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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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The FRA F/HON First Class Terminal FCT FAQ

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Old Sep 25, 2012, 5:06 am
  #2161  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: EDKA, STR, ZRH
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Today, I even had FCT access after an inbound flight without any LH connection (I'll be connecting by regular train, no LH train) thanks to. very helpful lady at the welcome lounge (and a not so helpful fraport lady sending me in the wrong direction). However, they keep telling me that they're making a "huge exception" for me (so please don't try that at home). All thumbs up for LH, you'll read more in my trip report that's coming up in the next few days.
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Old Sep 25, 2012, 5:09 am
  #2162  
 
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hi, my party have 5 people, 4 adults and 1 ten month old child. 2 of the adults are in F, can all 5 of us access the FCT?
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Old Sep 25, 2012, 5:41 am
  #2163  
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Rumour has it that inbound limo apron pickup will be terminated once the A+ pier is opened, so that they have enough cars for the A+ outbound limo traffic.

...In this case so much for making "HON more exclusive" ...

It still seems to be unclear (to us here) which flights will get limo transfers from A+. (Schengen / Non-Schengen or all flights)??
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Old Sep 25, 2012, 10:26 am
  #2164  
 
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Originally Posted by babypuwet
hi, my party have 5 people, 4 adults and 1 ten month old child. 2 of the adults are in F, can all 5 of us access the FCT?
I think so, provided:
-everybody is on the same route
-the child is son/daughter of one of the adults in F
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Old Sep 26, 2012, 1:16 am
  #2165  
szg
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Originally Posted by Rambuster
Rumour has it that inbound limo apron pickup will be terminated once the A+ pier is opened, so that they have enough cars for the A+ outbound limo traffic.

...In this case so much for making "HON more exclusive" ...

It still seems to be unclear (to us here) which flights will get limo transfers from A+. (Schengen / Non-Schengen or all flights)??
I also heard this rumour. So there must be really something true on this case.
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Old Sep 26, 2012, 2:45 am
  #2166  
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Originally Posted by szg
I also heard this rumour. So there must be really something true on this case.
It was mentioned at the driver's training for the A+ opening.
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Old Sep 26, 2012, 9:01 am
  #2167  
 
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Video guide

Originally Posted by bruce80
I have shot some footage for a video guide just two hours ago and will upload it to youtube in a couple of days.
Here we go. The video shows the entire walk from the first class check-in to the terminal. Sorry for the poor quality, I might have to re-upload it.

Video guide: http://youtu.be/PA85BzEKqdI
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Old Sep 27, 2012, 3:35 am
  #2168  
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Originally Posted by Rambuster
Rumour has it that inbound limo apron pickup will be terminated once the A+ pier is opened, so that they have enough cars for the A+ outbound limo traffic.

...In this case so much for making "HON more exclusive" ...

It still seems to be unclear (to us here) which flights will get limo transfers from A+. (Schengen / Non-Schengen or all flights)??
Rambuster- in the past 2 years:
a) All of your rumors have turned out to be true
b) All have been significant enhancements to the exclusiv program

Unfortunately in this case once again I don't doubt you- however if I had to choose between limo pickup and limo drop off- I would choose pickup every time- this is where a pax has a risk to miss a connection!

Its as if the intent is really to demonstrate that the company doesn't want HON customers. I don't understand it at this point.
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Old Sep 27, 2012, 4:49 pm
  #2169  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
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FCT Driver Etiquette

For departing FCT passengers being driven to aircraft, does the driver carry bag from car to aircraft OR into aircraft OR is it passenger responsibility? Personally, I've had all 3 experiences and not sure which is the most proper method/etiquette.
ssamuels is offline  
Old Sep 27, 2012, 5:47 pm
  #2170  
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Originally Posted by ssamuels
For departing FCT passengers being driven to aircraft, does the driver carry bag from car to aircraft OR into aircraft OR is it passenger responsibility? Personally, I've had all 3 experiences and not sure which is the most proper method/etiquette.
I think it's a function of your driver and yourself. On my last flight, we had a driver who was straight up the German version of Alfred Pennyworth, plus we had a baby. Needless to say - the bags followed us
Pseudo Nim is offline  
Old Sep 29, 2012, 9:45 am
  #2171  
 
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Originally Posted by Pseudo Nim
I think it's a function of your driver and yourself. On my last flight, we had a driver who was straight up the German version of Alfred Pennyworth, plus we had a baby. Needless to say - the bags followed us
Followed you to door of a/c or into a/c carrying your bags?
I've had both instances but not sure which are part of his/her job description.
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Old Sep 29, 2012, 9:53 am
  #2172  
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Originally Posted by ssamuels
Followed you to door of a/c or into a/c carrying your bags?
I've had both instances but not sure which are part of his/her job description.
Followed us to the door and handed over to the FAs.
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Old Oct 1, 2012, 8:40 am
  #2173  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
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I carried the bag myself (both into the car and into the plane), but I don't really like anyone to carry my bag except for myself. Don't know why..
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Old Oct 1, 2012, 8:42 am
  #2174  
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Originally Posted by bruce80
I carried the bag myself (both into the car and into the plane), but I don't really like anyone to carry my bag except for myself. Don't know why..
Depends what's in it I once saw two men in F on a CX HKG-JFK flight who had briefcases *handcuffed* to their wrist the whole way. So if you're a diamond dealer, I can understand that.
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Old Oct 3, 2012, 1:08 pm
  #2175  
 
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.....

Last edited by funOFflying; Oct 3, 2012 at 2:59 pm
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