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The next morning I woke up quite early, I was naturally very excited about what was to come during the day.
The breakfast buffet in the hotel was quite cool (and free, as pointed out earlier) and it is the first time in my life I have been given a guided tour of a breakfast buffet, but it was actually needed as the buffet was very large and divided into several rooms (!).
As the hotel is quite new they really seemed to make an effort to build a new and loyal customer base, they were very careful at check-out to make sure I had enjoyed my stay and would consider the hotel in the future, I certainly will!

Lufthansa First class terminal, Frankfurt

The reason why I stayed overnight in Frankfurt was of course to make a proper visit to the Lufthansa first class terminal in Frankfurt, to get the full experience right from start.

I took a cab from the hotel to the airport and asked the driver if we knew about the first class terminal. He told me he knew where it was and promised to drop me off at the entrance.
The first class terminal is a separate building around 200 meters in front of terminal 1, you need to make a right turn or you’ll miss it. The terminal is not very clearly signposted and I’m sure most people who pass it don’t even notice it’s there.

Once at the terminal the driver helped me offload my luggage, a middle-aged woman then came out from the terminal and greeted me, she was going to be my personal assistant during this visit.
She asked for my ticket to make sure I was eligible to use the terminal. Since I already had a boarding pass from the previous day (due to the check-in problems in Stockholm) I gave it to her and briefly explained the problems I had in Stockholm and why I already had a boarding pass but luggage to check.
No problem at all! I was invited to enter the terminal while another agent took care of my luggage, it disappeared somewhere, I have no idea what happened to it. My personal assistant took my ticket, boarding pass and passport and told me she would be back a few minutes later with my baggage receipt and boarding pass.

I entered the terminal and the first thing inside was the security control, of course no line and what mostly impressed me was how extremely polite they were, they addressed me by Sir and thanked me afterwards for my cooperation (or something like it, I don’t really remember).
But it was such a big difference from most airport security controls where you are being treated like cattle.

Immediately to the left after the security check is the duty free shop with the standard selection of perfumes, cosmetics and chocolate and of course some luxury goods as well (not all surprising in a first class terminal).
After the shop you enter the main lounge. I had seen photos of it before, but being there myself was of course a bit different, my first thought was that it looked so clean and modern and I immediately took notice of all the staff in the lounge, there were quite a few of them.
The terminal was very empty this morning when I arrived at 10.30 am. I took a seat and was immediately approached by a waitress who asked me if I wanted anything to drink, as it was still quite early I asked for a glass of orange juice, freshly squeezed of course.

After a little while my personal assistant came with my boarding pass and baggage receipt, I took the opportunity to ask her if they had any internet computers in the lounge since I wanted to check my e-mails.
I was told they had none, BUT they had laptops to borrow and she told me she would get me one.
Great service! The laptop was especially designed for Lufthansa and offered internet (wi-fi), games, music, and they even had movies in the lounge you can borrow and watch on the laptop. Wow! So much better than a standard desktop in a business centre.
The waitress passed several time to ask if I wanted anything else to drink, and on each table they also had cocktail glasses with snacks.

After an hour in the terminal I felt it was time to check out the food offerings, I wasn’t really hungry after the extensive breakfast, but I thought it would be a pity to leave the terminal without having tried at least some of the food.
On the way to the restaurant I passed the departure screen, I had read that the flight will appear there as soon as you have been registered as a departing passenger in the lounge.
My flight was there, and it said I would depart from Exit 1. I later found out that they had three different exits in the basement (to get to the limousine) depending on your destination, probably to comply with security regulations. All US passengers go through Exit 3, all passengers going to Schengen destinations through Exit 2, and (I suppose) all others through Exit 1.

Once inside the restaurant I had a seat at one of the tables, everything looked really fancy with white tablecloths, napkins and mineral water (both sparkling and still) on every table.
There was a menu on the table and while I had a look a waiter came and asked me if I wanted anything to drink. I asked for some red wine and some water, just as I said that I noticed I already had water on my table, but no way he would let me pour that myself.
A minute later he came back with a drink trolley with at least 5-6 bottles of red wine on it, just to choose! I think I went for a Bordeaux wine.
I decided to have a steak to eat from the menu, I asked him how long it would take as I was a bit worried I would not have enough time to eat before it was time to leave (little did I know everything was available at the buffet).
The steak was excellent, as was the wine. While I was eating my personal assistant passed and asked if everything was OK, she told me I had another 15 minutes before it was time to leave. Perfect! Enough time for a cup of coffee! I was starting to feel very excited…

Pics
The first class terminal just after I arrived, very empty!
Nice cocktail snacks on the tables
The departure screen in the terminal with the appropriate exits in the basement displayed
The very extensive bar in the first class terminal and the restaurant in the background
Inside the restaurant with the self-service buffet in the background
A steak and a glass of red wine in the restaurant

A cup of coffee later and it was time to leave the terminal, as we were going downstairs I suddenly remembered I did not have my passport, she never gave it back to me!
I immediately reminded her but was told not to worry, the customs officer already had my passport. Wow!
Once in the basement there was kind of a passport control with an officer behind it, I gave him my boarding pass and by checking the name on the boarding pass he found my passport, did the usual check, and gave back everything to me and wished me a nice flight.
Next I went to a desk next to the passport control where they checked my name on a list and also took my boarding pass, I may also have signed something. I guess this is the same thing as being done at the gate before you board the plane.

