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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 Sep 9, 2011, 11:12 am
  #1411  
 
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Originally Posted by TRAVELSIG
Hmm.. perhaps I am just in FRA too often- but I rarely walk over to the FCT unless I am at meetings in Frankfurt and driving back to the airport (maybe 3-4 times a year out of 50-60 transits through FRA?). In transit or arriving on the train- it is usually much easier just to go up to FCL A if flight is departing from an A gate.
I'm thinking that I'll have to go through screening once arriving from HKG, so I may as well just go to FCL B for my three hour connect and not bother with the FCT. Or I might just to go to B-2x Business Lounge for the hell of it.
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Old Sep 9, 2011, 2:05 pm
  #1412  
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Originally Posted by ijgordon
In ZRH, presumably I have to go from non-Schengen to Schengen zone, clearing passport control. But then I'll have access to the LX FCL -- where is that in relation to security/passport/Schengen?
When you leave the FCL in ZRH don't walk down the spiral stairs but make sure someone will escort you down the elevator to fast track security, which is usually (but not always) quicker than security for C and F pax.
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Old Sep 9, 2011, 2:16 pm
  #1413  
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Originally Posted by iainbhx
I'm thinking that I'll have to go through screening once arriving from HKG, so I may as well just go to FCL B for my three hour connect and not bother with the FCT. Or I might just to go to B-2x Business Lounge for the hell of it.
Why? If you arrive from HKG and clear immigration to walk to the FCT you only need to clear security when you enter the FCT.

My last experience with non-Schengen B security has turned me against FCL B.

If you insist on going to B-2x Business Lounge that's entirely up to you.
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Old Sep 9, 2011, 2:44 pm
  #1414  
 
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Originally Posted by NewbieRunner
Why? If you arrive from HKG and clear immigration to walk to the FCT you only need to clear security when you enter the FCT.

My last experience with non-Schengen B security has turned me against FCL B.
You are so right about the last point. One of the best reasons to go the FCT. If you qualify for the FCT and have to reclear security at any concourse, just walk to the FCT. The security process is constantly friendlier, less intrusive and painless. In terminal 1 it is a pure lottery. Especially if you travel with iPad and DLSR cameras
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Old Sep 9, 2011, 3:01 pm
  #1415  
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Originally Posted by mamb0
In terminal 1 it is a pure lottery. Especially if you travel with iPad and DLSR cameras
I didn't have an iPad or DLSR with me but I felt I and a couple in front of me were picked on as we didn't fit their image of premium class pax. It was particularly annoying since I had arrived from the UK and shouldn't have needed to clear security!
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Old Sep 9, 2011, 4:22 pm
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concur

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Last edited by cyborg; Jun 2, 2018 at 5:00 am Reason: Moving on from Flyertalk
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Old Sep 10, 2011, 12:10 am
  #1417  
 
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Originally Posted by NewbieRunner
Why? If you arrive from HKG and clear immigration to walk to the FCT you only need to clear security when you enter the FCT.

My last experience with non-Schengen B security has turned me against FCL B.

If you insist on going to B-2x Business Lounge that's entirely up to you.
Probably because the FCT doesn't appeal that much, there's are other lounges that are far more handy.

I'm a minimiser. All I really want after a long flight like that is a shower and some rehydration. I wouldn't go to the A26 slum, but I rather like B-2x.
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Old Sep 10, 2011, 12:49 am
  #1418  
 
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Originally Posted by mamb0
You are so right about the last point. One of the best reasons to go the FCT. If you qualify for the FCT and have to reclear security at any concourse, just walk to the FCT. The security process is constantly friendlier, less intrusive and painless. In terminal 1 it is a pure lottery. Especially if you travel with iPad and DLSR cameras
Well FRA is a mess so yup I think the simplies thing if you are eliglible for the FCT and you are arriving from non Schengen is to just exit and go to FCT.
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Old Sep 10, 2011, 6:27 am
  #1419  
 
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Originally Posted by cyborg

PS. The FCT elevator is very much in play on the lower/street level, no need to take the stairs. The sticker on the door implies authorized persons only, but the glass doors to the lower level opened automatically when approached and another sign welcomes customers to use the elevator to enter the lounge on the designated floor.
yes, no need to ring the bell anymore since some time now. Just go in and use the elevator to go up...
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Old Sep 10, 2011, 6:47 am
  #1420  
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Originally Posted by iainbhx
I'm a minimiser. All I really want after a long flight like that is a shower and some rehydration. I wouldn't go to the A26 slum, but I rather like B-2x.
If you are a real minimiser you should use one of the paid showers near B30s bus gates and hang around in the gate area to wait for a bus ride.
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Old Sep 10, 2011, 6:53 am
  #1421  
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Originally Posted by NewbieRunner
If you are a real minimiser you should use one of the paid showers near B30s bus gates and hang around in the gate area to wait for a bus ride.
Maybe even fly Y.
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Old Sep 11, 2011, 1:34 am
  #1422  
 
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Originally Posted by NewbieRunner
If you are a real minimiser you should use one of the paid showers near B30s bus gates and hang around in the gate area to wait for a bus ride.
Now then, there's minimizing and there's going too far. The less overcrowded sweaty extended tours of FRA by bus, the better.
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Old Sep 11, 2011, 1:35 am
  #1423  
 
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Originally Posted by SFO777
Maybe even fly Y.
HKG in Y is for someone a damn sight slimmer than myself. I fit in the seat, but for that length of time, it would be a step too far. I've done BHX-EWR in Y a few times over the last couple of years and that's as far as I want to go.
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Old Sep 12, 2011, 3:09 am
  #1424  
 
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Car transfer to Schengen apron gates from FCT or FCL?

I will be arriving FRA on LH F from ICN, connecting to SVG which departs from a non gate position. I have about 3,5 hours in FRA from arrival to departue. What would be best of FCL or FCT, and would I get car transfer to my departing flight from both FCT and FCL?

All replies appreciated !

Stephano
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Old Sep 12, 2011, 10:32 am
  #1425  
 
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Originally Posted by Stephano
I will be arriving FRA on LH F from ICN, connecting to SVG which departs from a non gate position. I have about 3,5 hours in FRA from arrival to departue. What would be best of FCL or FCT, and would I get car transfer to my departing flight from both FCT and FCL?

All replies appreciated !

Stephano
Since SVG is located within the Schengen zone, you will only receive a car service if you go to the FCT. The FCL B only provides car service when the flight departs from non-Schengen, as it has no passport control facilities so it cannot move you into Schengen.

Walk to FCT takes seriously next to no time at all. I would do the walk if I were you. You will pass through passport control whether you go for FCT or FCL, and the connection security will be infinitely better at the FCT.
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