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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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The FRA F/HON First Class Terminal FCT FAQ

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Old Mar 6, 2017, 2:16 pm
  #3736  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
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Originally Posted by NITISH
I'm flying BOM-FRA-IAH all on LH F I have two questions. I have a 2 hour layover in FRA does that give me enough time to go to the FCT? Is there really much of a difference between the FCT and FCL? I'm looking to just grab a quick bite and take a shower.
There is hardly a difference. Food and facilities are identical.

Going to the FCL would require passport control twice (entering and exiting again the Schengen area) albeit once the very civilized version in the FCL, plus a walk outdoors.

Going to FCL B should involve no passport control and an indoor walk.

Both will require a security check, where the FCT check is almost guaranteed to have no queues.

You would be driven to the plane (assume a Z gate) from FCT and from FCL B.

If just for food and shower, just go to FCL B. If you can enter Schengen without hassle and fancy some fresh air while stretching your legs, then the FCT is as good. Two hours will be more than enough.
MichielR is offline  
Old Mar 6, 2017, 2:20 pm
  #3737  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: GRR, USA
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Originally Posted by NITISH
I'm flying BOM-FRA-IAH all on LH F I have two questions. I have a 2 hour layover in FRA does that give me enough time to go to the FCT? Is there really much of a difference between the FCT and FCL? I'm looking to just grab a quick bite and take a shower.
Go to FCT, you have time, and it is a unique experience compared to the terminal F lounges......
LufthansaFlyer is offline  
Old Mar 6, 2017, 2:39 pm
  #3738  
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: HOUSTON, TX, USA
Posts: 244
Ok thank you for the responses! I will go to the FCT
NITISH is offline  
Old Mar 6, 2017, 2:50 pm
  #3739  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: GRR, USA
Posts: 3,298
Originally Posted by NITISH
Ok thank you for the responses! I will go to the FCT
It's one of those things that if you don't get the chance often, take advantage when you can.
LufthansaFlyer is offline  
Old Mar 6, 2017, 3:31 pm
  #3740  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
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Originally Posted by LufthansaFlyer
Go to FCT, you have time, and it is a unique experience compared to the terminal F lounges......
Originally Posted by LufthansaFlyer
It's one of those things that if you don't get the chance often, take advantage when you can.
^^

Agreed 100%. It is worth giving up 30 minutes in the FCL to experience the FCT and ride to the plane. It is a unique experience.
Global321 is offline  
Old Mar 7, 2017, 4:23 am
  #3741  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
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I've got an F flight next Tuesday out of FRA.

I plan on going to the FCL in the B area.

Has anyone been there lately and can inform me whether they still have cigars in the cigar lounge there, or if they have been removed?

Does anyone know if there are cigars in any of the F lounges in FRA?
Kleffen is offline  
Old Mar 7, 2017, 11:35 am
  #3742  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
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Was there and in the FCL in MUC recently and noticed people smoking in there. Not being a smoker I didn't check whether there were actually cigars in the lounges. But you could definitely bring your own or call the LH F-Service and they will find out for you.

Enjoy!
worldclubber is offline  
Old Mar 24, 2017, 9:52 am
  #3743  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,141
If I want to guest somebody into FCT they need to be travelling on the same flight as me.

When using FCT privileges on LH F -> intra-schengen C connection, does my companion have to be on the same _longhaul_ as I was, or do they need to take the same intra-schengen as I do?
klausa is offline  
Old Mar 24, 2017, 12:22 pm
  #3744  
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)
 
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Originally Posted by klausa
If I want to guest somebody into FCT they need to be travelling on the same flight as me.

When using FCT privileges on LH F -> intra-schengen C connection, does my companion have to be on the same _longhaul_ as I was, or do they need to take the same intra-schengen as I do?
Unless the rules changed recently the guest only needs to be on the same departing flight as the host.
NewbieRunner is online now  
Old Apr 4, 2017, 8:51 pm
  #3745  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: GRR, USA
Posts: 3,298
Originally Posted by NewbieRunner
Unless the rules changed recently the guest only needs to be on the same departing flight as the host.
Yep, the rule hasn't changed. You have be on the same bird departing FCT as the person you are guesting.
LufthansaFlyer is offline  
Old Apr 4, 2017, 8:51 pm
  #3746  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: GRR, USA
Posts: 3,298
Originally Posted by JohnRain
Thank you very much LufthansaFlyer, much appreciated... ^
no worries, enjoy your visit to the FCLs/FCT
LufthansaFlyer is offline  
Old Apr 16, 2017, 3:54 pm
  #3747  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New York
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A gates to Z gates FRA - first class - lounges

I am flying BCN - FRA - JFK and current schedules shows us arriving in FRA at gate A14 and departing from Z69. I normally exit the airport and head to the first class terminal. Wonder if I should try something different this time. How long is a normal transfer between A and Z? Should I use the first class lounge by A13 and then go through passport control, or get it over with first and then proceed to first class lounge in the Z gates. Obviously if my flight arrives at a remote stand I would just be transferred to the FCT. Thanks
ekartash is offline  
Old Apr 16, 2017, 4:54 pm
  #3748  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
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There's no FCL at Z gates.
klausa is offline  
Old Apr 16, 2017, 6:46 pm
  #3749  
 
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If you don't want to exit to the FCT, use the tunnel to get to B, go through immigration at the B gates and use FCL B. You'll be driven from FCL B to your gate in Z. Using FCL A, you won't get driven to the gate and you'll have to queue up with everyone.

In your scenario I'd just walk to the FCT directly. You gain nothing by going to FCL B except some aircraft views - it's a more confusing walk than to the FCT.
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Old Apr 16, 2017, 6:51 pm
  #3750  
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go to the FCT ...
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