With all the paperwork completed I said goodbye to my personal assistant and hello to the driver, a friendly guy who spoke good English, although I could have managed in German if needed.
Before leaving the terminal he reminded me of the simple rule, not to open the door or the window during the ride as we were in a restricted area (and I guess they are afraid people could drop things on the apron). I took a seat in the front seat of the Porsche Cayenne and off we went.
It was only a short drive to get to the plane, I think it was gate B20, right in the beginning of the B-pier. We parked the car and went upstairs and entered the gate area right next to where the passenger bridge starts.
They were right in the middle of the boarding process with a long line of passengers waiting to get onboard the Boeing 747.
No need for me to queue though, I was escorted past all other passengers who just kept staring at me probably wondering who the *** I was. The driver also carried my hand luggage which made it look even more suspicious.
At the entrance to the business class cabin he handed me over to the purser, some last paperwork to sign and then the purser took my hand luggage and escorted me through the business class cabin to the upper deck and to my seat.
Everything went so smoothly that I hardly noticed what was going on, I was so overwhelmed and fascinated by the whole experience, they did it just right! Such a great start of the flight!

The crew who worked in the first class cabin were really fantastic, all of them very friendly.
Pre-departure drinks were offered (I went for champagne of course) followed by newspapers, magazines, amenity kits and a blue sweater. Top-ups were offered before it was time to close the doors and push back.
After the fantastic experiences at Frankfurt airport it was nice to settle down with glass of champagne and get in a good mood for my first ever flight in F.

Frankfurt-Toronto, flight LH 470 operated by Lufthansa
Departure: 13:15
Arrival: 15:25
Aircraft: Boeing 747-400
Class: First Class
Seat: 83A (emergency exit)

Pushback right on time, German punctuality, but once in the air it took a long time before the fasten seat belt sign was switched off, I think they waited until the plane had reached 30,000 feet or so. After all the wine, coffee and champagne before departure I started to feel an immediate need to visit the lavatory, sitting right opposite a steward I asked very nicely if it was OK to go and he said yes, despite the sign still being turned on. What a relief!
That would surely not have happened in economy class!

Pics
Before departure: Champagne, newspapers and other amenities
The first class cabin to Toronto
Amenity kit and slippers
Contents of the amenity kit

Soon after the seat belt sign was off the purser came up to the first class cabin and personally handed over the menu to each passenger, he greeted every passenger by name and took the opportunity to welcome us onboard and wish us a pleasant flight with Lufthansa.

As expected, plenty to eat onboard, here is the menu for the flight to Toronto:

Pics
The menu and drink list in first class

The menu speaks for itself. They really feed you well in premium cabins (and in F in particular) something I slowly got used to during this trip, there is just so much food onboard!!
I also learned that the only way to manage is to eat slowly and drink lots of water and not just alcohol.

After departure more drinks were offered and a nice amuse bouche with cheese and ham, I asked for some orange juice this time to have a break in the alcohol intake.
Then the table was prepared with tablecloth and proper china, a red rose was also placed next to each passenger.
Next they passed through the cabin with the hors d’oeuvre, a whole trolley with food. I am not really a fan of caviar so I decided to choose some other things from the trolley and the FA offered to put a little bit of everything on my plate which I gratefully accepted. I also asked for a glass of the French red wine.
So much food! Even though it all tasted very good I decided to not finish all of it to leave some room for the food to come.
Next was a choice between soup or salad, I went for the salad, and after that the main course where I chose the chicken.
At this point I was starting to feel very full and it was only with some struggle that I managed to eat most of the dessert as well, the dumpling with sorbet.
There was no way I could manage the cheese on top of that, even though it looked so good on the trolley!

Pics
After departure: Amuse bouche and more drinks
Hors d’oeuvres, a bit of everything from the trolley
Salad
Main course
Dessert
Coffee and chocolate praline

I was quite happy when the meal service was over, the food was great, but it was nice to stretch my legs a bit and leave my stomach in peace for a while.
I started playing with the seat which was very comfortable, although not the best first class seat on this trip. Since it was a daytime flight I did not attempt to get some proper sleep onboard so I can’t comment on how well you sleep in that seat, but it was very comfortable to recline halfway to watch a movie and doze off for an hour or so.
After recommendations on the internet I had booked 83A, an emergency exit window seat so plenty of legroom. The seat next to mine was also empty during the flight so plenty of space to spread out my things.

The only real drawback with the flight was the inflight entertainment system, no AVOD!
For first and business class passengers there were a few movie channels to watch, and in first class each seat also has a video player in the armrest and there are cassettes to borrow, however mine did not work very well, the picture quality was awful!
I watched some of the movies on the main movie channels though and it was fine, they had some cartoons to watch when I was too tired to watch another full movie.
I’m glad Lufthansa is installing AVOD now though in their planes.

About one and a half hour before landing the second meal was served but this time the service was much more rushed.
There was once again a trolley with lots of nice food and each passenger could choose what he/she wanted from a selection of hot and cold dishes (see the menu above).
The FA once again offered to put a bit of everything on my plate, but I declined a few things.
Linzer tart or fresh fruits were offered as dessert, and after that the table was cleared and they started to prepare the cabin for landing.

Pics
The Lufthansa first class seat
The personal video player in the armrest, and my red rose
The flight map showing we are flying over Greenland
The second meal before landing

Toronto was grey and rainy so not much to see during the approach.
The plane landed on time but we were told we had to take a bus to the terminal building, I thought that was a bit strange considering we were on a Boeing 747.
It turned out we were to arrive at the Infield terminal at Toronto Pearson airport, it is a proper terminal building with jet bridges and so on, but you need to take a bus to get to the main terminal building where customs and baggage reclaim are located. The Infield terminal was quite a trek from the main terminal so the bus ride took a few minutes.
Priority baggage worked exceptionally well though and both my suitcases tagged with the HON Circle/First class tag were already on the belt, so I was quickly on my way to downtown Toronto.