After a great week in Sylt, it was time to fly to Düsseldorf via Frankfurt on Lufthansa. In this episode, I wanted to review the lounge at Sylt Airport (located on the island of Sylt in northern Germany). Sylt airport is tiny and has a strange lounge. If the Sylt airport lounge was more sponsored, it would be an Instagram influencer. Still, somehow I found the whole experience rather charming?
Sylt Airport (GWT) is adorable, in a way
Sylt Airport has limited air service, mainly from Lufthansa Group airlines, including Lufthansa (to Frankfurt and Munich), SWISS (to Zurich) and Eurowings (to Düsseldorf and Stuttgart). The airport is adorably small and kinda reminds me of the airport Lego sets I used to play with as a kid.
As you walk into the airport there is a restaurant upstairs including a pizzeria (we ordered takeout one evening – don’t ask but it’s a bit sad when you order food from pick up at the airport).
As you enter the terminal, the check-in counters are on the left, while the security checkpoint is on the right.
There were only two people working at check-in, and when Ford presented his US passport, they kind of looked at it like we were from another planet.
Security was flawless, although the airside was… a bit less charming. I don’t know if the terminal is currently being renovated, or what, but the design wasn’t very cohesive. I let the pictures speak for themselves.
Sylt Airport (GWT) lounge location and hours
Surprisingly, this small airport has a lounge. When you go through security, walk maybe 50 feet to the end of the terminal and you will see the entrance to the lounge.
The lounge has no set hours, but is instead open whenever passengers can use it. As soon as check-in opens for a flight, the lounge also opens. The airport seems to have maybe a handful of employees, and everyone has the same uniform, whether they work at check-in, the lounge, or the ramp.
Sylt Airport (GWT) Lounge Entry Requirements
The Sylt Airport Lounge is open to premium passengers who receive an invitation from the airline they are traveling with. In other words, business class passengers and some elite members can expect access to the lounge.
What I don’t understand is why this lounge is not owned by Priority Pass. The lounge is a good size and there aren’t usually many premium passengers, so are the lounge operators just unfamiliar with Priority Pass, or…?
Sylt Airport (GWT) lounge layout and seating
The Sylt airport lounge has maybe a few dozen seats, which is enough for the volume of traffic the lounge receives. The living room is at the same level as the deck and has floor-to-ceiling windows. Seating is fairly consistent, as there are only black leather chairs arranged opposite each other, with glass coffee tables in the middle.
Unfortunately, the living room does not have a bathroom, but you have to use the ones in the terminal instead.
Food and drinks at the Sylt Airport Lounge (GWT)
While it’s not uncommon to see partner marketing at airport lounges, I’ve never seen anything like it at Sylt Airport Lounge. I have to imagine almost everything in the show was sponsored, depending on the amount of publicity.
This is also reflected based on the seemingly random nature of the selection.
The lounge has a lethal amount of “organic energy drinks” in it, which I guess sounds like a feel-good hit.
Then there was a selection of ice cream, with three banners promoting it.
Then there was a selection of cookies, a mix of snacks, and you guessed it – more power shots.
The lounge has a coffee machine and a selection of teas.
The wine is almost entirely from Sansibar.
Even the coffee cups and napkins are Sansibar branded.
I would be fascinated to know exactly what type of deals the show has made with these vendors.
At the end of the line
Sylt Airport is delightfully small, and it’s a pleasant surprise that the airport even has a lounge. The lounge isn’t anything exciting, but it’s a nice place to kill time and it’s nicer than the terminal. I’ve never seen a salon with as many banners as this promoting products, but I guess that’s a small price to pay for organic ice cream and power shots.
What do you think of the Sylt airport lounge?
