Lufthansa Senator Lounge, Hamburg

Visiting Hamburg for a tour of the Airbus factory or to explore the world’s largest miniature airport? Finish your time in Germany’s second largest city with a visit to the Lufthansa Senator Lounge in Hamburg.

Here, a Business Class ticket doesn’t even get you through the door. But if you have Gold status with the right airline – or even a metal-plated American Express Card – you’ll be welcomed through the door. Trust me, the salted pretzels are worth it!

Location, layout and amenities of the Lufthansa Senator Lounge in Hamburg

In Hamburg, the Lufthansa Senator Lounge sits one level above the main departure concourse. You can hike up the stairs near gate A20, or catch the lift nearby. The space is co-located with a Lufthansa Business Lounge, with the two sharing the same reception.

If you’re not familiar with Lufthansa’s lounge concept, Senator outranks Business. Curiously, Star Alliance Gold status unlocks that higher-tier Senator Lounge. In effect, frequent flyers booked on the cheapest economy fares get better treatment than occasional travellers ticketed on full fare Business Class. No doubt, whether that’s considered a good policy will depend on your own travel habits!

As for the Senator Lounge, this location maximises natural light, which also means having some great airfield views. It’s not an overly sizeable space – this is Hamburg, after all, not Frankfurt – but it doesn’t feel cramped on a bustling weekday morning.

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The weather isn’t on my side today, so the terrace is closed.

By pairing a Business Class boarding pass with the Amex Platinum Card, you can turn right for the Senator Lounge.

Lufthansa’s lounge precinct is easy to find.

Head up the stairs or take the lift.

This isn’t the most modern lounge, but there’s plenty of natural light.

The space could do with a little spruce up.

It’s not a large lounge, but its design cleverly breaks the areas into smaller zones.

Work with a view.

The weather isn’t on my side today, so the terrace is closed.

By pairing a Business Class boarding pass with the Amex Platinum Card, you can turn right for the Senator Lounge.

There’s a sizeable outdoor terrace here, but it’s particularly cold, windy and raining on the morning of my visit. This finds the deck closed and the furniture covered. Otherwise, it’d have been the best in-lounge viewing point over the airport.

Mirroring the Business Lounge next door, Hamburg’s Senator Lounge opens at 5 am daily and closes at 8 pm.

Food and beverage in the Lufthansa Senator Lounge in Hamburg

Even though the Senator Lounge sits within the Schengen zone of Hamburg Airport, the bar opens when the lounge does. If you feel like a cheeky glass of bubbles before dawn, you have that option. Today, though, I’m taking a quick flight to Switzerland before a longer journey to Dubai, so I’m hunting for caffeine. The machine makes a layered cafe latte, so that’s my go-to.

There’s a counter of hot options – so popular that it’s impossible to photograph in full. I can confirm, the eggs and sausages are scrumptious. There’s also a reasonable selection of fruit, yoghurt and cereal. But I’m more excited to find pretzels for one last taste of Germany.

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The bar is always open, even early in the morning.

Help yourself to a beverage of choice.

The hot options are more extensive than this, but it’s hard to get a good snap on this busy morning.

There’s also a range of lighter bites.

It’s my last day in Germany. How could I say no to a pretzel?

I manage to pass on the candy, though.

Exactly what I need after a busy week-long conference: strong coffee.

The coffee here is better than most other machine-made brews,

The bar is always open, even early in the morning.

Help yourself to a beverage of choice.

Lufthansa’s Senator lounges are big on sweets and snacks, too. You’ll find an entire snack station here, with one row devoted to sweets and another to savoury. I manage to avoid the temptation – this time…

Accessing the Lufthansa Senator Lounge in Hamburg

Keen to visit the airport’s best Lufthansa Schengen lounge for yourself? Here are the many ways you could find yourself inside the Lufthansa Senator Lounge when flying through Hamburg.

