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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 19, 2011, 6:17 am
  #1501  
 
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Worldshop

I am buying some Luggage at FRA worldshop the leaving to the USA in LH F is there a TAX REFUND center in the FCT.
Thank You
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Old Oct 19, 2011, 6:47 am
  #1502  
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Originally Posted by MARIOCASTRO777
I am buying some Luggage at FRA worldshop the leaving to the USA in LH F is there a TAX REFUND center in the FCT.
Thank You
No.
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Old Oct 19, 2011, 6:52 am
  #1503  
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Where and How to Get Value-Added Tax Refunded (FRA website)
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Old Oct 19, 2011, 5:48 pm
  #1504  
 
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Bag Storage?

Does the FCT allow bag storage? I arrive into FRA at 0630 and depart at 14:30 and I am heading into town to see the xmas market. So want to find a place to store my bags for a bit.
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Old Oct 20, 2011, 1:53 am
  #1505  
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Originally Posted by SEA777GUY
Does the FCT allow bag storage? I arrive into FRA at 0630 and depart at 14:30 and I am heading into town to see the xmas market. So want to find a place to store my bags for a bit.
No.
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Old Oct 20, 2011, 4:36 am
  #1506  
 
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Originally Posted by SEA777GUY
Does the FCT allow bag storage? I arrive into FRA at 0630 and depart at 14:30 and I am heading into town to see the xmas market. So want to find a place to store my bags for a bit.
http://www.frankfurt-airport.com/con...u/storage.html
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Old Oct 20, 2011, 5:43 pm
  #1507  
 
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yet another FCL/FCT question

Hi folks. Thanks to FTers for your helpful information. I turn to this site regularly to help answer my question.

Apologies for asking yet another FRA FCT/FCL question.. but...

LH phone rep told m that I an NOT eligible to access the FRA FCT and/or the FCL for my 16 hour layover in FRA. She said that I need to have a "same day" boarding pass for "F" but that I would be eligible to use the FRA business class lounge. This conflicts with what I've read on this thread. So can I come from a "F" flight and connect to a "c" flight and still use the FCT/L? Can anyone confirm with personal experience? Or is this one of those situations where my admittance will be at the whim of whomever is working the front desk that day?

IAD - FRA LH in F (depart 3:25pm - arrive 5:20am +1)
FRA - SIN LH in C (depart 9:55pm - arrive 3:50pm +1)

thanks in advance for taking yet another FCT/L question!
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Old Oct 20, 2011, 5:48 pm
  #1508  
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Originally Posted by coffeeguy2010
IAD - FRA LH in F (depart 3:25pm - arrive 5:20am +1)
FRA - SIN LH in C (depart 9:55pm - arrive 3:50pm +1)
The phone rep was wrong. Same day BP includes day of arrival. You are eligible for either FCL or FCT. Don't worry about access. The staff at the FCL/FCT know the rules. Also, your F BP also entitles you to a day room at the Kempinski if you are interested. Just curious.. why are only in F on IAH-FRA but C on FRA-SIN?
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Old Oct 20, 2011, 5:55 pm
  #1509  
 
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Thanks so much for the quick reply. This is exactly what I was hoping to hear.
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Old Oct 20, 2011, 7:08 pm
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SFO777 -- I just noticed your question about my F and C seats.. No F availability from FRA-SIN on A380. I settled for C since I want to try out the 380.
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Old Oct 21, 2011, 12:15 am
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Originally Posted by SFO777
The phone rep was wrong. Same day BP includes day of arrival. You are eligible for either FCL or FCT. Don't worry about access. The staff at the FCL/FCT know the rules. Also, your F BP also entitles you to a day room at the Kempinski if you are interested. Just curious.. why are only in F on IAH-FRA but C on FRA-SIN?
I believe FCT access will not be possible without a F departure boarding pass... But you can use still use the FCL.

(From the LH lounge guidelines page)

(1) Access to the First Class Terminal at Frankfurt Airport is only possible if you have a confirmed First Class flight on Lufthansa or SWISS or, for HON Circle Members, on Lufthansa, SWISS or Austrian Airlines flights with a same-day departure. Passengers arriving at Frankfurt are not permitted access to the First Class Terminal.
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Old Oct 21, 2011, 12:54 am
  #1512  
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Originally Posted by primetime23
I believe FCT access willc not be possible without a F departure boarding pass... But you can use still use the FCL.

(From the LH lounge guidelines page)

(1) Access to the First Class Terminal at Frankfurt Airport is only possible if you have a confirmed First Class flight on Lufthansa or SWISS or, for HON Circle Members, on Lufthansa, SWISS or Austrian Airlines flights with a same-day departure. Passengers arriving at Frankfurt are not permitted access to the First Class Terminal.
But the LH page does not say connecting passengers with an arriving F BP cannot access the FCT. @:-)
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Old Oct 21, 2011, 2:00 am
  #1513  
 
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Originally Posted by NewbieRunner
But the LH page does not say connecting passengers with an arriving F BP cannot access the FCT. @:-)
I think it does I read it as you need a departing F BP as well to use the FCT? But then people who have actually successfully tried it with incoming F and departing C BP are probably in a better positon to give a qualified statement than me...
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Old Oct 21, 2011, 2:36 am
  #1514  
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Originally Posted by primetime23
But then people who have actually successfully tried it with incoming F and departing C BP are probably in a better positon to give a qualified statement than me...
If you read this thread you'll notice that it is certainly possible as long as you are departing on LH/LX/OS.
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Old Oct 24, 2011, 5:37 pm
  #1515  
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Originally Posted by NewbieRunner
Yes, they'll drive you to your LHR flight from the FCT. I agree B security is annoying especially since you shouldn't need to clear security when arriving from the US.
So between the choices of clearning B security, or walking to FCT, which would you choose? I know there is security in FCT, but it's a pleasant and quick experience.

Originally Posted by NewbieRunner
No one gets driven to the FCT on arrival. You'll be driven to international arrivals B. You won't get a limo to the main terminal BTW, only a First Class bus.
If we're the only ones in F (2 pax), will they still just do a bus? Don't really care - just curious.
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