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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

Im 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.

Im 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 Dec 13, 2011, 3:59 am
  #1681  
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Originally Posted by SleepOverGreenland
Have there been any infos about handling FRA origins when FCT closes?
Nothing yet- however I am expecting something similar to MUC (which works perfectly well).
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Old Dec 13, 2011, 4:07 am
  #1682  
 
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Originally Posted by TRAVELSIG
Nothing yet- however I am expecting something similar to MUC (which works perfectly well).
The MUC approach adds another 15 minutes at least, since you have the walking distances, shared security and no PA who is taking care of getting you to an aircraft. This would be a significant downgrade IMHO.
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Old Dec 13, 2011, 4:10 am
  #1683  
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Originally Posted by SleepOverGreenland
The MUC approach adds another 15 minutes at least, since you have the walking distances, shared security and no PA who is taking care of getting you to an aircraft. This would be a significant downgrade IMHO.
I was thinking of the taking care of the car return/valet portion in particular. As for shared security- this could easily be adapted by have a HON/F only security line. Walking distances- not sure how this can be fixed in the new pier A. Just guessing at the moment- no information what-so-ever, however looking at its build unless there is a special door and pull in of some type it will be tricky.

15 minutes will be OK if LH still allow a >45 minute checkin (reaonsable overall).

I have frequently had the PA in MUC in the sense of the majority of my MUC flights are the beloved apron departures and thus have the car service.
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Old Dec 13, 2011, 6:33 am
  #1684  
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Originally Posted by LufthansaFlyer
If you've never transited FCT do it for the experience because its days are numbered once FRA's term. A expansion is completed.
FCT closing? Not to be replaced? Any estimated timing on this?
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Old Dec 13, 2011, 6:40 am
  #1685  
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Originally Posted by SFO777
FCT closing? Not to be replaced? Any estimated timing on this?
Late 2014 or 2015 IIRC.
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Old Dec 13, 2011, 6:47 am
  #1686  
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It will be a while till the FCT is razed... first the parking and the office building at the far end will get hit in late summer of 2012, then some more office buildings etc in 2013-14.

The array of buildings that are required to go can be nicely seen in this picture:

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Old Dec 13, 2011, 7:03 am
  #1687  
 
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Originally Posted by TRAVELSIG
I was thinking of the taking care of the car return/valet portion in particular. As for shared security- this could easily be adapted by have a HON/F only security line. Walking distances- not sure how this can be fixed in the new pier A. Just guessing at the moment- no information what-so-ever, however looking at its build unless there is a special door and pull in of some type it will be tricky.

15 minutes will be OK if LH still allow a >45 minute checkin (reaonsable overall).

I have frequently had the PA in MUC in the sense of the majority of my MUC flights are the beloved apron departures and thus have the car service.
As said, I recently made it when arriving 10:08 with my car at the FCT and my departure was 10:30. Flight was still on time. This is only doable with a PA taking care of paperwork and arrangement for a driver to the aircraft. Sure, usually I plan 45 minutes pre-departure arrivals for short term flights and 60 minutes for long haul flights. Sometimes I stuck in traffic.

Given there would be no PA and no driving to let's say Schengen aircrafts anymore this would be a very significant drawback compared to status quo.

Maximizing travel experience through the FCT is minimizing my overall travel time IMHO.
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Old Dec 13, 2011, 7:09 am
  #1688  
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Originally Posted by SleepOverGreenland
As said, I recently made it when arriving 10:08 with my car at the FCT and my departure was 10:30. Flight was still on time. This is only doable with a PA taking care of paperwork and arrangement for a driver to the aircraft. Sure, usually I plan 45 minutes pre-departure arrivals for short term flights and 60 minutes for long haul flights. Sometimes I stuck in traffic.

Given there would be no PA and no driving to let's say Schengen aircrafts anymore this would be a very significant drawback compared to status quo.

Maximizing travel experience through the FCT is minimizing my overall travel time IMHO.
Agree with your overall thinking and aligned with the maximizing travel experience=minimizing overall travel time concept. This is of course the goal.

