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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 Aug 21, 2014, 8:41 pm
  #3061  
 
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What are the main differences from the first class lounges and the terminal? I will have about a 4 hour layover and will be departing on LH F class. Thank you
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Old Aug 21, 2014, 11:27 pm
  #3062  
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Originally Posted by Deekh8
What are the main differences from the first class lounges and the terminal? I will have about a 4 hour layover and will be departing on LH F class. Thank you
The FCT is outside the main terminal and in Germany/Schengen. The FCL B which will be the more convenient of the two FCLs if you are departing in F is in non-Schengen (outside Germany). You will always be driven to your flight from the FCT, while you will be driven from the FCL B as long as your flight does not depart from a B gate. The FCT is more convenient if your trip originates in FRA. The FCL B is often (but not always) more convenient for connecting passengers. The FCT and FCLs have the same furniture and serve the same food though the FCLs have better day rooms. The FCLs have a view of the apron while the FCT does not have any view unless you call this a view.

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Old Aug 22, 2014, 5:24 am
  #3063  
 
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Thank you for the detailed reply. I will be arriving from BKk on THai airways however i would love to be driven to my next flight. If it doesn't depart in B I can get a ride to A however if it does depart from B I should go to the FCT to get the ride to the flight? I have a US passport.
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Old Aug 22, 2014, 5:34 am
  #3064  
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Originally Posted by Deekh8
Thank you for the detailed reply. I will be arriving from BKk on THai airways however i would love to be driven to my next flight. If it doesn't depart in B I can get a ride to A however if it does depart from B I should go to the FCT to get the ride to the flight? I have a US passport.
Where is your next destination? No flight with F departs from an A gate. Do you mean a Z gate (which is on the level above A)?
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Old Aug 22, 2014, 7:05 pm
  #3065  
 
Join Date: May 2014
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My ticket says arrival and depart from terminal 1. Going to Chicago. I'm trying to figure out where I need to go to ensure a car ride. With 4 hours layover I don't mind going outside to another terminal.
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Old Aug 22, 2014, 11:11 pm
  #3066  
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Originally Posted by Deekh8
My ticket says arrival and depart from terminal 1. Going to Chicago. I'm trying to figure out where I need to go to ensure a car ride. With 4 hours layover I don't mind going outside to another terminal.
Just head for the B FCL or the FCT. Both will ensure a car ride.
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Old Aug 23, 2014, 4:40 am
  #3067  
 
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Originally Posted by SFO777
Just head for the B FCL or the FCT. Both will ensure a car ride.
They won't give him a car ride from FCL B if the flight departs from a B gate. You have to walk in that case.

FCT is the only way of "ensuring" a car ride.
stargold is offline  
Old Aug 23, 2014, 6:42 am
  #3068  
 
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I have a quick question. I'm flying on LH 400 tomorrow morning (FRA-JFK) in F. Do I need to check in at the main terminal in FRA first to get a boarding pass or can I just go straight to the FCT to check in?

Just as a note, I do not have any bags to check either.
Tomcat2048 is offline  
Old Aug 23, 2014, 6:52 am
  #3069  
 
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The all new FRA F/HON Terminal FCT FAQs

Just go straight to the FCT. CI will be done there.
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Old Aug 23, 2014, 7:27 am
  #3070  
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Originally Posted by stargold
They won't give him a car ride from FCL B if the flight departs from a B gate. You have to walk in that case.
OP is flying to Chicago, as in a Z gate.
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Old Aug 23, 2014, 8:11 am
  #3071  
 
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Can you check in luggage in the FCT more than 3 hours before the flight? I'm arriving at FRA 7 hours before my flight to maximise my time in the FCT, but I know that BA in LHR won't let F passengers check in their baggage more than 3 hours before the flight due to space limitations.

(My trip starts in FRA, so my baggage isn't checked through from another airport).
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Old Aug 23, 2014, 8:26 am
  #3072  
 
Join Date: May 2009
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Originally Posted by seattle29
Can you check in luggage in the FCT more than 3 hours before the flight? I'm arriving at FRA 7 hours before my flight to maximise my time in the FCT, but I know that BA in LHR won't let F passengers check in their baggage more than 3 hours before the flight due to space limitations.

(My trip starts in FRA, so my baggage isn't checked through from another airport).
Yes, you can show up there as early as you like on the day of departure.
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Old Aug 23, 2014, 8:59 am
  #3073  
 
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Originally Posted by YuropFlyer
Yes, you can show up there as early as you like on the day of departure.
Excellent, thanks for the response. Much better than British Airways!
seattle29 is offline  
Old Aug 24, 2014, 7:57 am
  #3074  
 
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I went to the FCL in A first and they told me to head to B to get the car ride. I didn't want to go to the FCT because of the immigration/security even though I ended up getting randomly pulled and checked for security in a different area.

The FCL in B was the best I have yet to be in. The food and shower facility was amazing. I took a bath in the airport....never thought I would have done that. The car ride was in the Cayenne and they took me literally next to the plane and we walked on.

This was the best experience I have ever had while flying.
Deekh8 is offline  
Old Aug 24, 2014, 8:22 am
  #3075  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Another quick question, sorry if the answer is obvious but this is my first time flying LH F.

I'm arriving on a flight at T2, then I'll take the Sky Train across to T1 arrivals to walk to the FCT. I've got 2 bags to check-in, so do I check-in and collect the boarding pass at T1 departures first, or go across to the FCT to check-in?

Also, I'll be there 7 hours before my flight, so would the check-in desks at T1 departures accept my bags that early?
seattle29 is offline  


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