I got to Frankfurt Airport at around 6:30AM for my 8:20AM departure to New York. Singapore Airlines departs from Terminal 1, and their check-in counters are located in Hall C.
Frankfurt Airport Terminal 1 check-in
There was no one in line at check-in for any class of service, and I was given my “golden ticket” in less than a minute. I was advised I could use the Senator Lounge before the flight, and that boarding would commence at 7:55AM.
The lounge situation is probably the one downside of flying Singapore Airlines Suites Class out of Frankfurt (well, arguably along with the early morning departure). Lufthansa has the amazing First Class Terminal plus several nice First Class Lounges in Frankfurt (some of the best airport lounges in the world), though you can only use them if you’re traveling same day in Lufthansa first class or are a HON Circle member. If you’re traveling in first class on a Star Alliance partner airline you instead have access to the (far) inferior Senator Lounge, which is the same lounge all Star Gold members have access to.
So I headed towards the security checkpoint, which was roughly a five minute walk away.
Frankfurt Airport Terminal 1 landside
Frankfurt Airport Terminal 1 landside
When I got to the security checkpoint I got into the premium queue, where there were a few dozen people ahead of me. The entire security process took about 20 minutes, which is a bit longer than normal. On the plus side, every crevice of my carry-on wasn’t searched for once.
Frankfurt Airport Terminal 1 airside
Frankfurt Airport Terminal 1 airside
As I walked towards the Lufthansa Senator Lounge I noticed signage for an Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge. Hmmm, I had no clue that Air Canada had a lounge in Frankfurt, so I figured I’d check it out. Since it’s an Air Canada Lounge, all Star Alliance first and business class passengers, as well as Star Alliance Gold passengers have access. As it turns out it is indeed a fairly new lounge, as it just opened in October 2013.
The lounge is located a level up from the main concourse, and the exterior is quite contemporary for Frankfurt Airport.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport exterior
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport signage
Based on the signage outside, the lounge seems to be open daily from 6AM till 10PM.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport signage
Inside the door was a long entryway, with an Air Canada logo on the wall, plus an Air Canada 787 airplane model.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport entryway
As I mentioned before, I entered the lounge immediately behind another guy traveling on Air Canada. Best I could tell, he handed the representative his elite card and not his boarding pass.
Agent: “Is everything okay?”
Guy: “Yes… what do you mean?”
Agent: “Are you going to give me your boarding pass, I don’t need this card.”
Guy: “Oh, you guys usually need the card.”
*he hands her the boarding pass*
Agent: “Sir, again, is everything okay?”
Guy: “Yes, is everything okay with you?”
Agent: “You gave me your inbound boarding pass. It’s too early for this.”
*he hands her correct boarding pass*
Agent: “Are you sure everything is okay?”
It was one of the oddest things I’ve witnessed, because she asked if he was okay in such a passive aggressive way. I don’t know if I missed context or what, but it was so strange. He seemed equally confused based on the look on his face as he walked away.
Then I handed her my Singapore Suites boarding pass, and she nearly soiled herself. It’s rare to have airline agents have a reaction to boarding passes, but she goes “oh wow, I’ve only ever heard of this and have never seen one of these boarding passes. Please enjoy our lounge.”
The lounge was absolutely gorgeous, perhaps my favorite lounge in Frankfurt Airport aside from Lufthansa’s first class facilities.
Once inside, the buffet could be found to the right, while all the seating was located to the left.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport
There were dining tables along a cutely decorated wall with booths.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport seating
Then there was counter top seating.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport seating
And then a more traditional “lounging” configuration in the center of the lounge.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport seating
There was also lots of seating along the windows overlooking the tarmac, which boasted some cool views.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport seating
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport view
Then there were even more comfortable lounging chairs. The lounge is just brilliantly designed, given how private it feels thanks to all the unique seating areas.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport seating
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport seating
At the far end of the lounge they also had a handful of semi-enclosed relaxation rooms, with reclining seats facing TVs.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport resting area
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport resting area
And then back near the entrance was a business center.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport business center
Near the business center was another TV along with magazines and newspapers.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport magazines & newspapers
Equally impressive as the lounge’s decor was the buffet. The food spread was fantastic. The breakfast spread was extensive. They had just about every carb that could be consumed in Germany, from amazingly delicious donuts to fresh rolls to croissants to muffins to danishes.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
Then there were several kinds of cereal as well as omelets.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
And then there was a large selection of fruit, yogurt, muesli, meat, cheese, etc.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
Then near the corner was a self-serve waffle station.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport waffle machine
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport waffle machine instructions
Let me tell you, unfortunately it’s not quite as easy to use as the Alaska Airlines Board Room pancake machine, as I made a mess (which I felt guilty about first, but not later — stay tuned).
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport waffle machine oops
The drink selection was also quite good, with a decent coffee machine (the lattes were actually drinkable), water, soft drinks, beer, wine, liquor, etc.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
And pretzels! Delicious, freshly baked pretzels. Mmmm!
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
The lounge also had a handful of very nice shower rooms, none of which were occupied.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport shower room
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport shower room
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport shower room
I thought the interaction I witnessed at the door between the agent and the guy in front of me was odd, though equally odd was how I was approached by an employee after snapping some pictures in the lounge. Then she approached me:
Employee: “Why are you taking pictures?”
Me: “Because I fly a lot and like to take pictures of my travels.”
Employee: “Oh… why?”
Me: “It’s just a hobby.”
Employee: “But why this lounge?”
At this point I was wondering if she was a Canadian immigration officer, because that’s what her line of questioning was starting to sound like:
Me: “Because I’ve only ever visited the Senator Lounge in this pier, and I didn’t realize this lounge existed.”
Employee: “So what are you doing with the pictures?”
Me: “Nothing in particular.”
Employee: “So you don’t copy them?”
Me: “Ummm…. no?”
At that point I just kind of walked away. I kept taking pictures, and she kept standing a few feet behind me.
I sat down, and a while later I go to the buffet to get something to drink:
Employee: “So you’re flying first class?”
Me: “Yes.”
Employee: “Oh… then why aren’t you using the first class lounge?”
Me: “Because Singapore Airlines doesn’t have a first class lounge here, and the alternative is the Lufthansa Senator Lounge. I actually find this lounge to be nicer.”
Employee: “Have you used the Lufthansa First Class Terminal before?”
Me: “Yes, many times.”
At this point I couldn’t tell whether she was just trying to engage in small talk, be some sort of self-proclaimed security agent, or what.
So after checking out the lounge I decided to make my way to the Senator Lounge, so that I could review it as well.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt bottom line
The employees at this lounge are weird.
Aside from that I was really impressed. It’s a gorgeous lounge with a great food and drink selection. It’s hands down my favorite lounge in Frankfurt aside from Lufthansa’s first class lounges, and I’d visit it any day over the Senator Lounge.
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