At 1,300 square metres, Frankfurt’s palatial new VIP lounge supplements the smaller, existing facility built in 2014, which proved so popular it was unable to accommodate the unexpectedly high volume of customers.
Following two years of construction and an eye-watering total spend of some €10m, says Fraport, the more affluent among passengers with a particular requirement for privacy, can enjoy the delights of “ultra luxury” – an emerging trend in the air transport industry. For an entry fee of around €400 per person, guests can bask in the stylish panoramic lounge with front row seats to the action on the ramp, keep active in the state-of-the-art gym or relax in the luxurious bath and spa area.
The opulent offering also features fully equipped conference lounges for on-the-go business, and for that extra touch of privacy, eight private suites are available, complete with daybed and private bathroom. The largest “royal suites” which cost €1,300 and cater for up to three people, are roughly 600 square feet in size. Access to the lounge is limited to just 15 parties at once, who are guaranteed an extravagant ratio of two staff to every one guest as a minimum, with 30 staff on hand at any given time.
Alongside the high-end artwork, tailormade furnishings and indulgent offerings like caviar and expensive cigars, there are many other benefits besides. Access to the lounge secures guests additional services like luxury limousine transfers to and from the plane, exclusive boarding and de-boarding and an escort through customs and immigration. Being located inside the security perimeter at the B Transit zone, the lounge is open to transfer passengers without a German visa, and enables those who do have one to avoid unwelcome queues at the metal detectors.
Both of Frankfurt’s VIP lounges are open to travellers from any airline. Some carriers foot the bill for their first class passengers, but many of the lounge’s guests, unrestricted by budget, are happy to fund their own entry.
According to Fraport’s Executive Director of Operations, Anke Giesen, there is a growing market for ultra VIP services such as these, despite their niche audience. “It’s true that our VIP services only address a relatively small group of affluent clients with an especially great need for privacy. But this group is steadily growing, along with what its members expect from an airport,” Giesen said.