• From airline frequent flyer status:
  • Miles & More HON Circle members departing on a Lufthansa Group airline, on a Lufthansa Group codeshare flight or travelling on a Star Alliance airline. Access is also available after landing when arriving on a Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, SWISS or Brussels Airlines flight (+1 partner/spouse, +1 other adult guest plus your own children aged under 18).
  • Miles & More Senator members departing on the same flights as HON Circle. Access is also available on arrival from Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and SWISS flights – but not Brussels Airlines (+1 adult guest in total, + your own children under 18).
  • Star Alliance Gold flying with a Star Alliance airline (+1 guest).
  • For Star Alliance Gold members holding status with ANA, entry is also available when departing on Air Dolomiti and Eurowings. Or with Star Alliance Gold from Air Canada or United, access on departure when flying Air Dolomiti, Discover Airlines, Eurowings and Lufthansa City Airlines.
• By cabin:
  • When departing, arriving or connecting in Lufthansa or SWISS First Class (+1 partner, 1 other adult guest + own children under 18).
  • When departing on or connecting to another same-day Star Alliance First Class flight (+1 guest).
• Via American Express charge cards:
  • Travellers with the American Express Platinum Card and American Express Platinum Business Card flying Business Class on Lufthansa, SWISS or Austrian Airlines. (If flying Economy or Premium Economy, access to the adjacent Business Lounge is available instead).
  • Passengers with the by-invitation American Express Centurion Card flying on Lufthansa, SWISS or Austrian Airlines in any cabin class.

American Express Platinum Card

Apply Now Read the guide

• Sign-up Bonus: 150,000 bonus Membership Rewards points¹
• Rewards Earn Rate: Earn 2.25 Membership Rewards points per $1 on all eligible purchases, except for spend with government bodies, for which you will earn 1 point per $1 spent. 
• Annual Fee: $1,450 p.a.
• Offer expires: 6 May 2025

The American Express Platinum Card is offering 150,000 bonus Membership Rewards Points¹ for new American Express Card Members who apply by 6 May 2025 and spend $5,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months of approval. It also comes with up to $400 in Global Dining Credit¹¹ per calendar year and a $450 annual Travel Credit⁵. A great card for those who want to earn Membership Rewards Points on everyday spend and transferable to over 10 major Airline Rewards Partner Programs⁸. T&Cs apply. New American Express Card Members only.

As it happens, I’ve used KrisFlyer miles to book SWISS Business Class from Hamburg to Dubai via Zurich. Presenting this Business Class boarding pass, along with an eligible American Express Card, gets me into the Senator Lounge. Without the Amex, I’d be in the lower-tier Business Lounge instead.

The verdict

This may be Lufthansa’s higher-tier lounge in Hamburg, but even so, the Senator Lounge experience here is rather standard. It feels a bit like a regional Qantas Club, where a spruce up wouldn’t go astray. Funnily enough, the Business Lounge next door has a more modern, upmarket design. Hopefully, the Senator Lounge will follow.

The biggest drawcard of the Senator Lounge will be the outdoor terrace. At least, when it’s open and available. In its absence, I instead made use of the lounge’s Wi-Fi to tackle some pre-flight emails. I later shifted to the Business Lounge out of curiosity, where I stayed until it’s time to fly.

On a general note, I’m pleased to see that Helvetic Airways flights ‘count’ as SWISS when it counts. I’m able to secure my seat using KrisFlyer miles in exactly the same way (and cost) as a SWISS-branded plane. In fact, these flights default to the same LX flight code as for SWISS itself – so it’s SWISS by another name. The same consideration happens when using American Express for lounge entry – another plus.

All in all, for a lounge that primarily serves travellers flying shorter distances, Hamburg’s Lufthansa Senator Lounge has plenty to offer. However, not so much that I’d go out of my way for an early arrival. It’s a perfectly pleasant place for a pretzel and coffee before getting on with your day – and that’s exactly what this visit is all about.

Also read: How Amex cards can unlock Lufthansa Business and Senator lounges

All photography by Chris Chamberlin, who travelled at Point Hacks’ expense.