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Old Jul 29, 2013, 5:44 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: supine
Do I have entitlement to access the First Class Terminal (FCT) in FRA?
- Yes, if you are departing from FRA on a flight operated by LH/LX/OS, and at least one of the following is true:
  • The class of service on your departing flight from FRA is F.
  • You have arrived on a confirmed F segment on LH or LX metal, on the same day, even if the ticket of that F segment is different from the ticket of the segment from FRA.
  • You will be departing on a confirmed F segment on LH or LX metal, on the same day from a connecting station, and the ticket of that F segment is the same ticket as the segment from FRA. Separate tickets means you are not entitled to FCT access.
  • You hold HON status.
  • You are invited as a guest by someone who meets the above criteria, and you meet the requirements of a guest as discussed later in this FAQ.


But the LH website contradicts the above:"Access to the First Class Terminal at Frankfurt Airport is only possible with a confirmed same-day departing First Class flight on Lufthansa or SWISS. HON Circle Members may access the First Class Terminal with a same-day departing flight on Lufthansa, SWISS or Austrian Airlines. Access to the First Class Terminal is not permitted for arriving passengers."

- The above has been on the web site for some time, and does not appear to be the actual policy, as many here attest from personal experience.

What are the opening times of the FCT?
- 0530 to 2200 daily

Where is it located?
- About 200 metres to the west of Terminal 1

If arriving in FRA on a LH operated flight in F, will I get a car transfer from the arriving flight?
- Ordinarily, no. However, if you hold HON status, you're arriving / departing from an apron position and your onward flight is operated by LH / LX / OS, LH aims to send a car to meet you from your arriving aircraft. See for more info. NB If you do get the car service on arrival, you will be driven to the main arrivals area and not the FCT, as this does not offer immigration and customs facilities for inbound passengers.

How do I get to the FCT in FRA?
- The First Class Terminal at Frankfurt is located close to Terminal 1. You can reach it by car via the access road to Terminal 1: the entrance to the First Class Terminal is off this road, approximately 200 metres before you get to Terminal 1. When arriving on public transport, the First Class Terminal is only a few minutes’ walk from Terminal 1.

Locations of Lufthansa lounges at Frankfurt Airport

The FCT is a departure terminal/lounge and is not meant for transfer pax. Transfer pax can use the FCLs located in the main terminal building which offer the same amenities as the FCT. There is no transfer or shuttle to the FCT. You can walk to the FCT, though.

If on departure level take the escalator down to arrival, walk out of the terminal and turn left. You will pass the bus shuttles to the airport hotels and taxis. Cross the street - whilst waking under the access road above to departures - you will see taxi divers' coffee shop to the right - and more taxis parked to your left. You will see the First Class Terminal across the street. Cross the street in front of the coffee shop, turn right and the First Class Terminal is on your left. Go through the automatic doors and take the elevator to the main reception area.

Pictorial guide may be found here.

If the FCT is not meant to be a transfer lounge then why do some people use it as such?
- Aside from the experience, there are practical reasons for you to consider using the FCT for a connection:
  • If you have a long layover, the FCT will be less crowded than the FCL B (but more crowded than the even newer FCL A by A13).
  • If your connection requires clearing passport controls, it is faster to do it at the FCT where you will surrender your passport upon admittance and get it back moments before you are driven to your plane. Presumably if immigration has questions they will deal with it while you are lounging in the FCT versus waiting until you depart for your plane. Note that permanent residents of the USA who are heading back to the USA from FRA or a connecting airport should also surrender their green card, but gently but firmly request it be returned quickly. The German immigration people don't need your green card, and LH only needs it to enter into the passenger record, so there is no reason why your personal assistant cannot return it to you soon after.
  • You do not have to waste time walking from the FCL to a gate position that is potentially more distant from the lounge than your arriving gate, or worse yet, is actually a bus to a plane parked at an apron position in the middle of the tarmac. You will leave the FCT after boarding starts and a driver will take you to the plane wherever it is.
  • If your plane is parked at a jetway, you will be whisked to the front of the line of pax boarding in the jetway, saving even more time.
  • If your connection requires going through security, you are guaranteed to have a much faster and gentler screening at the FCT than going through security in the main terminals, and if you are carrying valuables, the FCT checkpoint eliminates all angst about theft or forgetting them.


