Review: Lufthansa Senator Lounge FRA

After landing in Frankfurt from a red eye in economy, my first objective was finding food. Luckily the Lufthansa Senator Lounge FRA did the trick for a quick bite to eat and a place to rest before connecting to yet another 8+ hour flight to Nairobi, Kenya.

As is the case with many major airline hubs such as Frankfurt, there were many lounges available for me to access, including the Lufthansa Business Class Lounge and Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge. Despite only being on the ground for 3 hours, I tried my best to lounge hop to write some reviews.

This article is part of my Trip Report: Starting Summer in East Africa including:

• My Comically Bad Luck Flying to Africa
• No Compensation for an Involuntary Business Class Downgrade?!?
• Review: Lufthansa Senator Lounge IAD
• Review: Lufthansa Business Class Lounge IAD
• Review: Lufthansa B747-8 Economy IAD-FRA 
• My First Flight on the Queen: My Thoughts
• Review: Lufthansa Senator Lounge FRA
• Review: Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge FRA 
• Review: Lufthansa A330 Business Class FRA-NBO
• Review: DoubleTree by Hilton Nairobi Hurlingham
• Review: Air Kenya into the Safari
• JW Marriott Masai Mara Review: Luxury in the Savannah, a Truly Unforgettable Safari
• Is the JW Marriott Masai Mara Worth $3k a Night?
• Review: Aspire Lounge Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta (NBO)
• Review: Kenya Airways NBO-ZNZ E190
• Exploring Tanzania: My Thoughts on Zanzibar
• When Flights Don’t Go as Planned: Delayed in Zanzibar
• Review: Air Tanzania ZNZ-ARK
• Mt. Kilimanjaro Day Hike: My Thoughts
• Exploring Moshi, Tanzania: What Everyone Gets Wrong
• Review: Twiga Lounge by Aspire Lounge Kilimanjaro International Airport
• Weirdest Flight Delay I Have Ever Had… 
• Review: Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa Executive Regency Suite
• Exploring Addis Ababa: My Thoughts
• Review: Ethiopian Cloud Nine Business Class Lounge Addis Ababa
• Review: Ethiopian Cloud Nine B787-8 Business Class ADD-IAD
• My 18 Hour Odd Business Class Experience: A Stop in Lome, Togo?

Lufthansa Senator Lounge FRA Location

This lounge is Located in the Frankfurt airport’s non-Schengen area in Terminal 1, right next to gate B43. While the terminal is large and could be quite a walk to some gates, it was only about a 3-minute walk to my gate, taking me to Nairobi, Kenya. 

Note that there are quite a few other Lufthansa lounges in Frankfurt, including more Senator lounges in different terminals (for example, for Schengen area departures). There is also a business-class lounge just around the corner in Terminal 1. 

The Lounge

Compared to other Lufthansa lounges I have visited, I was struck by how large this location felt. After checking in downstairs, I went up the escalator into the lounge.

While there is a large desk on the left to help with anything you may need, the striking feature of the lounge is the large letters straight ahead that spell out ‘CITY LIGHTS.’ Straight ahead and around the corner stood a sizeable sleek bar with lounge seating.

Turning right led me to a long room with massive windows that made the area feel airy. While there was plenty of seating, the lounge was still quite complete. In addition to plush chairs, several bar stools were available at high-top counters. 

I can never complain about little snack stations with candies and nuts. 

Continuing the loop around the lounge led me to the food section, primarily a large buffet in the corner. In the surrounding area were plenty of tables and chairs. I particularly liked the tan/orange color of the built-in booths. 

Back next to the front entrance was a wall of reading material and a business center with plenty of desk space. 

In the front of the lounge were some cubbies, in case you want to store your bags while waiting for your flight. There was also a Senator Spa, although treatments were paid and, upon further inspection, quite pricey. 

The showers are available in the spa area, although with a quoted 30-minute wait, I needed more time to check them out. 

Food and Beverage

The food selection at the Lufthansa Senator Lounge FRA was rather good. In addition to the cold breakfast options, including cereals, yogurts, and pastries, there were plenty of warm options. This included eggs, sausage, and even non-breakfast choices, such as meatballs.

Plenty of fruit, cold cuts, and some sweets were also available. While not overly expansive, I would find it hard to go hungry in this lounge. 

In addition to the proper bar in the lounge, there was a self-service drink station at the buffet. This included plenty of wines, beers, and other liquors spread between the refrigerator, the shelf, and on ice. 

Of course, I cannot forget about the coffee machine or the selection of available juices. 

Lufthansa Senator Lounge FRA Access

Lufthansa markets their Senator Lounges as a tier above business class. It is reserved for Senator Elite members (and above, including HON Circle). Further, Star Alliance Gold members gain access while departing on a Star Alliance flight (most flights from this Star Alliance / Lufthansa hub).

Business class passengers like myself do not typically get access and are directed to use the business class lounge just down the terminal. First-class passengers do have access to this lounge. If you are flying Lufthansa first class, check out the Lufthansa First Class terminal instead.

Another option to gain access is to have a business class ticket and an American Express Platinum card. This is how I gained access during my visit.

The Last Point

While nothing over the top, the Lufthansa Senator Lounge FRA was a comfortable place to wait before my flight. The design of the lounge was great, and I felt much less crowded than in some of their other lounges. 

Coming in hungry, I was a big fan of the food selection. While I wish the showers had less of a wait, and the Senator Spa included free treatments, it is hard to complain when in a nice lounge. 

I would recommend a visit if you have access, as I much preferred this lounge over its business class counterpart in the same terminal.