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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 Sep 26, 2018, 11:49 pm
  #4426  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
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Originally Posted by margarita girl
Based on the wiki above, I believe I am entitled to use the FCT, but would like to confirm with the experts here. I had a round trip F ticket PRG-FRA-JNB. I have flown the first 3 segments and am now in FRA (in B lounge). I will not be flying FRA-PRG. Instead, I have an economy light ticket from FRA-VCE on LH. Will LH be upset to see I am dropping the last segment of my original itinerary? Will it be frowned upon to get driven to your aircraft when you're on an economy light ticket?
If you are on two separate tickets, you cannot use the FCT, only if your onward connection is on the same ticket. Would not risk it, as it will draw extra attention to you skipping the last leg.
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Old Sep 26, 2018, 11:50 pm
  #4427  
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Originally Posted by margarita girl
Based on the wiki above, I believe I am entitled to use the FCT, but would like to confirm with the experts here. I had a round trip F ticket PRG-FRA-JNB. I have flown the first 3 segments and am now in FRA (in B lounge). I will not be flying FRA-PRG. Instead, I have an economy light ticket from FRA-VCE on LH. Will LH be upset to see I am dropping the last segment of my original itinerary? Will it be frowned upon to get driven to your aircraft when you're on an economy light ticket?
If I understand your question correctly you have arrived from JNB and are now in the FCL B. They will drive you from the FCT to your flight to PRG regardless of the class of travel but I doubt if they will drive you to your flight to VCE as you are on separate tickets and according to their record you are departing to PRG and not to VCE.
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Old Sep 26, 2018, 11:51 pm
  #4428  
 
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Originally Posted by chris63
The attendant said the system was broken & had been all His shift.
Don’t know what’s wrong there. Just that you do not get the impression this is German standard: I lived in Germany most of my life and have never been without hot water.
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Old Sep 27, 2018, 12:01 am
  #4429  
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Originally Posted by worldclubber


If you are on two separate tickets, you cannot use the FCT, only if your onward connection is on the same ticket. Would not risk it, as it will draw extra attention to you skipping the last leg.
Originally Posted by NewbieRunner
If I understand your question correctly you have arrived from JNB and are now in the FCL B. They will drive you from the FCT to your flight to PRG regardless of the class of travel but I doubt if they will drive you to your flight to VCE as you are on separate tickets and according to their record you are departing to PRG and not to VCE.


Not what I was hoping for. But thanks!
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Old Sep 27, 2018, 12:04 am
  #4430  
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Originally Posted by worldclubber


Don’t know what’s wrong there. Just that you do not get the impression this is German standard: I lived in Germany most of my life and have never been without hot water.
Completely agree, it’s not the German standard & it was quite a surprise coming soon after there was no hot water in MUC FCL’s for a week.
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Old Sep 29, 2018, 7:08 pm
  #4431  
 
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Hi all,

Have a long layover in FRA. Can I leave my bags in FCT and then come back in a few hours?

Thanks!
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Old Sep 30, 2018, 1:15 am
  #4432  
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Originally Posted by model_un
Hi all,

Have a long layover in FRA. Can I leave my bags in FCT and then come back in a few hours?

Thanks!
Yes, the PA’s will hold them for you in their reception area.
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Old Jan 10, 2019, 11:41 am
  #4433  
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Carsten Spohr, in FCT this evening, enjoying an early Dinner, shows he has taste
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Old Jan 10, 2019, 11:53 am
  #4434  
 
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Originally Posted by chris63
Carsten Spohr, in FCT this evening, enjoying an early Dinner, shows he has taste
I wonder if he is collecting ducks as well...
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Old Jan 10, 2019, 11:56 am
  #4435  
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Originally Posted by JohnRain


I wonder if he is collecting ducks as well...
I couldn’t possibly comment

At least there were some, rather embarrassing if not
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Old Jan 12, 2019, 9:09 pm
  #4436  
 
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Im just curious about one thing... LH only drives you from FCT to an connecting flight on LH Group. But what happens if your flight gets canceled after you have enter the building? Lets say you are booked on LH First to Bangkok/Seoul/Tokyo and they rebook you in First on Thai/Asiana/ANA from FRA insted. Will they still drive you that flight or you have to leave the building in another way? Thanks
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Old Jan 12, 2019, 10:18 pm
  #4437  
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Originally Posted by criced
Im just curious about one thing... LH only drives you from FCT to an connecting flight on LH Group. But what happens if your flight gets canceled after you have enter the building? Lets say you are booked on LH First to Bangkok/Seoul/Tokyo and they rebook you in First on Thai/Asiana/ANA from FRA insted. Will they still drive you that flight or you have to leave the building in another way? Thanks
That would be an extremely rare set of circumstances but I’m sure they would drive you to the relevant jetbridge entrance.
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Old Jan 27, 2019, 8:12 am
  #4438  
 
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VAT refund

Just wanted to double check, if you want to have VAT refund at the FCT, you have to pay 75 EUR? can anyone comment how the entire experience was? Or is it better to check in at the main terminal and walk back to FCT afterwards?
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Old Jan 27, 2019, 8:24 am
  #4439  
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Originally Posted by btang
Just wanted to double check, if you want to have VAT refund at the FCT, you have to pay 75 EUR? can anyone comment how the entire experience was? Or is it better to check in at the main terminal and walk back to FCT afterwards?
VAT refunds at the FCT are a flat €75 (cash) regardless of the amount of the refund. Doing it at the FCT is painless vs. the PIA trying to do it at the main terminal. No cash refunds, just via CC. When you arrive at the FCT, just tell your PA that you need customs agents to come to process your VAT. Allow 30-45 minutes for them (usually 2 agents) to arrive. Your PA will let you know when they've arrived and lead you back to a private office where the agents will process the paperwork, in a couple of minutes. Then ask the PA to mail the VAT refund envelope, but make sure to take a photo of all the paperwork before giving it to her.
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Old Jan 28, 2019, 3:09 am
  #4440  
 
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Originally Posted by SFO777
VAT refunds at the FCT are a flat €75 (cash) regardless of the amount of the refund. Doing it at the FCT is painless vs. the PIA trying to do it at the main terminal. No cash refunds, just via CC. When you arrive at the FCT, just tell your PA that you need customs agents to come to process your VAT. Allow 30-45 minutes for them (usually 2 agents) to arrive. Your PA will let you know when they've arrived and lead you back to a private office where the agents will process the paperwork, in a couple of minutes. Then ask the PA to mail the VAT refund envelope, but make sure to take a photo of all the paperwork before giving it to her.
I can confirm all of the above.
And would like to add: If you have a connecting flight from MUC, VIE or ZRH, you can ask the ladies at the respective FCL to call the FCT and ask for the customs agents in advance. Last time I met with them at the FCT (after walking over from the main terminal), they arrived three minutes after I did
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