How many guests am I permitted in the FCT?
- One, assuming a lower cabin class and that they will be travelling on the same flight as you. If they also are confirmed to travel in F, they too will be entitled to a guest, meeting the same criteria
- Anyone with a confirmed segment in F is also entitled to bring in their spouse/partner and/or children, provided they are departing on the same flight, irrespective of the cabin class they are travelling in

I’m arriving on LH/LX/OS C and departing TG/SQ/etc. F, do I get in to the F terminal?
- No, but you will have access LH Senator (Star Alliance Gold) Lounges which are designated as First Class Lounges for Star Alliance carriers.

I'm arriving on TG/SQ/etc. F and departing on LH, Swiss, Austrian C do I get in to the FCT?
- Not unless you hold HON status, otherwise you will have access LH Business Lounges unlesss you hold Star Alliance Gold status and access to LH Senator (Star Alliance Gold) Lounges. Certain airlines (e.g. SQ) have arrangements for arriving F passengers to access LH Senator Lounges regardless of their status.

I’m arriving on any carrier in any cabin class and departing same day on LH/LX F do I get in to the FCT?
- Yes.

I'm arriving on LH / LX F and departing same day on another carrier in any cabin class, will I have access to the FCT?
- Yes, if your onward flight is operated by LH, Swiss or Austrian Airlines Group. Otherwise, you will only have access to the LH First Class Lounges or (if eligible) the lounge of the airline operating your onward flight.

What is the minimum connect time between flights in order to use the FCT?
- 90 mins is recommended, however some have observed that 60 mins is acceptable, while others still have got away with just 20 mins. Bear in mind, if in transit, that you will need to factor in the time between arrival and departure

Do I need to tip the staff in the FCT?
- According to LH policy, FCT staff are not allowed to accept gratuities.

What's the food like in the FCT?
- Well above the standard of anything you might expect from any airline in the air, a cut above lounge food of any other airline and equivalent to a smart restaurant in any major city

VAT Refund
- Yes, but there is a $75 trip fee and CC refund only.

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Old Oct 7, 2015, 10:00 am
  #3376  
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Originally Posted by hkflyer999
Hello, I am trying to confirm the guest rules at the FCT. I will be travelling on an F Ticket to LAX myself and my two children, wife and nanny are on the same flight in Y+ (and yes, I will let my wife use the F seat). Does my wife count as guest already or can I bring everybody into the FCT. I recall that I had problems to bring everybody into the Senator lounge once before when travelling in Business Class with the whole family+nanny. I have Sen status only if that matters at all.
The lounge access rules clearly state that a passenger with a LH/LX First Class ticket may bring 'one companion plus spouse / partner plus children under the age of 18' into the First Class Lounge/Terminal. You should be fine as long as the children are under 18.

http://www.lufthansa.com/de/en/Loung...access#ancAbT5

Looks like I've been beaten to it by TheBOSman.
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Old Oct 19, 2015, 6:08 pm
  #3377  
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Just to be sure policies haven't changed... flying next Thursday FRA-MUC in C and then same day MUC-ORD in F... can I access the FCT in FRA?


thanks!
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Old Oct 19, 2015, 6:10 pm
  #3378  
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Originally Posted by oneworld82
Just to be sure policies haven't changed... flying next Thursday FRA-MUC in C and then same day MUC-ORD in F... can I access the FCT in FRA? thanks!
Yes.
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Old Oct 19, 2015, 6:10 pm
  #3379  
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Originally Posted by oneworld82
Just to be sure policies haven't changed... flying next Thursday FRA-MUC in C and then same day MUC-ORD in F... can I access the FCT in FRA?


thanks!
Yes you can. Just make sure you note to the attendant that greets you that you are flying to ORD on the MUC flight and flying to MUC first. When I did similar, it took them a few seconds of trying to pull up my itinerary before I mentioned to the attendant I was on a FRA-MUC-BOS itinerary (FRA-BOS was not being flown that day).
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Old Oct 19, 2015, 6:56 pm
  #3380  
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Originally Posted by TheBOSman
Yes you can. Just make sure you note to the attendant that greets you that you are flying to ORD on the MUC flight and flying to MUC first. When I did similar, it took them a few seconds of trying to pull up my itinerary before I mentioned to the attendant I was on a FRA-MUC-BOS itinerary (FRA-BOS was not being flown that day).
Ok great! Thanks a lot TheBOSman and SFO777! My first leg will actually be in Y - that should not change things, correct?
Also, I am using Aeroplan to book this one... if C opens in the first leg, can I call and get C for free?

