So, as I'm sitting here in one of the business class lounges in Frankfurt, I've decided to write about all the things that are wrong with this place.

#1: No Internet Access. I'm actually writing this in notepad to be uploaded onto flyertalk later, because of the pathetic internet access here. At best they could have ethernet ports to connect to, at least they could have public access internet terminals. But the only way to get internet access is to connect a modem to the credit card phones, which is expensive, slow and (in my experience) frustrating and unreliable. Considering that Frankfurt bills itself as one of the technology centers in Europe, there's really no excuse. As far as I know Lufthansa plans to roll-out internet access on some Boeings in 2002/3. That'll be great... it will be easier to get onto the internet from the aircraft than the lounge.

#2: Poor audio on the TV wall. First they had these crazy infra-red headphones, then they realized how bad they were, and replaced them with wired headphones which are not doing much better. Most of them don't work, and there is no way to select which program you want to hear. Again, ironic considering that when they opened the new lounges, the TV wall was considered one of the highlights.

#3: Not enough power sockets. There should be more electrical sockets around the room for people to charge computers without occupying the working desk. As I sit, probably 60% of the work desks are occupied by computers sitting plugged in with their covers shut ... obviously people are just charging them (like I would like to do just now... except there are no free places).

#4: No sleeping room in the Senator lounge. The special room in the business class lounge that they have with reclining chairs for sleeping is GREAT. Why don't they have them in the Senator lounge? For this reason alone, I typically go to the Business class lounge.

#5: Lockers: There are cubbyholes for placing items as you wander around the lounge, but only about a third can be locked, and there are usually none free. I wish they had more.

Well that's about it. Aside from the first point, which I consider is a serious flaw, the others are more just nit-picking, and overall I enjoy the lounges.... for the number of people they must handle per day, they do a pretty adequate job.

What do you guys think could be improved?

#4: the sleeping (Miller) chairs (in the dark) are just behind the TV-screen wall..

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by lewinr:

What do you guys think could be improved?</font>

More food would be nice. Sometimes I'd rather eat at a real table in the lounge instead of on the plane. Other airlines/airport lounges offer pre-flight meals (e.g.: JFK, SIN) [I assume it would even save the airline money if people eat at the airport!?]

You are right, the modem connections are a joke.

The smoking zone should be physically separated. Especially during rush hour in the morning and the evening the air is very bad inside the lounge.

Yes, I agree with all your comments. I have to suffer these lounges often. On a positive note, the showers are clean and the service is quite efficient.

agree completely with your remarks.
especially in terminal A they should add some additional lounges. They are awfully crowded durng peak business hrs.

I agree that more food would be nice but I decided not to mention it because they are really not sub-standard in my experience (then again, I've never been in the famous silver kris (?) lounges that everybody raves about). I've heard some lounges serve full meals but I've never seen it.

Ron

the virgin clubhouse in LHR serves full meals and much much more...

As LH-Senator you should have access to the Red-Carpet-Club in terminal 1 (between A and B), close to the ECC-Lounge.

I personally have never been there, since I usually don´t like LH and I prefer the American Airlines Admirals Club, which also offers complimentary access for Amex Platinum and Centurion members. This club is in my opinion one of the best airport-clubs in Germany. The ladies working there offer outrageous hospitality.

The Diners Club Lounge - also in terminal 1 -
needs a complete makeover. It´s small, tacky, still loks like in the eighties and they don´t even have bathrooms there. You have to share the public toilets on that floor.

Recently all the above mentioned lounges have installed internet-terminals.

The lounges or airline-clubs in terminal 2usually offer a much better and contemporary service because they were planned and built for the major us-carriers that usually depart from that terminal.

Hope this may help you

Axel

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by axel1:
As LH-Senator you should have access to the Red-Carpet-Club in terminal 1 (between A and B), close to the ECC-Lounge.

Axel</font>

Sorry, is this in Frankfurt or LHR? If in Frankfurt, can I access the RCC lounge if I am a LH SEN and have a LH boarding pass (wouldnt they tell me to go to the LH lounge, or they really dont care?)

