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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 31, 2011, 9:01 am
  #1561  
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Originally Posted by ung1
On what basis do they allocate the limo from the FCT to the gate? Is it random, or is it status based? I flew last week - got an S350, though there were Panameras and Cayennes parked as well.
I'm sure if you mention to the PA that you would prefer to ride a Porsche they will try to get one for you... as you can see on FT, most HONs avoid the Panamera
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Old Oct 31, 2011, 9:24 am
  #1562  
 
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Originally Posted by oliver2002
I'm sure if you mention to the PA that you would prefer to ride a Porsche they will try to get one for you... as you can see on FT, most HONs avoid the Panamera
I will keep that in mind next time. I didn't think they'd say no if I did ask for something, so I guess this wouldn't be different.

Why do people like to avoid the Panamera though?
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Old Oct 31, 2011, 9:29 am
  #1563  
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Originally Posted by ung1
Why do people like to avoid the Panamera though?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...n-service.html
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Old Oct 31, 2011, 10:13 am
  #1564  
 
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Originally Posted by SFO777
I was under the impression that it was a random allocation, as we have had the complete range of vehicles.
I always request a vehicle and they try to accomodate. has worked every time so far
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Old Oct 31, 2011, 10:17 am
  #1565  
 
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You FTers are boring. I'm guessing most people would start complaining if they had Murcielagos instead because of the lack of luggage space. How sad.
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Old Oct 31, 2011, 11:10 am
  #1566  
 
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Back in september I flew LH from FRA to ICN and there were me and 2 other HONs all flying in first class departing from the FCL in B section non schengen.

However, when all of us went out of the lift we were shocked to see the MB Viano van waiting for us to take us all together to the airplane
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Old Oct 31, 2011, 11:54 am
  #1567  
 
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Originally Posted by NA-Flyer
Back in september I flew LH from FRA to ICN and there were me and 2 other HONs all flying in first class departing from the FCL in B section non schengen.

However, when all of us went out of the lift we were shocked to see the MB Viano van waiting for us to take us all together to the airplane
OMG, what a shocking experience...
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Old Oct 31, 2011, 12:00 pm
  #1568  
 
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Smile

Got the Porsche to my aircraft yesterday without asking for what car I would get.

I would not even think of asking for a particular car.

The FCT is definitely world's top best after the Concorde room in the old days when Concorde was flying. It beats the KrisFlyer First Class lounge at Changi Airport by far.

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Old Oct 31, 2011, 12:05 pm
  #1569  
 
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Originally Posted by CDG1
Got the Porsche to my aircraft yesterday without asking for what car I would get.

I would not even think of asking for a particular car.

The FCT is definitely world's top best after the Concorde room in the old days when Concorde was flying. It beats the KrisFlyer First Class lounge at Changi Airport by far.

Indeed, my biggest gripe with the SKL at Changi is that service does not exist. Everything is self help, whereas at the FCT they don't let you lift a finger.
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Old Oct 31, 2011, 12:31 pm
  #1570  
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Originally Posted by CDG1
The FCT is definitely world's top best after the Concorde room in the old days when Concorde was flying. It beats the KrisFlyer First Class lounge at Changi Airport by far.
I love the FCT, but beating Changi FCL "by far" might be a stretch, especially if you use the private FC check-in, complete with escort to the Private Room. The only negative is the boarding experience: the lack of a car to the gate or private security, but since our gate was very close last time it was tolerable.
Singapore Airlines First Class check-in and the SKL FC Private Room
Singapore Airlines SKL FC Private Room Part 2

Originally Posted by ung1
Indeed, my biggest gripe with the SKL at Changi is that service does not exist. Everything is self help, whereas at the FCT they don't let you lift a finger.
"Self help" was certainly not our experience in the Private Room. Service was excellent.
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Old Oct 31, 2011, 12:38 pm
  #1571  
 
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Originally Posted by SFO777
I love the FCT, but beating Changi FCL "by far" might be a stretch, especially if you use the private FC check-in, complete with escort to the Private Room. The only negative is the boarding experience: the lack of a car to the gate or private security, but since our gate was very close last time it was tolerable.
Singapore Airlines First Class check-in and the SKL FC Private Room
Singapore Airlines SKL FC Private Room Part 2



"Self help" was certainly not our experience in the Private Room. Service was excellent.
I was comparing with the SilverKris First Class Lounge, not TPR (which I haven't used so can't comment on).
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Old Oct 31, 2011, 12:47 pm
  #1572  
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Originally Posted by ung1
I was comparing with the SilverKris First Class Lounge, not TPR (which I haven't used so can't comment on).
OK, but since the FCT/FCL and The Private Room are restricted to each airline's First pax, comparing the FCT to the regular SIN SKL FCL (apparently open to any *A F pax including even UA ) does not seem to be a fair comparison.
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Old Oct 31, 2011, 1:07 pm
  #1573  
 
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Originally Posted by SFO777
OK, but since the FCT/FCL and The Private Room are restricted to each airline's First pax, comparing the FCT to the regular SIN SKL FCL (apparently open to any *A F pax including even UA ) does not seem to be a fair comparison.
Indeed, you have a fair point. Is the FCL accessible to *A F pax, or only LH/LX pax? Even if comparing the SKL F lounge to say TG or UA F lounges at HKG (so an outstation for all carriers), the SQ one had the poorest service. But that would be going OT.
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Old Oct 31, 2011, 1:12 pm
  #1574  
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Originally Posted by ung1
Is the FCL accessible to *A F pax, or only LH/LX pax?
Only LH/LX F pax and (correct me if I am wrong) HONs flying any COS.
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Old Oct 31, 2011, 1:22 pm
  #1575  
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Originally Posted by SFO777
... HONs flying any COS.
... on any *A carrier.
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