The train has been delayed or a connection has a long transfer time. In such cases, you can spend the waiting time in a Deutsche Bahn (DB) DB lounge at many train stations in Germany, provided you meet the access requirements for this. But from March 1, the group will change these conditions. One of the most important innovations: rail bonus customers will have to show a ticket in the future. What is changing specifically, here are the most important questions and answers:
What does Deutsche Bahn offer in its lounges?
Similar to many airlines with their lounges at the airports, the DB is aimed at its regular customers with its DB lounges – above all at frequent travelers as well as users of the 1st class and holders of a Bahncard-100. In a DB Lounge, newspapers and magazines are available, among other things, and there are sockets for charging electronic devices. And via monitors, the train provides information about current departure times at the respective station. There is also free WiFi. And at a so-called service station, you can stock up on non-alcoholic hot and cold drinks free of charge.
Where are DB lounges?
According to DB, the lounges are available at a total of 15 larger and heavily frequented train stations nationwide. Due to renovation work, however, the lounge at Essen Central Station has been closed since mid-January until March 2023. Until then, DB Lounge users in Essen can pick up a drink and a toilet voucher in a nearby branch of a bakery chain. There is also a “Premium Lounge” at six lounge locations (Berlin, Frankfurt/Main, Hamburg, Hanover, Cologne and Munich).
What distinguishes a premium lounge from other lounges?
The railway is trying to offer a little more comfort in the premium area: “We’re happy to serve you free drinks and a small snack at your seat,” they say. Among other things, there are croissants and muesli for breakfast to choose from, and from eleven o’clock there are warm dishes, such as pea stew with Wiener sausages or pumpkin soup. Also served: antipasti cream, tomato mozzarella panini and various cakes. However, the railway also restricts: “Due to the current situation”, according to the group, there could be delivery bottlenecks for some dishes. One resorts therefore “temporarily to alternative products”.
The premium lounge at the main train station in Frankfurt am Main.
(Photo: Oliver Lang/Deutsche Bahn AG)
Who has been allowed into the DB lounges so far?
It’s still going like this: Customers with a 1st class Bahncard-100 and customers who have a 1st class long-distance ticket in the Flexpreis tariff are entitled to access. If you have a 2nd class Bahncard-100, you can also get in – but only if the BahnComfort logo is also emblazoned on the card. In addition, customers who participated in the Bahn Bonus program are allowed to enter – although there is a kind of class society: customers who have collected so many status points that they have achieved platinum status get unlimited access; they are also allowed in the premium area. Customers with gold status, on the other hand, are denied access to the premium area; and if you only have silver status, you have to get a day pass via the DB Bahnbonus app – these are limited, however. In addition, under certain conditions, accompanying persons, children and people with restricted mobility are allowed in. In the terms of use, Deutsche Bahn needs about two and a half DIN A4 pages to list all access authorizations.
What will change on March 1st?
It won’t really get any clearer in the future – on the contrary. From March onwards, Bahnbonus customers (silver, gold and platinum) will have to present a 1st or 2nd class long-distance ticket (including a saver fare and super saver fare). In addition, the railway is eliminating the possibility of taking guests to the premium area. An exception for taking along still applies to severely disabled people in all areas; According to Bahn, the child regulation also remains unchanged. Travelers with a 1st class flex price ticket still have access to the lounges and the premium areas. The premium areas are also open to bonus customers with platinum status in connection with a long-distance ticket and holders of a Bahncard 100 (1st class).
Why is Deutsche Bahn changing the rules?
More and more people are using the train, and the lounges have recently been correspondingly cramped. A railway spokesman called the “currently high occupancy” of the lounges as the reason for the innovations. “The atmosphere, the service and the availability of seats suffer as a result.” Karl-Peter Naumann from the Pro Bahn passenger association also admits that the rush in some lounges was very large recently. “This is also due to the fact that there are a number of guests who do not use their stay to wait, but to work for a longer period of time,” says Naumann. He can therefore understand the course of action of the railway.
What do railway critics say?
Nevertheless, Naumann dislikes the fact that the group has hardly communicated the changes so far. It was said until recently on the Bahn lounge website only that the access conditions for the lounges will be “adjusted” on March 1, 2023. More details will then be “published shortly on this page”. Even a railway spokesman is quite buttoned up and answers questions quite taciturnly. Naumann says: “Bahn should have communicated the changes more clearly and with more advance notice.”
What is missing in the lounges?
Overall nothing, says passenger representative Naumann, the offer is largely in order. Nevertheless, the train could set up lounges at some other important long-distance stations – for example in Würzburg and Dortmund. In his view, Augsburg, as an important transfer station for travelers switching from long-distance to local transport, could do with a lounge.
What could still be improved?
For all “normal” travelers who do not have access to the DB lounges, Naumann generally calls for “waiting rooms in which you can stay without being forced to eat, but where you can eat,” as he says, at all major ICE train stations. A waiting room with a small station restaurant could also add value to many smaller stations – and, because staff will then also be present there, increase the subjective sense of security of the travellers.