During my last trip on Lufthansa, I skipped the First Class Terminal to check out the First Class Lounge in the B Gates of Terminal 1.
While the First Class Terminal is intended for passengers originating in Frankfurt, Lufthansa offers a pair of first class lounges intended for connecting passengers. Both are in Terminal 1. One is in the A-Gates area (Schengen) which I reviewed here on a previous trip. The B-Gates lounge, located near B22, is located beyond passport control (non-Schengen). It is open each day from 5:15AM to 10:00PM.
You might ask, why? I was a local passenger and visiting the First Class Terminal actually would have been far easier than making the longer walk to the B-Gates. Easy…I haven’t reviewed this lounge for years. The things I do for you, dear readers!
As you enter the B-Gates area, you’ll pass through security followed by passport control. After passport control, just follow the signs to the first class lounge. The lounge is located upstairs. I arrived around 6:30AM and was welcomed as the first passenger.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Seating
Unlike the First Class Terminal, this lounge offer excellent apron views. That didn’t help me because it was mid-winter in Germany and therefore dark for most of my early morning stay. Seats are clustered into smaller areas designed for groups or families traveling together, but there is also a row of easy chairs overlooking the departure gates below.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Work Rooms
After a bite to eat, I parked myself in one of the work rooms for most of my stay. With a sliding door, it offers more privacy and made me feel less subconscious about conducing phone calls.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Dining
Dining is always a highlight in a Lufthansa First Class lounge. As I have written about before, I tend to order a filet mignon with French Fries even for breakfast in a Lufthansa First Class lounge, but actually opted for a real breakfast today. I had enjoyed a steak dinner the previous evening and figured one steak was enough for a 24-hour period.
Both a full buffet and a la carte menu are available. The breakfast buffet included many hot and cold breakfast items including eggs, bacon, sausage, cooked tomatoes mushrooms, beans, and potatoes in the hot bar. The cold selections included meats, cheeses, bread, cereal, danish, pastries, fruit, and yogurt.
Don’t forget the fruit and juice bar on the other side.
Here’s the full English breakfast menu.
I began with a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice and a cappuccino, then ordered an omelet.
Before leaving the dining room, I had one more glass of orange juice and one more cappuccino.
Back in my “study” I had a third glass of orange juice and some strawberries:
And for good measure I had one more cup of coffee before boarding. Yes, I was very caffeinated for my flight home!
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Bar
It was far too early for alcohol, but the bar offers a wide selection of beer, wine, spirits, and cocktails. And of course tremendous coffee as well, a huge plus in my book. There is no bar menu (that I saw). You just tell the bartender or a roaming server what you want and they will find a way to make it for you.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Smoking Room
Smokers have a large indoor room to smoke in. There’s also a smaller self-serve bar in this room, with emphasis on brandy and other drinks that are meant to accompany cigars. Do note that cigars and cigarettes are not complimentary and did not even appear available for purchase.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Reading
Newspapers and magazines are available at stations throughout the lounge.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Spa
Like the Senator Lounge in the B-Gates, a full-service spa is available (sadly, no sauna or steam room) that offers many paid treatments. First class passengers do not receive any complimentary treatment.
Here’s the full spa menu:
If you want a Lufthansa First Class rubber duck, ask at the desk pictured above for one. This is also where you can gain access to a shower suite. I had showered earlier at my hotel, but enjoy the spacious suites here.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Restrooms
Restrooms include real towels and all private stalls.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge FRA Sleeping Rooms
A pair of sleeping rooms is available and quickly occupied before I could get a picture. The picture below is from a previous visit to this lounge.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Service
The staff here was excellent. Germans aren’t really into small talk, but I had a nice conversation with the lady who checked me for several minutes about life in Germany versus life in America. Lufthansa staff work the front desk and do roam around, but most of the lounge is staffed by Do & Co employees. The food in the lounge is also from Do & Co and thus it comes as no surprise that it is always tasty.
Don’t worry about missing your flight. Your departure time will appear on boards in the lounge and an attendant will find you when it is time to depart.
Lufthansa First Class Car Service
Like the First Class Terminal, you’ll be taken to your aircraft in an auto. This is always a highlight of flying Lufthansa. Do note that if your flight is departing from a nearby B-gate, you will NOT be driven to your flight.
CONCLUSION
On the one hand, I always hate to miss an opportunity to visit the First Class Terminal. On the other hand, this lounge experiences was actually no different. Whether you visit the Terminal, the A-Gates lounge, or the B-Gates lounge, know that you will have a consistent and (hopefully) positive experience.
Are we ever going to get an update on your Aeroplan – SWISS 1st class booking issue?
Looks excellent. It has been many years since I came last through Frankfurt.
Can this lounge be used as an arrivals lounge if you are arriving in First Class on Lufthansa but then connect to a flight on another (non-Star Alliance) airline?
Yes.
After my last trip through Frankfurt… never again!
Can you still use the First Class Terminal if connecting at FRA or do you have to use this lounge?
You can use the First Class Terminal if you are connecting in SWISS or Lufthansa First Class, but have to walk there yourself.
Great review! It’s nice to see that the experience in the “regular” F lounges is pretty nice, too. Still, it seems like LH could do so much better if they made the F experience “great” for everyone. I think both you and Ben @ OMAAT say that one of LH F’s strengths onboard is its consistency, so they really should make the LH F Terminal and car transfers standard for all F pax.
Some corrections:
“With a sliding door, it offers more privacy and made me feel less subconscious about conducing phone calls.” self-conscious and conducting
“A pair of sleeping rooms is available and quickly occupied before I could get a picture.” perhaps, ‘but they were quickly occupied’
I have some questions on your conclusion
I was in this lounge in March 2018 en route to Tokyo
I was so disappointed that the lounge staff said they only offer a la cart menu for breakfast and had to choose items from the buffet section.
I stayed there from the opening time to 17：00
I was so vacant and nice
I was the only passenger on Porshe to B747-8 where the all the 8 seats of F class was full
This is why
I wonder how the differences above with the F class terminal are
I experienced the one in concourse A twice
This has always crowed as many passengers to the Schengen destinations entered this lounge
Do you recommend to go to the F terminal?
Always go to F terminal. But I’m shocked you were denied a la carte food in B.
Thank you for your reply
How about the liquor selection?
Does the B lounge have the same range?
As FRA is the transferring point, if the B lounge offer a la cart menu
I will prefer the B
This is vacant with nice view and the more possibility for car arrangement individually