As I’ve already written about, the new Frankfurt Airport (FRA) Terminal 3 is starting its phased opening, which is an exciting development for an otherwise drab airport. The first lounge in the new terminal has just been unveiled. Despite it being described as a “flagship” facility, I wouldn’t get too excited.
Basics of the new non-Schengen SkyTeam Lounge FRA
SkyTeam has announced the official opening of a new lounge at Frankfurt Airport. The airline describes this as its “flagship lounge” in Europe, though in reality, it’s the airline alliance’s only branded lounge in Europe, so that seems like a bit of a stretch.
The lounge is 550 square meters (5,920 square feet), with seating for 126 guests. It’s located in the non-Schengen area of the terminal, meaning it primarily serves flights outside of the European Union. In the case of SkyTeam, that includes flights on China Airlines, China Eastern, Delta, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines, Saudia, and Vietnam Airlines.
The lounge is located on level four of the terminal, and opens at least three hours prior to the scheduled departure time of any eligible flights. Here’s how the lounge is described:
Blending modern comfort with nature-inspired design, the lounge features panoramic airfield views alongside a range of premium amenities. Guests can enjoy showers, high-speed internet, a soundproof phone booth, a dedicated relaxation area and an exclusive VIP space, catering to both productivity and rest.
The Frankfurt Lounge offers a curated dining experience with freshly prepared local and international cuisine served throughout the day. The lounge features a live cooking area and a digital menu, allowing guests to conveniently order hot meals via QR code. Menus highlight locally sourced ingredients and a selection of regional dishes, alongside German beers and wines.
SkyTeam’s lounge network otherwise includes locations in Dubai (DXB), Santiago (SCL), Sydney (SYD), and Vancouver (YVR), along with a joint lounge with GLN in Sao Paulo (GRU). The lounge follows standard SkyTeam lounge access rules, so is open to SkyTeam Elite Plus members, as well as SkyTeam first & business class passengers.
This is an improvement, but not very exciting
I’d say the SkyTeam Lounge Frankfurt represents an improvement over the old contract lounge that non-Schengen SkyTeam passengers otherwise receive access to in Terminal 2. That’s not saying a whole lot, of course.
So it’s nice to see SkyTeam finally get a branded lounge at the airport, though I can’t say I’ve ever been impressed by the alliance’s branded lounge network. They’re typically super basic, in terms of design, food & beverages, and amenities.
Let me emphasize that this lounge is specifically for non-Schengen passengers, so we can expect that Schengen SkyTeam passengers will receive access to a new Air France Lounge, which should open in the coming months.
The big question remains what the lounge situation in the new terminal will otherwise look like, as that hasn’t yet been announced. In particular, what will the oneworld lounge network entail?
Bottom line
The new SkyTeam Lounge Frankfurt has been unveiled, located in the new Terminal 3. The lounge isn’t huge, but then again, the non-Schengen SkyTeam presence in the terminal isn’t huge either, so that shouldn’t come as a surprise. I look forward to checking out this lounge, and for that matter, the new terminal overall!
What do you make of the new SkyTeam Lounge Frankfurt?