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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The FRA F/HON First Class Terminal FCT FAQ

Old Jan 17, 2013, 11:03 am
  #2311  
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Originally Posted by onesweetworld
We are flying IST-FRA-MAD all on LH with United Miles.

It is a 2 cabin plane all the way, so if we do First / BusinessFirst as United calls it, will we have access to First Class Terminal?
I'm not quite sure what you mean by "First / BusinessFirst as United calls it" but since neither flight has First Class you won't have access to the First Class Terminal or Lounge whatever your ticket says.
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Old Jan 17, 2013, 11:04 am
  #2312  
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Originally Posted by onesweetworld
We are flying IST-FRA-MAD all on LH with United Miles.
It is a 2 cabin plane all the way, so if we do First / BusinessFirst as United calls it, will we have access to First Class Terminal?
No. You need to have a same day departing or arriving LH or LX First BP to access the FCT or either FCL.
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Old Jan 17, 2013, 11:08 am
  #2313  
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Originally Posted by onesweetworld
We are flying IST-FRA-MAD all on LH with United Miles.

It is a 2 cabin plane all the way, so if we do First / BusinessFirst as United calls it, will we have access to First Class Terminal?
Remember that on these flights business class is an economy seat with the middle seat blocked and on slightly better food with LH.

I would suggest you take the TK nonstop IST-MAD- I took this flight last year and it is far better than the connection in FRA. Also- TK is STAR alliance as well so you will still get your points/miles with UA or you can redeem also with UA for this ticket. Even if you end up in economy avoiding the connection is worth it.
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Old Jan 19, 2013, 4:01 pm
  #2314  
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LH F LAX-FRA connecting to LH J FRA-CDG, FCL or FCT?

I am currently landing at FRA with 1 hour until my connection. Since there are tons of flights, I am thinking about pushing it to a later connection so I can swing through the FCT if I am granted access. If I land in the morning on LH F and leave that afternoon in LH J, what access do I have? Thanks.
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Old Jan 19, 2013, 4:41 pm
  #2315  
 
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You can do either if going into Schengen, but FCT is really not meant as a transfer terminal. FCLs have better views.
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Old Jan 19, 2013, 7:11 pm
  #2316  
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Originally Posted by sp4294
You can do either if going into Schengen, but FCT is really not meant as a transfer terminal. FCLs have better views.
I'm connecting on to France, so yes, Schengen. I land at 10:45 and depart at 11:50. Will I even have enough time to swing through the FCL if I keep this current flight? Next LH to CDG isn't until 3:50 and i've been to the FCT before so I don't think I want to spend 4 hours in the airport.
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Old Jan 20, 2013, 4:02 am
  #2317  
 
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Originally Posted by GetSetJetSet
I am currently landing at FRA with 1 hour until my connection. Since there are tons of flights, I am thinking about pushing it to a later connection so I can swing through the FCT if I am granted access. If I land in the morning on LH F and leave that afternoon in LH J, what access do I have? Thanks.
please check to first post in this thread.
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Old Jan 20, 2013, 7:55 am
  #2318  
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Originally Posted by GetSetJetSet
I'm connecting on to France, so yes, Schengen. I land at 10:45 and depart at 11:50. Will I even have enough time to swing through the FCL if I keep this current flight? Next LH to CDG isn't until 3:50 and i've been to the FCT before so I don't think I want to spend 4 hours in the airport.
Whether you are flying to Schengen or non-Schengen isn't an issue. If you don't need a visa to enter Schengen you can go to either. If the flight is on time you may be able to spend a few minutes in the new FCL A.
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Old Jan 21, 2013, 12:09 am
  #2319  
 
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Originally Posted by onesweetworld
We are flying IST-FRA-MAD all on LH with United Miles.

It is a 2 cabin plane all the way, so if we do First / BusinessFirst as United calls it, will we have access to First Class Terminal?
LH doesn't have F/Business F - only C intra Europe and that doesn't get you into the FCT.
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Old Jan 21, 2013, 12:10 am
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Originally Posted by TRAVELSIG
Remember that on these flights business class is an economy seat with the middle seat blocked and on slightly better food with LH.

I would suggest you take the TK nonstop IST-MAD- I took this flight last year and it is far better than the connection in FRA. Also- TK is STAR alliance as well so you will still get your points/miles with UA or you can redeem also with UA for this ticket. Even if you end up in economy avoiding the connection is worth it.
^
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Old Jan 21, 2013, 12:34 am
  #2321  
 
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How to walk to the Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt:

Video How to walk to the Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt
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Old Jan 22, 2013, 10:01 pm
  #2322  
 
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my recent surprise to FRA FCL access

I was flying on LH with an SFO-MUC F ticket, have an overnight in MUC, then flying MUC-FRA on C and TG FRA-BKK on F. I knew LH allows FCL as an arrival lounge on F, and I did go there after arrival to freshen up and had a nice dinner there. I was also impressed that they have an immigration officer right inside the FCL.

The next day as I was taking my short flight from MUC-FRA, I knew that I won't be allowed FCL in Munich, I went to the Senator lounge without even trying. After arriving Frankfurt TG sent someone to greet me right at the arrival gate, and he tried to escort me to the Senator lounge in FRA. I asked if he knew I could use the FCL in FRA instead, and I explained that I was arriving on LH F the day before. He took me to the Senator lounge and the staff at entrance told me I definitely can use FCL. So the TG guy escorted me to LH FCL, and explained to them my situation. They looked at both my boarding passes (SFO-MUC; FRA-BKK) and allowed me to use the FCL without any question.

I have a feeling that I was one of the lucky ones here, as I recalled seeing the threads that since my arrival on LH was the day before, I wouldn't be allowed to use FCL in FRA.

Anyone has similar experience?
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Old Jan 23, 2013, 2:09 am
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Would there have been a direct connection between MUC and FRA after your arrival in MUC? If not, they may have considered your flights to happen on the same day (as you wouldn't have had the chance to continue your journey within the given timeframe). I guess that this would be the same if you arrived on LH F in FRA at, let's say 11:30pm while continuing at 04:00am on the next day (yes, I know that's not too realistic) - they would have to let you in at 11:30pm and probably wouldn't throw you out at midnight.

In some instances, LH lounge staff seem to be quite obliging. When I arrived in FRA coming in from JFK in LH F and the Fraport staff gave me wrong directions towards the lounge, the arrival lounge dragon organized FCT access for me, although I didn't have any connecting flights.
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Old Jan 23, 2013, 8:21 am
  #2324  
 
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Originally Posted by lindoro11
Anyone has similar experience?
Originally Posted by bruce80
Would there have been a direct connection between MUC and FRA after your arrival in MUC? If not, they may have considered your flights to happen on the same day (as you wouldn't have had the chance to continue your journey within the given timeframe)...
doesn't matter, OP was lucky! only same day connection usually gets FCL/FCT access. even as a HON there is very little exceptions to the rules...
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Old Jan 31, 2013, 5:13 pm
  #2325  
 
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I think I have access to both FCT and FCL at FRA, but I just want to be sure.

ORD-MUC LH F
MUC-FRA-LHR LH C

All same day connection - I arrive MUC at 13:20 and leave the same day to FRA and LHR. I have access to the FCL for sure in MUC - what about FRA? Thank you!
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