- A Suite Ride To Frankfurt: Introduction
- Review: Hyatt Herald Square New York
- Review: Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse New York JFK
- Review: Singapore Airlines Suites Class A380 New York To Frankfurt
- Review: Element Frankfurt Airport
- Review: Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt Airport FRA
- Review: Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport FRA
- Review: Singapore Airlines Suites Class A380 Frankfurt To New York
My Singapore Airlines flight was departing from gate B46, and there’s a Senator Lounge located near gate B43, which is less than a minute walk away. That’s quite convenient, given that this flight goes between Singapore and New York, so it’s only a quick walk for the passengers transiting in Frankfurt.
As I explained in the last post, it is a bit disappointing that Star Alliance first class passengers only get access to the Lufthansa Senator Lounge, which is more or less identical to the Lufthansa Business Lounge. Technically the Senator Lounge is for partner first class passengers and Star Gold members, while the Business Lounge is for Lufthansa and Star Alliance business class passengers. But in practice they’re more or less identical, and it’s just a way to spread out the crowding a bit.
Anyway, back to the lounge.
There was an agent at the entrance scanning boarding passes.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport entrance
The lounge is actually one level up from the concourse, so once through the entrance I took the escalator up to the lounge level (the escalator is one way, so to go down you either have to take the stairs or an elevator).
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport escalator
There’s a second entrance on the second floor, to the left of which is the service desk if you need any help with rebooking, seat assignments, etc.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport entrance
The hours for this lounge are 5AM until 10PM daily.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport hours
I have to say that Lufthansa has done a lot to freshen up their lounges in the past several years, so that they actually feel fairly modern now. There were floor-to-ceiling block letters near the entrance inside a glass display, which I don’t really get, but…
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport interior
While I love Lufthansa’s First Class Lounges, their Senator and Business Lounges just don’t do it for me. They just feel like big gate areas. They don’t use walls or partitions to make them feel private, or use different “themes” throughout the lounge to create more of an experience. Rather the lounge just kind of felt like an IKEA showroom with some food.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport interior
Near the windows were plenty of leather chairs.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport seating
The tarmac views from the lounge were quite nice, at least.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport view
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport view
At the far of the lounge, some of the leather chairs faced a couple of TVs with the news on.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport seating
Next to that was some cafe style seating, with both dining tables and table-top seating.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport seating
And then that led into the main cafe area, which had tons of dining tables.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport seating
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport seating
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport seating
While there are self serve drinks, there’s also a bar with specialty cocktails, made-to-order coffee drinks, etc.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport bar
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport bar menu
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport bar
The food spread in the Senator Lounge was okay — not as good as the one in the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge.
It featured cereal, yogurt, fruit, pretzels, croissants, etc.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
The only hot dish was some not-so-appetizing scrambled eggs.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
Then there was a coffee machine.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
There were several kinds of self serve wine, including champagne and rose.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
Then there were bottled soft drinks and water, as well as a soda fountain and two beers on tap.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport buffet
There’s a large business center in the corner of the lounge.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport business center
Then there’s a “Senator Spa,” where you can either get paid spa treatments, or otherwise this is also where the showers are located.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport Senator Spa
The most impressive part of the lounge had to be how empty it was. In my experience Senator Lounges are almost always way overcrowded, and that wasn’t the case this time.
I left the lounge at 7:50AM for an anticipated boarding time of 7:55AM. I arrived at the gate a minute later, and was surprised to find that I was just about the last passenger to board.
Singapore Airlines gate Frankfurt Airport
Lufthansa Senator Lounge bottom line
Lufthansa’s Senator Lounges just aren’t impressive. At all. From the decor to the food to the “factory” feel, it just seems to encompass the negative side of “German efficiency” (“ve have zhis much space to build zha lounge, how many seats can vhe fit in, and vhat kind of a deal vill IKEA give us on zha furniture?”). These are a far cry from some of the best airport lounges in the world.
The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge was nicer in just about every way, and I’d totally recommend it if you’re Star Gold or flying first or business class on a Star Alliance airline.
Anyone have a different take than I do on Lufthansa Senator Lounges?
Just came across this and your lounge review is ridiculous! Yes, some OneWorld lounges such as BA First lounges are better when it comes to food but Senator lounges beat lounges of US carriers and also AC any time. The food is far far better, and so is the selection of drinks. Also, you clearly have not been to any LH Business lounges lately. There is a huge difference between Senator and Business lounges. The...
Just came across this and your lounge review is ridiculous! Yes, some OneWorld lounges such as BA First lounges are better when it comes to food but Senator lounges beat lounges of US carriers and also AC any time. The food is far far better, and so is the selection of drinks. Also, you clearly have not been to any LH Business lounges lately. There is a huge difference between Senator and Business lounges. The former have proper food while the latter only have some snacks and soups etc.
Dear Lucky, Maybe you hadn't the time but you missed the pictures of the lovely 'garden view' with the nice loungers, the super quiet nap room. And the nice showers! (of course I understand if your didn't need it), as on readers say, I just wish to have access to this kind of lounges while I transit in the US. Of course for your valuable information I will try the Maple Leaf next time but just feel this review was misssing a couple of nice features of this lounge.
I'm somewhat stunned that Ben, generally a Lufthansa fan, is kind of down on the Senator Lounges in FRA. I generally like them quite a bit. The furniture is both more stylish and more solid than IKEA, and the leather chairs are well thought-out and each one has an outlet and area to set your good. There are also tables with outlets and work areas.
