As previously mentioned, the phased opening of the new Frankfurt Airport (FRA) Terminal 3 is underway, marking an exhilarating change for an otherwise dull airport. The first lounge in this terminal has just been launched. Although it is labeled as a “flagship” facility, I wouldn’t get too carried away.
In this post:
Fundamentals of the new non-Schengen SkyTeam Lounge FRA
SkyTeam has declared the formal inauguration of a new lounge at Frankfurt Airport. The airline refers to it as its “flagship lounge” in Europe, though technically, it’s the only branded lounge in Europe for the airline alliance, so that seems a bit exaggerated.
The lounge spans 550 square meters (5,920 square feet), accommodating 126 visitors. It is situated in the non-Schengen section of the terminal, indicating it mainly serves flights outside of the European Union. For SkyTeam, this comprises flights with China Airlines, China Eastern, Delta, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines, Saudia, and Vietnam Airlines.
The lounge is situated on the fourth level of the terminal and opens at least three hours before the scheduled departure time of any qualifying flights. Here’s a description of the lounge:
Integrating modern comfort with nature-inspired aesthetics, the lounge offers panoramic views of the airfield alongside an array of premium amenities. Visitors can take advantage of showers, high-speed internet, a soundproof phone booth, a dedicated relaxation area and an exclusive VIP section, catering to both work and relaxation.
The Frankfurt Lounge provides a curated dining experience with freshly made local and international dishes available throughout the day. The lounge features a live cooking station and a digital menu, enabling guests to conveniently order hot meals via QR code. Menus emphasize locally sourced ingredients and a selection of regional specialties, accompanied by German beers and wines.
SkyTeam’s lounge network additionally includes sites in Dubai (DXB), Santiago (SCL), Sydney (SYD), and Vancouver (YVR), along with a shared lounge with GLN in Sao Paulo (GRU). The lounge adheres to standard SkyTeam lounge access regulations, thus is available to SkyTeam Elite Plus members, in addition to SkyTeam first & business class travelers.
This is a step up, but not particularly thrilling
I would assert that the SkyTeam Lounge Frankfurt signifies an enhancement over the previous contract lounge that non-Schengen SkyTeam travelers