The Lufthansa Senator Lounge A in Frankfurt (FRA) is a large lounge in the Schengen area of Terminal 1 with a wide selection of food and drinks plus restrooms and shower facilities.
Lufthansa Senator Lounge A (Schengen) Frankfurt Review
When I lived in Frankfurt in 2011 I used to travel almost every weekend (in that year, from my FRA base, I visited 48 countries). Wherever Lufthansa had a 99€ fare, I would go. My travel days would start in the lounge: I’d head into the office early and stop for breakfast in the lounge. At lunch time, I would skip the canteen and return to the lounge. Then I would have dinner in the lounge before my flight, always on a Friday evening.
The lounge has been remodeled since 2011, but I still have very fond memories of this lounge. But these days, I rarely stop at this lounge. If I am traveling in first class, I use the First Class Lounge a few doors down. Otherwise, I use the former first class lounge (now a business class lounge) that offers barista-made coffee.
Perhaps that betrays my bottom-line assessment of this lounge – it’s adequate, but often crowded and the coffee is not as good as the lounge down the hall.
Location + Opening Hours + Access Requirements
This is a Star Alliance Gold lounge – you need Star Alliance Gold status to access the lounge, but can be traveling on any Star Alliance carrier in any class of service. Star Alliance first class travelers also have access, regardless of status.
Note: While Lufthansa and SWISS first class travelers can use the Lufthansa First Class Lounge or Terminal, other Star Alliance First Class passengers can only use Senator Lounges.
The lounge is located in Terminal 1, departure area A (Schengen) directly across from a duty free shop near gate A50. It is open daily from 5:30AM to 9:30PM.
A warning: readers have told me they have been turned away for not having a physical Star Alliance Gold card. This has never been an issue for me (and over the years, I’ve entered using Star Gold status with United, Continental, US Airways, Turkish, SAS, and Air Canada). As long as my status has been on my boarding pass, the light has beeped green and I have been allowed access. Nevertheless, I mention it just in case (and realize there may be no solution in an era of digital cards).
You’ll scan your credentials outside the lounge, then proceed though the entrance.
Seating
This is a large lounge with room for over 400 passengers. You’ll find seating in a u-shape around the buffet area, which is in the center of the lounge.
There’s a work area on the right along with phone banks for mobile phone calls (do be polite and use these as intended, so as not to be the obnoxious person who lets everyone listen in on their phone call).
The rear is portably the coolest part of the lounge, with a floor-to-ceiling image of a forest which stretches for dozens of yards. While it won’t fool anyone, it’s still nicer than a plain wall and the easy chairs around it are comfortable.
Food + Drink
During the depths of the pandemic, all food and drinks were forbidden in this lounge. Passengers were offered a to-go bag on the way out and even coffee or water had to be consumed outside.
That changed nearly a year ago, and food has gradually been restored to the lounge. During my morning visit, the breakfast spread included scrambled eggs with tomato and chives, salami sandwiches, hummus, cottage cheese, bircher muesli, and fruit. My understanding is that additional food items are now available, including more pastries and breads.
Sweet treats are always available in the lounge.
Tea, coffee, water, soft drinks, and alcohol are always available. The alcohol is self-serve in this lounge.
During my visit, pretzels to go were still available, though I understand there are no longer to-go bags.
All the food is in the center of the lounge, though there is a coffee and alcohol station on the other side of the lounge:
It would be great to see a barista in this lounge, like in the Senator Lounge in the B Gates.
Restrooms + Showers
The restrooms are clean and you an except long waits to use a shower during departure banks throughout the day.
During my visit, the showers were closed, but have since reopened.
Masks
Masks are no longer compulsory, but are FFP2 or KN95 masks are still recommended.
CONCLUSION
As I mentioned above, this is not my favorite Lufthansa lounge in Frankfurt due to the crowding and the lack of barista-made coffee. Still, it will do in a pinch and if you are hungry, you can find plenty to fill you up.