Thanks

Hi Lewinr,

access to the red-carpet-club (provided by UA and located in Frankfurt, FRA, Terminal 1, above shopping-arcades: take the stairs which approach to skytrain-departure, turn left on the first floor at security-check) and many other lounges worldwide is usually permitted to any LH miles-and-more-visa-cardholder(take a look at their website for further details).

As LH-Senator you should automatically receive a new complementary m.a.m.-senator-visa-gold-card. You sholud ask any lufthansa counter or the LH-informationdesk if you have problems with getting in that club.

Well, I just returned from Frankfurt and I had a chance to check out the RCC lounge. The lounge has two parts, one part is reserved for first-class passengers only, and I was not able to see it.

Main differences between the RCC and SEN lounges are:

- RCC is much farther from the gates. It's a real hike to get there from a gate like B24!

- RCC was almost empty while SEN lounge was full (no place to sit even). This may have just been because there was no United flight at the time, but even when there are united flights, I cannot imagine the lounge could get as full as the SEN lounge. But the furniture and tables did appear more comfortable.

- RCC has at least one real normal television where you can decide what you watch, and you can even hear it (unlike the TV wall in SEN lounge).

- Food and snacks are better in SEN lounge (more choice). However, RCC beats LH Business class lounges.

- Greater variety of newspapers available in LH SEN and Business lounges than in RCC.

- Internet: this is really why I went to the RCC lounge, because I heard there was internet access. This turned out to be a disappointed because (unless I missed something) I could only find a standalone terminal with very strict limitations. It forces you to view advertisements while you browse, you cannot have multiple browser windows open (so new Outlook webaccess to check e-mail), etc. Basically useless for doing anything more than checking the weather. (Although I should have tried to check flyertalk on it to see if that worked, but I didn't!)

- The RCC lounge lacks any business/work areas like the LH lounges have. So no desks with power, no photocopier, printer, etc, so LH wins there. On the other hand, the RCC lounge has credit-card phones next to many of the regular chairs, so you dont need to get up to make calls or send a fax (or connect by modem the internet). I didnt check the quality of the phones, but I assume nothing could be as bad as the phones in the LH lounges, which I refuse to use anymore (which is the subject of another rant).

By the way, the guy at reception didnt seem too pleased to welcome me with my SEN card a LH Boardingpass, but that could just be his normal attitude.

Overall, I doubt I'll bother with the trip back to the RCC lounge unless I really need a quiet place to sit.

Ron

I am surprised that no one mentioned the Europe City Club, both landside(which I like very much!) and airside. I have access to both via Priority Pass, a must if you travel often. I think www.ppusa.com, (http://www.ppusa.com,) but not sure.

The ECC's have good food and refreshments, but they need windows, too cramped and too much cigarette smoke, even carried into the n/s areas. Staff are friendly and helpful.

On a LH F/C ticket, checked out most of the LH lounges(also when I was on SAA had access), not very impressed. The LH staff are surly, the food has great need of improvement, and an English language newspaper would be nice.

There was a Business Class lounge over the satelite of B, to the right, that was nice. It was perfect when it used to be the Senator lounge, large, spacious, and good food. When it converted to Business Class, they lost all the good food, and the Senator lounge is way too small. I am surprised that LH doesn't have better lounges at FRA as that is their main airport. Staff need to smile and act like they actually want you there :=). Again, ECC in Terminal 1 is much friendlier. I did a visit to the RCC(UA FF ticket), smaller, but ok, First Class area is nice, with very good food. Was just me and some pilots, while everyone else was cramped into the Business Class area with generic peanuts, etc., tacky for an int'l
lounge.

Terminal 2 has a nice generic lounge at the far end, int'l(non-schengen area). Some windows and very nice girls work there.

AA is good and I have seen Delta's from the outside, they wouldn't let me come in and take a look, though now I have access via PP.

I think while FRA is an oustanding airport, they def. need to work on their lounges, more windows, more food, and separate the smoking vs. the non-smoking areas.

I also wish that the connecting Sheraton hotel had a club lounge.

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MD
AA PLT,1 MLN Miles+
Hilton Gold
Sheraton Gold