food and Drinks
We can't praise the catering either. It was below the average level in other lounges.
There were warm sausages and meatballs. In addition to the warm foods, tomatoes, yoghurt, cake, cookies, chips, and hard candies were available. There were also a few toasts, but the staff stopped preparing more after consuming them.
The drink selection was better. There were many kinds of strong spirits and wine. Soft drinks and beer bottles were in the fridge. Juice and coffee were also available,e but the special coffee machine was broken.
Overall Rating
Berlin-Tegel Airport's layout sets many restrictions. In Terminal A, the lounge is located before the security checks, which is not a good location! The airport also runs out of space; hence, the lounge has small premises. A small lounge does not have enough income, and they can keep only one staff member working, dramatically affecting service quality. These cons, combined with simple catering, gave this lounge quite a low rating.
Unfortunately, you have no other choices in Terminal A if an airline has not invited you to their lounge. Still, visiting Berlin Airport Club Lounge is better than the terminal if you prefer a peaceful, relaxing place. You must lower your expectations towards this lounge.
Another Lounge in the Terminal C
There is another lounge called C-Lounge in the Terminal C. We have written a separate review of it. The lounge is better and much more suitable for people departing from Terminal C.
There are many ways to access airport lounges.
- Infrequent travellers may book lounge visits on Lounge Pass.
- Frequent travellers may benefit from a lounge membership. Read our Priority Pass review.
You will find more helpful information from our Airport Lounge Guide.
Bottom Line
If you are wondering whether to visit Berlin Airport Club Lounge, the decision is not easy. Don't expect that the lounge has the quality you may have seen in other lounges. With the right expectations, the lounge can give you a nice visit: a peaceful atmosphere, light snacks and drinks.
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