A couple of comments

1. We don't know there will not be any driving to Schengen aircrafts with A+ pier

2. We don't know there will not be a PA

If looking at the way MUC works today- the only real problem is the security in your scenario. Now, obviously if LH at FRA continues to use A and B for Schengen departures and there is not a driver service in Schengen to aircraft then less than 45 minute checkins will become impossible.
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Old Dec 13, 2011, 7:18 am
  #1689  
 
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Originally Posted by TRAVELSIG
Agree with your overall thinking and aligned with the maximizing travel experience=minimizing overall travel time concept. This is of course the goal.

A couple of comments

1. We don't know there will not be any driving to Schengen aircrafts with A+ pier

2. We don't know there will not be a PA

If looking at the way MUC works today- the only real problem is the security in your scenario. Now, obviously if LH at FRA continues to use A and B for Schengen departures and there is not a driver service in Schengen to aircraft then less than 45 minute checkins will become impossible.
Agreed. But the issue in MUC is not only the security. You will have to make your way to the gate yourself. Even in MUC it can take 7-10 minutes to reach G2 for example. With the driver you are expected at the aircraft and they will not close the doors without letting you in.

However, let's wait and see. Nothing is clear yet and it can very well be that they keep the status quo just at another location.
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Old Dec 13, 2011, 7:42 am
  #1690  
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AFAIR there are quite a few HONs who like MUC for the valet car parking and the A26 driver facility to an outside position that they only show up for a flight at T-25/30 min. I have checked luggage and boarded intercont F flights at T-35min in MUC just because of the great layout of T2. I would never dare to do that in FRA
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Old Dec 13, 2011, 7:47 am
  #1691  
 
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Originally Posted by SleepOverGreenland
However, let's wait and see. Nothing is clear yet and it can very well be that they keep the status quo just at another location.
with the FCT being the pinnacle of the HON/F concept in FRA, my guess would be that they will replace it with something very similar. especially since its hugely responsible for the success of the HON program...

my HON is likely to be safe until 2016, i guess i'll know by then what they're going to do...
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Old Dec 13, 2011, 7:51 am
  #1692  
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Originally Posted by sentom
with the FCT being the pinnacle of the HON/F concept in FRA, my guess would be that they will replace it with something very similar.
+1
That's what I was thinking: would have to believe that a new FCT (somewhere) would be a part of the plan.
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Old Dec 13, 2011, 8:13 am
  #1693  
 
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Originally Posted by sentom
my HON is likely to be safe until 2016, i guess i'll know by then what they're going to do...
Looking forward seeing you again in the FCT before 2016...
... and hopefully a couple moments longer next time.
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Old Dec 13, 2011, 8:20 am
  #1694  
 
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Originally Posted by oliver2002
AFAIR there are quite a few HONs who like MUC for the valet car parking and the A26 driver facility to an outside position that they only show up for a flight at T-25/30 min. I have checked luggage and boarded intercont F flights at T-35min in MUC just because of the great layout of T2. I would never dare to do that in FRA
But then again for MUC, the driver only works for apron departures. For gate positions it is on you to make it on time, whereas once in the FCT the procedure takes care that you WILL make it to your flight.
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Old Dec 13, 2011, 2:14 pm
  #1695  
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Originally Posted by LufthansaFlyer
FCT and FCL B are very very close in services.
While I imagine this has been discussed somewhere in this long thread, the thing I preferred about the FCT was the personal assistant, particularly them coming to find you when it's time for your car to the plane, and them escorting you downstairs to the car staging area. In FCL B, they just told me to be at the lounge check-in area at the specified time and I think they sent me down the elevator on my own () to the car (when my departure was from C gates, when it's from B you're completely on your own). Not having to check my watch was actually a nice benefit.

Also, the FCT has its own duty free shop, although the selection was edited to only the most expensive products. Like only rich people travel F!

With 6 hours, you can do both comfortably. Do FCT last IMO.
Not sure if there's really any reason to do FCL B other than to kill time, but I definitely agree to do FCT last.
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