We had a roughly two hour layover in Frankfurt, as we have been arriving from Tampa in Eurowings Uncover’s A330 enterprise class, and connecting to Venice in Lufthansa’s A321 enterprise class. We ended up spending most of our layover within the Senator Lounge, and it jogged my memory of simply how weak Lufthansa’s lounge recreation is, minus the First Class Terminal, in fact.
Whereas different main European airways (specifically Air France & KLM) have considerably improved their lounge expertise, Lufthansa’s lounges haven’t developed a lot in any respect.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt location & hours
Lufthansa has a number of lounges in Frankfurt, provided that it’s the provider’s largest hub. Our flight was departing from gate A56, so we determined to go to the Lufthansa Senator Lounge close to gate A50, situated within the Schengen zone (nevertheless, the non-Schengen lounge is just about equivalent, in my expertise). This required first going via passport management, after which additionally passing via the under tunnel.
From there we adopted the indicators towards gates A50-A69.
Frankly I’ve a tough time sustaining an honest tempo strolling via the airport, since I get so simply distracted by all the beautiful planes. Lengthy reside the 747-400!
Finally we discovered the doorway to the lounge. As soon as there we scanned our boarding passes and have been admitted, with out the lounge agent saying a phrase, regardless that I mentioned (in German) “good morning” and “thanks.”
For what it’s price, this lounge is presently open day by day from 5:30AM till 9:30PM, overlaying just about all Lufthansa departures.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt entry necessities
Lufthansa has a novel lounge system:
- Lufthansa Enterprise Lounges are the provider’s enterprise class lounges, that are open to all Star Alliance enterprise class passengers
- Lufthansa Senator Lounges are extra premium, and are open to Star Alliance Gold members plus Star Alliance firstclass passengers; the airline technically markets this as a firstclass lounge, in order that it doesn’t must let Star Alliance firstclass passengers into its actual firstclass lounges
- Lufthansa First Class Lounges are the provider’s greatest lounges, although they’re reserved for HON Circle members and Lufthansa firstclass passengers; Lufthansa will get away with this by advertising this as a HON Circle lounge that Lufthansa firstclass passengers simply occur to get entry to
On this case we have been utilizing the Senator Lounge on account of my Star Alliance Gold standing, which I earned via a current Singapore KrisFlyer promotion. So that is alleged to be higher than a enterprise class lounge. Equally, if you happen to have been flying Singapore Airways Suites from Frankfurt to New York or Singapore, you’d be directed to make use of a Lufthansa Senator Lounge.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt seating & structure
The Senator Lounge was actually, actually crowded throughout our transient go to. Until I’m trying to eat (which I’m not normally within the temper for between two premium flights), I’m usually simply happier discovering an empty gate space and sitting there. As a result of significantly, this lounge was so busy.
The lounge had quite a lot of seating choices, together with your typical chairs organized in rows, some eating tables, some communal high-top seating, and extra. It’s fascinating how they plaster Audi advertisements all through the lounge.
Alongside the forest wall under there are some seats in a pre-reclined place, however they have been all occupied whereas we visited.
There’s additionally an workplace space, with cubicles, in addition to a couple of telephone cubicles.
There was additionally a choice of studying supplies, together with magazines and newspapers.
The lounge does have nice views of the apron. Nevertheless, they’re arduous to {photograph} as a result of “strains” within the home windows, presumably supposed to manage the temperature within the lounge.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt meals & drinks
The primary buffet was again towards the doorway to the lounge, and the choice was fairly commonplace for Lufthansa lounges.
There have been a couple of forms of salads, pretzels, rolls, curry with rice, sausages, potatoes, and extra.
Individuals appear to go nuts over these large German sausages, and I witnessed loads of individuals placing 4 or extra sausages on their plate. I suppose it’s a pleasant style of Germany for these simply having a layover. As somebody who doesn’t eat pork, I suppose I’m not the goal visitor for the lounge’s hottest meals merchandise.
There was additionally a choice of desserts, together with a few desserts in jars, plus a bunch of snacks that could possibly be scooped out of larger jars.
Lufthansa Senator Lounges sometimes have higher alcohol alternatives than Lufthansa Enterprise Lounges, so credit score to Lufthansa for that. There was a big choice of comfortable drinks, liquor, wine, beer, and so on.
There have been additionally some Lavazza espresso machines, in addition to a choice of tea.
Regardless of the lounge’s massive measurement, there’s just one primary buffet space, and it will get fairly crowded. There was one smaller self-serve station on the different finish of the lounge, that includes a espresso machine, water, and a few sweets.
I had a cappuccino, plus in fact I couldn’t resist having a pretzel.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt lavatory & showers
Whereas the Senator Lounge has showers, there was a protracted ready listing to make use of them, so I couldn’t snap an image of these rooms. The bathrooms as such have been at the least clear, although they didn’t scent nice (I think that’s not Lufthansa’s fault, although).
Am I the one one who finds Lufthansa’s lounges to be disappointing?
I absolutely acknowledge the challenges that airways face with lounges:
- Actual property in airports will not be solely costly, however usually merely not obtainable, so even when Lufthansa wished to develop lounges, that may not be an possibility
- It may be arduous to manage crowding in lounges, particularly with standardized entry guidelines on the main world alliances
That being mentioned:
Whereas the Lufthansa First Class Terminal is phenomenal, except for that, most of Lufthansa’s lounges merely aren’t excellent, for my part, and haven’t developed. Add in Lufthansa’s subpar lengthy haul enterprise class seat, and the airline gives a lackluster expertise. But oddly it’s additionally the one airline in Europe to have a Skytrax 5-star score (although it’s not too arduous to determine why that’s the case).
Am I the one one who feels that means?
Backside line
The Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt can get very crowded, and is totally unremarkable, particularly when you think about that that is alleged to be a premium lounge that’s higher than your typical enterprise class lounge. Whenever you evaluate a lounge like this to what European rivals are providing, I don’t suppose Lufthansa is aggressive anymore.
I suppose if you happen to actually need some sausage or booze then cease in right here, however in any other case I’d relatively sit in an empty gate space, at the least when the lounge is that this busy.
Should you’ve visited the Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt, what was your expertise like?