Can air Canada star gold bring a guest in if flying both flying Lufthansa but different routes?
No, you must fly on the same route.
What an accurate review. I find that batista made coffees are far superior to anything I attemptt o create by myself.
Hi Matt. I’m flying Singapore business class FRA-JFK in 2 months, what would be my best choice for lounge in FRA? Thank you
Personally, I prefer the A26 LH Business Lounge, which is a former first class lounge and offers excellent barista-made coffee.
However, the B Gates Senator Lounge is also excellent (and has a cool cocktail bar, plus barista-made coffee and even a spa).
If landing from MUC on Oman air then flying Lufthansa from FRA to WAW as star gold can I access senator lounge B gates?
You’re allowed to, but it depends upon where you Oman flights lets you off.
So not like lax where you can go to any terminal? Last question are there time restrictions like Amex lounges, or because I’m transferring same day I’d be free to enter upon landing ? Thanks so much for the help!
No time restrictions. The problem with B is that if the Oman Air flight spits you off in the passport control area, you’ll need to head back upstairs because if you enter Germany you’ll have to stamp out again to return to the B lounges.
Great, sounds like I can visit regardless, it just May take more effort.
I’d head into the office early and stop for breakfast in the lounge. At lunch time, I would skip the canteen and return to the lounge. Then I would have dinner in the lounge before my flight, always on a Friday evening.
Did you work in the airport to eat there three times in a day?
Yes, I worked for Star Alliance and had an airport office.
https://liveandletsfly.com/looking-back-on-a-remarkable-year-in-frankfurt/
“you an except” and = you can expect
Looks kind of cold and sterile, but that’s typical German. Not very “gemuehtlich”.
“Chrunchchips”? Is that a typo?
Why would one make the partitions between the urinals opaque? Are the stall walls opaque also…?
A nice lounge and pretty “gemuetlich” for me. It depends on where you sit.
The partitions between the urinals are in fact a bit strange. But why have American toilet stalls gaps where you can see-through?
Fun read about your time in Germany.
I recently visited a lh lounge in Frankfurt before my flight to the USA. Actually really enjoyed it. Was busy but not terrible. Great view of a row of 747s parked. Nice food and drink.
I can confirm that last month the LH lounge guards near the Z gates required all four Star Gold cards to enter the Senator lounge. Despite all four of us being 1Ks and being displayed on our boarding passes. They insisted we had to use the Business lounge. Very annoying since I had to login/logout of each of my kids accounts on my phone to show the virtual card. Also annoying since we had flown into FRA on LH and connecting to UA so they could easily have looked it up.
Good news, the LH agents within the lounge were amazing helping us get some last minute Covid tests. Couldn’t be more helpful.
Does Lufthansa still require masks on flights?
How long does it take for Lufthansa to get back to their customers when they damage their luggages? It has been a month since we reached out to them and never heard anything back.
I’m traveling for the first time in Business Class with Lufthansa from Dusseldorf and connecting in Frankfurt with Polaris United. My question is: am I allowed to use the Senator Lounge in both Dusseldorf and Frankfurt? If not, what am I allowed to use…all the rules i’ve read about are confusing.
Yes, you will have access in both cities.
Hi Matthew I’m arriving into Frankfurt from Singapore with Singapore Airlines (Business Class) and flying to Edinburgh with Lufthansa (Business Class) next week. I’m also a Star Alliance Gold Member. What lounge would you recommend? Any comments greatly appreciated. Thanks
You’ll land in the B Gates area and I would use the Senator Lounge there, which has barista-made coffee and a nice spread of food.
I am *Gold with TK. For a couple of years, TK has provided digital cards only. With those I’ve never had an issue accessing the LH senator lounge in FRA, neither in the Schengen area nor in other gate areas. Actually, as far as I remember the *Gold info on the Boarding Pass has always been sufficient, as it should be.