When the whole of Hesse goes on vacation this Friday with the start of the summer holidays and, as feared, even more chaos breaks out at Frankfurt Airport, many people probably wished: Oh, if only I had booked a trip to the Allgäu and the train taken. Of course, Deutsche Bahn is no longer a secure bank either, as millions of 9-euro ticket users now know.
It could even be that the booked train does not arrive at all because it has been cancelled. But that’s not so bad. Then you just take the next one and meanwhile sit down at Frankfurt Central Station in the DB Lounge above the travel center, which has recently been reopened after renovations, and here, according to Deutsche Bahn’s recommendation, “combine what is necessary with what is pleasant”.
Bahncard 100 holders have access
Of course, Krethi and Plethi aren’t allowed to cool off in the lounge. Only frequent travelers are allowed in, specifically rail customers (each with an accompanying person) who have collected enough so-called status points over the course of a year, or travelers with a valid long-distance travel card for first class, but this must not be a savings ticket. All holders of a Bahncard 100, who pay around 4,000 euros (second class) a year, also have access.
The railway has now modernized half of its 15 lounges nationwide, and has had bistro, rest and work zones furnished with lots of wood and warmer colours. Sockets for charging, workstations at high tables – there are enough of these, as well as cozy wing chairs in red and gray, in which travelers can relax, protected from the looks and conversations of other visitors. But the best thing is that there is a lot for free: newspapers, ice cream, cappuccino and beef broth. All you have to do is press the button on the machine.
Wine and beer for platinum customers
New in the DB Lounge is an extra premium area with the best view of the tracks. Lentil soup, wine and beer are brought to the table here. Of everything, as much as you want. As the name Premium suggests, this service is only available for the elite among the customers who have already been selected. Holders of an annual flat-rate card only have access if they have a first-class Bahncard 100 (7,000 euros).
They only have to share the zone with full-paying travelers from first class and frequent travelers with 6000 status points – that’s the platinum level in the new rail bonus program. Anyone who wants platinum must have spent 6,000 euros on tickets within twelve months. 1,500 points are enough for silver status, but not for a permanent pass in the DB lounge, you need 2,000 for that. The Silberling, on the other hand, can only relax in the lounge eight times a year with a day pass. Let’s hope for him that his trains are on time.
In the premium zone: Here, too, visitors can see the departure times of their trains
:
Image: Wonge Bergman