Thanks!
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Old Oct 19, 2015, 6:58 pm
  #3381  
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Originally Posted by oneworld82
Ok great! Thanks a lot TheBOSman and SFO777! My first leg will actually be in Y - that should not change things, correct?
Also, I am using Aeroplan to book this one... if C opens in the first leg, can I call and get C for free?

Thanks!
Being in Y won't matter as long as MUC-ORD is in F, although the looks you get boarding the plane from the Porsche and going back to Y may be quite unusual . I have no clue on the Aeroplan question unfortunately.
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Old Oct 19, 2015, 7:12 pm
  #3382  
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Originally Posted by TheBOSman
Being in Y won't matter as long as MUC-ORD is in F, although the looks you get boarding the plane from the Porsche and going back to Y may be quite unusual . I have no clue on the Aeroplan question unfortunately.
LOL - that's what I was thinking exactly
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Old Oct 19, 2015, 7:44 pm
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Sadly, you may be better off in an exit row in Y than "C" on that route.
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Old Oct 20, 2015, 2:11 am
  #3384  
 
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Originally Posted by oneworld82
Ok great! Thanks a lot TheBOSman and SFO777! My first leg will actually be in Y - that should not change things, correct?
Also, I am using Aeroplan to book this one... if C opens in the first leg, can I call and get C for free?

Thanks!
Yep, if C opens you'll be able to switch without paying a change fee.

On the two occasions I've had to "slum" it in Y while connecting to/from a LH F flight, I've always had the middle seat blocked for me without having to ask. That happened even on a very full FRA-CPH flight, where the only empty seat in the cabin was beside me (not counting C empty seats.)

As TheBOSman said, going to the back after a Porsche ride may feel weird. On my FRA-CPH flight, we were parked at a very far remote gate. I was the only passenger to be driven from the FCT, and our car arrived at the same time as 2 buses carrying passengers. Both buses waited as I slowly got off the car, had a driver take a picture of me and only after I boarded in front of so many watching passengers was everyone let off. I was seated in Row 27.
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Old Oct 20, 2015, 6:34 am
  #3385  
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Originally Posted by tng11
Yep, if C opens you'll be able to switch without paying a change fee.

On the two occasions I've had to "slum" it in Y while connecting to/from a LH F flight, I've always had the middle seat blocked for me without having to ask. That happened even on a very full FRA-CPH flight, where the only empty seat in the cabin was beside me (not counting C empty seats.)

As TheBOSman said, going to the back after a Porsche ride may feel weird. On my FRA-CPH flight, we were parked at a very far remote gate. I was the only passenger to be driven from the FCT, and our car arrived at the same time as 2 buses carrying passengers. Both buses waited as I slowly got off the car, had a driver take a picture of me and only after I boarded in front of so many watching passengers was everyone let off. I was seated in Row 27.
LOL to that - It should be fun haha!
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Old Oct 29, 2015, 10:12 pm
  #3386  
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Was at FCT today. The cigar lounge doesn't have cigars anymore; there is no water menu anymore; and no Yamazaki whisky either. Bummer.
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Old Oct 30, 2015, 12:20 am
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Originally Posted by oneworld82
there is no water menu anymore;
Menu with 10+ Types of water?

I never seen it b4
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Old Oct 30, 2015, 3:19 am
  #3388  
 
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The water menu/bar thing was sometime last year - they change up the theme all the time (e.g I've seen a cola bar before.)

That said, you can still request "fancy" types of water. I was just there on Tuesday and requested a bottle of Fiji and Voss without issue. Also had some Hibiki 17. ^
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Old Oct 30, 2015, 4:02 am
  #3389  
 
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I was in the FCT on the 23rd of September.
At that time they had the usual cabinet full of cigars. No indications of that it would be removed at that time.
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Old Oct 30, 2015, 11:50 am
  #3390  
 
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Originally Posted by tng11
The water menu/bar thing was sometime last year - they change up the theme all the time (e.g I've seen a cola bar before.)

That said, you can still request "fancy" types of water. I was just there on Tuesday and requested a bottle of Fiji and Voss without issue. Also had some Hibiki 17. ^
Gotta check this out next time. I skipped the dining option when I was there cause I was full.

This is at the bar I assume?
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