The bathrooms are kept clean, there are showers. The...
I'm somewhat stunned that Ben, generally a Lufthansa fan, is kind of down on the Senator Lounges in FRA. I generally like them quite a bit. The furniture is both more stylish and more solid than IKEA, and the leather chairs are well thought-out and each one has an outlet and area to set your good. There are also tables with outlets and work areas.
The bathrooms are kept clean, there are showers. The bar has a good selection. And there are always multiple food choices. At breakfast, food, various yoghurts and granolas, cheese, meats. The rest of the day, salads, sandwiches, potato salad, soup, wieners, etc. Always enough for a small meal and enough choices to satisfy anyone.
And the lounges are so big you can always find open seats. I wish they could be used as arrivals lounges when the LH Welcome lounge has closed.
Of course, they don't compare to the LH FCT and F lounges.
I am stunned at how empty that lounge was. There are many times I have left the Senator lounge and just wandered rather than fight the crowds in there. It is disappointing that first class travel on alliance airlines doesn't grant access to LH FCL.
@Wolfgang -- I seriously don't see how this Senator lounge is "miles better" than, say, Delta's flagship Sky Club at JFK T4. LH's alcohol selection looks somewhat better, but the carriers' food offerings are nearly identical. The furnishings and layout are a wash, and Delta has the advantage of an outdoor roof deck.
You find Air Canada's lounges to be nice than Lufthansa's? You've gotta be kidding! Just in YYZ's a couple months ago, and just one giant cafeteria. Please. Although, I will say it was marginally nicer than United Airlines' lounges (= awful)
@ John -- That's not what I said. I said I find the Maple Leaf Lounge in Frankfurt to be nicer than the Senator Lounge in Frankfurt. It wasn't a generic statement.
I like the Senator lounges.
In my eyes it's superior in layout, finishings and food offerings to for example the Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges I have visited in Toronto or SQ Krisflyer lounge at Changi T 1-3, which is completely underwhelming (unless you fly 1st and get to use the Private Rooms like you).
Also, if compared with any North American carrier lounges in their hub cities (which Frankfurt is for LH),...
I like the Senator lounges.
In my eyes it's superior in layout, finishings and food offerings to for example the Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges I have visited in Toronto or SQ Krisflyer lounge at Changi T 1-3, which is completely underwhelming (unless you fly 1st and get to use the Private Rooms like you).
Also, if compared with any North American carrier lounges in their hub cities (which Frankfurt is for LH), Senator lounges are miles better than their North American counterparts.
The First Class Lounge at FRA is better if you can get in; I was there for 4 hours a couple of days ago. I wish there were decent lounges in the USA
I find it interesting that you have to pay for the spa services in this lounge.
Given the fact that you a) shop at IKEA b) the design/decor is comparable to the Centurion lounge that you find underwhelming too, you couldn't have made this post anymore N00ber.
Much better than those pesky AA 'flagship' lounges you find yourself in as a bottom feeding exec plat.
For someone who buys from IKEA, you sure have a disdain for it when it's non existent in a lounge that looks more like a Centurion club than those 'flagship' Admirals Clubs you find yourself in.
What a N00B post.
I agree with most of what you say about the lounge and LH Senator Lounges in general, though I actually think that particular lounge is the nicest LH Senator Lounge I know (also compared to the others at FRA).
I disagree, however, that LH Senator Lounges and LH Business Lounges are more or less the same. In particular the food spread in Business Lounges is more or less non-existing, while in Senator Lounges it is actually acceptable.
Some of those chairs look like they belong in a high school cafeteria!
This Sen Lounge is actually better than the one in concourse Z
Ben, is there ice regularly available near the self-serve beverages (soda, alcohol, juice, etc.)? I know ice can be hard to come by outside the U.S. What about other lounges in general?
@ Eric -- Yep, it is readily available.
While I get your preferences for a discreet, quiet feel in a lounge with separate spaces etc., I actually don't mind the Senator Lounge in Frankfurt. And I think it's pretty hard to say that the lounge isn't impressive "At All" - I mean, it's no first class terminal or Turkish Airlines business class lounge but it's still far better than what you find in the states and it's far more spacious with more offerings...
While I get your preferences for a discreet, quiet feel in a lounge with separate spaces etc., I actually don't mind the Senator Lounge in Frankfurt. And I think it's pretty hard to say that the lounge isn't impressive "At All" - I mean, it's no first class terminal or Turkish Airlines business class lounge but it's still far better than what you find in the states and it's far more spacious with more offerings than the Swiss Star Gold lounge in Zurich. I didn't find the finishes to scream IKEA either but I agree the blond woods and styling aren't quite as sophisticated as some other lounges.
All in all I actually find this to be a decent lounge though - given the flying you do I guess it comes off as basic compared to what you're used to though :-)
Ummm...I'm kind of missing a video of what your dad thinks of the lounge. ;-)
No Krug? What a pity.
Lucky,
I can somehow understand that you're not a big fan of LH Business & Senator Lounges, but why compare it to IKEA? To me the furniture and design is far, far from IKEA. For me IKEA is not just generic but cheap and would withstand the use by lounge guests!!!
I do think it strange that their paying Business class passengers get a "lesser" lounge than Star Gold members.
Funny, my wife was just in that lounge this morning before flying Singapore Suites.